Celebrating 30+ years, the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta is an annual collection of events, at various venues throughout the city, highlighting the culinary artistry of the City Different. This epicurean extravaganza brings 90 wineries to Santa Fe to partner with 75 of the city’s best restaurants in a weeklong celebration of food and wine events, featuring cooking demos, seminars, winery luncheons, and dinners. Eat, drink and be merry, at the 32nd Annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, spreading joy and satiating palates September 27 – October 1, 2023.
This event is a great way to develop or refine your palate. Many of these events held throughout the week vary from large scale to small and intimate. If you’re interested in learning more about local wines, wine seminars are the way to go. You’ll learn how to identify different varietals and vintages, as well as exploring wine and cheese pairings. Most dinners are in a presentation format, in which the sommelier or a representative from the guest winery introduces each wine between courses.
Guest chef demos also take place throughout the city, with topics ranging from modernist cooking techniques to traditional dishes based on art and culture. The one thing, beside wine, tying it all together is our fabulous New Mexico chile, which is used in a variety of cuisines, from familiar local fare to spicy Asian fusion. Just when you think you know everything there is to know about cooking with chiles, something new presents itself, proving once again the versatility of our state crop.
The weekend culminates with the Grand Tasting at the Santa Fe Opera where all 75 participating Santa Fe restaurants and all 90 wineries serve samples of their best food and wine. This is probably the best way to experience all that is available, whether it be world-class wine or delectable culinary delights. Tickets can be pricey, but free shuttle rides to and from the Opera grounds run throughout the event, which can knock a few dollars off your experience. They generally depart from the PERA building in downtown Santa Fe.
Whether you are a wine and dine snob or are just looking for new ways to look at both, The Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta is a must-see, but make sure to reserve your spot early. This one tends to sell out early. For more information, visit the website or call 505-438-8060.
This article was posted by David Salcido
