New Mexico has a rich wine history and no shortage of wineries and festivals you can expect when visiting the state.
In this article, we will take a look at the best Wine Festivals in New Mexico and what you can expect to experience at each!
The Top Wine Festivals in New Mexico
- Taos Winter Wine Festival
- Silver City Wine Festival
- Vines In the Pines, Ruidoso
- Las Cruces Wine Festival
- Albuquerque Harvest Wine Festival
- Santa Fe Wine Festival, Santa Fe
- Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
1. Taos Winter Wine Festival
- Date: January 26 – 29, 2023
- Time: All day
- Venue: 1000 Cordova Place #723, Santa Fe
- Price: Individual events are priced separately.
- Contact: info@taoswinterwinefest.com or call 505-690-4499
- Website: https://taoswinterwinefest.com
Background
Once a year the best restaurants in the ski-resort town of Taos team up with 30 national wineries for a winter long-weekend of chef luncheons, wine dinners, and aprés-ski tastings that celebrate the best that food and drink (and life!) have to offer.
Events
Weekend highlights include wine luncheons and wine dinners in Taos’s many fine dining establishments, reserve, grand, and on-mountain aprés-ski tastings of more than 100 wines (complete with tasty snacks), and a Sunday champagne brunch.
Notes
- No admission to anyone under 21. This includes children and infants.
- Proof of full vaccination or a negative Covid test (antigen or PCR) within the last 48 hours is required for all events, as is ID.
2. Silver City Wine Festival
- Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 8 – 9, 2022
- Time: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily
- Venue: Gough Park, 1201 N Pope St, Silver City
- Price: $10 – $30 depending on the degree of participation
- Contact: execdirector@nmwine.com or call (575) 649-8994
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/silvercitywinefest/
Background
This two-day event will feature some of New Mexico’s finest wineries, excellent food, and talented artisans. Sample the latest vintages, meet the winemakers, and enjoy a variety of wines that range from big and bold or soft and sweet.
Notes
- Anyone under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You must be in possession of a valid government-issued photo ID (no vertical New Mexico IDs allowed).
- No coolers, weapons, or pets (regardless of how small). No food or drink may be brought in from outside the festival grounds (unless strictly required for medical or dietary purposes). Each person is allowed one sealed bottle of water. Blankets and chairs are also permitted.
3. Vines In the Pines, Ruidoso
- Date: February 19 – 20, 2022
- Time: 12 pm – 6 pm daily
- Venue: Ruidoso Convention Center, 111 Sierra Blanca Drive, Ruidoso
- Pricing: Advance Tickets: $20 + $2.85 Admin Fee
- General Admission: $25 + $3.16 Admin Fee
- Advance Weekend Pass: $30 + $3.46 Admin Fee
- Contact: execdirector@nmwine.com or call (575) 649-8994 or leave them a message on their Facebook page.
- Website: https://www.visitruidoso.com/5th-vines-in-the-pines-festival/
Background
One of several events held under the banner of New Mexico Wines, this time in conjunction with the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce, this is as much a town fair as it is a wine festival. You can buy handicrafts, baked goods, homemade chocolate, and candy.
Events
Live music, games, wine tasting, and wine appreciation sessions.
4. Las Cruces Wine Festival
- Date: Labor Day Weekend (September 3 – 5)
- Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Venue: Doña Ana County Fairgrounds (aka Southern NM State Fairgrounds), 12125 Robert Larson Blvd, Las Cruces
- Price: $10 – $25 depending on the level of participation. Children under 15 chaperoned by an adult get in free.
- Contact: execdirector@nmwine.com or call (575) 649-8994
- Website: https://nmwine.com/calendar/
Background
The Las Cruces Wine Festival – formerly the Southern New Mexico Wine Festival – has been celebrating the state wine for more than 25 years.
Events
Giant Jenga, Connect Four, barefoot wine-pressing, in barrels, yard games like giant Jenga and Connect Four, live music, wine talks, and vintage wine tastings.
Notes
- Tasting Tickets include a Viva Vino wine glass and$5 off bottles of wine.
- Holders of Designated Driver tickets are allowed on the festival grounds only. They are not entitled to attend wine events
5. Albuquerque Harvest Wine Festival
- Date: Labor Day Weekend (September 3 – 5)
- Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
- Venue: Balloon Fiesta Park, 9401 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE, Albuquerque
- Price: General admission: $10 – $25 depending on the level of participation
- An early access pass: $40 (only a limited number of these are available.
- An afternoon access pass: $30 (enter any time any day from 2 p.m.)
- An anytime Monday pass: $25
- A wine lover weekend pass: $65
- Contact: execdirector@nmwine.com or call (575) 649-8994
- Website: https://nmwine.com/calendar/
Background
The third of four events staged by New Mexico Wine.
Held at the Balloon Fiesta Park, one of the state’s most popular venues, this is the largest wine festival in New Mexico.
The best wineries in the state have more than 100 of their finest vintages for attendees to taste and take home
Events
Events include live music, food from all over the world, dueling piano shows, a handicrafts marketplace, food trucks full of delicious goodies, a silent disco, painting classes, free mini-golf, lawn games, and video games.
Notes
- Last call at 5:30 pm
- Strictly 21+
- A ticket entitles the holder to a Viva Vino wine glass, unlimited wine tasting, $5 off any bottle of wine, and a discount on by-the-case purchases of wine.
- Bring along a hat and sunscreen.
6. Santa Fe Wine Festival, Santa Fe
- Date: July 2 & 3, 2022
- Time: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Venue: El Rancho de Los Golondrinas (The Ranch of the Swallows), 334 Los Pinos Road, Santa Fe
- Price: Adults: $18, Teens: (13–18): $5, 12 and under: FREE!
- Contact: (505) 471-2261
- Website: https://golondrinas.org/festivals/santa-fe-wine-festival/
Background
Coming up on 30 years, this is the capital’s oldest festival
The Ranch of the Swallows, a resting place on El Camino Real, the historic trading route between Mexico City and Santa Fe, is a museum dedicated to preserving the culture of Spanish Colonial New Mexico.
Notes
- Ticket holders must present a valid ID (no vertical, paper, or temporary IDs) at the gate.
- Under 21s must be chaperoned by a parent or legal guardian.
- Bottles of wine bought at the festival may not be opened on the Museum grounds.
- No weapons, alcohol, pets (ADA-approved service animals only), or literature for distribution are allowed.
- Only ticket holders wearing a wristband are allowed to consume alcohol.
7. Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
- Date: September 21 – 25
- Time: From early till late
- Venue: 217 E Marcy, the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, and local restaurants.
- Price: From $25 to $200 and up. There is no all-access pass. Events are sold a la carte and ticketed individually.
- Contact: info@santafewineandchile.org or call (505) 438-8060 or message them on their Facebook page.
- Website: http://www.santafewineandchile.org/
Background
The Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta is New Mexico’s numero uno culinary event, combining its two great loves: wine and chile. The schedule boasts more than 75 Santa Fe restaurants and 90 wineries.
Events
Chefs and vintners from all over the country converge for five days of wine dinners, seminars, cooking demonstrations, guest chef luncheons, reserve tastings, and a wine auction, the highlight of the festival being The Grand Tasting at the Santa Fe Opera.
Numbered among past guests have been Rick Bayless, food fundi and winner of the James Beard Award, Matthew Accarrino, manager of a Michelin restaurant, and sommeliers the likes of Joe Spellman, Tim Gaiser, Fred Dame, Jesse Becker, and Brian Cronin.
This year, 2022, Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta made USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice list of wine festivals.
Notes
- 21+ only. No children, young adults, or infants.
- This event sells out months in advance, so early booking is essential.
- There is parking under the Convention Center as well as on the corner of Sandoval & San Francisco Streets.
