Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta

I attended the 2015 Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta Grand Tasting at the Opera House and really enjoyed it. There’s a few things they could do to improve the event such as lining people up in a shaded area while waiting to get in and placing the bathrooms a little closer. The bathrooms were really nice clean trailer «port-​a-​potties» with flush toilets and real sinks. We took the free shuttle and arrived too early; 1110 for 1300 event. I expected to have to wait for the shuttle that started at 1100 but there was no wait at all. The shuttle service back was great too… tons of shuttles and no wait. They had plenty of free water and 5 ladies singing while we waited. The opera has beautiful views on the surrounding mountains. They open the courtyard area at 1200 and had tons of chairs and tables and a band playing. As for the food and wine… there was a huge selection of wines and food to sample. I was stuffed when I left. A few sample areas had lines but generally there wasn’t a wait to get samples.

one of my best buds invited me down to New Mexico to try out this wine and chile festival thing. I was skeptical, but really wanted to see my friend, so what the hell, hopped on a plane and here i am.
whoa — i came in with low expectations but left with a major wine buzz and stuffed to the brim with quality food! not all vendors were created equal however, some definitely were mediocre, or worst yet, an absolute waste of stomach real estate. but then, just when you think you’re done, you end up having amazing short ribs, or the best green chile asada taco you’ve ever had.
not only that, but they give you a riedel wine glass, how swanky! i expected i would have to lower my standards significantly since Santa Fe is not really the most cosmopolitan place i’ve visited, but i was happily eating crow (and other delectables).

I am local and absolutely will not attend this event ever again. I have given it 3 visits and now done. The tickets are over priced, they over sell so the crowds are horrific. lines are quite long because people want to stop and chat plus do not move out way when wine/​food tasting. There is a prevailing level of rudeness that I can live without considering the price of admission. It appears to attract the entitled crowd. They have seating for approximately ¹⁄₈ or less of the tickets sold. Skip it, there is plenty more to do than waste an afternoon on this over rated, over priced, and over sold nonsense.

This is such a good time! Great selection of wines from local vineyards in New Mexico and a few California.
At the festival, you will find everything from sweet whites to dry reds and ports. There are also an assortment of vendors selling food, clothing, art, and other specialty artifacts.
The festival is completely outdoors so pray for good weather and dress comfortably because it will be dusty.
Definitely check it out! My only gripe is that the tasting lines do not have a good flow so things don’t move very quickly.

What an incredible festival. Santa Fe is a lovely place and I have always wanted to go back there on holiday!!! The 2008 Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta will take place Sept. 24 – 28 and I think this year will be an awesome event like last year. Check out their site… www​.santafewine​and​chile​.org/
My plan is this… after the BBQ Rib contest in Memphis in May, I’ll take a break and work out like mad over the summer, then PIG OUT when Sept comes and head to Santa Fe to drink drink eat eat… then head down to S.A. most likely Rio, Buenos Aires, and Santiago in the Fall (late Spring early summer there) and eat my heart out, visit wineries, and learn to tango!!!
Too bad I won’t be able to make it to the First Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival at the end of March (and I prob can’t afford the $$$ ayway)!!