Southern New Mexico Wine Festival

Filed in archive Wine Events on May 27, 2007

The Southern New Mexico Wine Festival is going on as we speak, but you still have time to join in the fun. Because of the long holiday weekend here in the States, the festival has just begun. From Time to tip your glass:

"Some of them are some pretty serious wine drinkers, and others are novices and it's a good place for them to learn," she said. "This is a good place to try different things. Here, wine is not as much a part of the culture."

Patrons looking for something a little different to suit their wine-tasting palates didn't have to go far and were able to choose from 11 different New Mexico wineries.

Paolo D'Andrea, owner of Luna Rossa Winery in Deming, has spent the past 21 years making wine.

"My family has been in the wine-making business for four generations," said D'Andrea, who happens to operate the largest vineyard - 300 acres - in the state of New Mexico.

The vineyard - New Mexico Vineyards Inc. - sells grapes to 14 different wineries in New Mexico and ships to Texas, he said.

D'Andrea said coming to wine festivals like this weekend's fest helps build his business.

"It's a big deal because of the exposure," he said. "It's good advertisement."

Most of the wine tasters carried lists with them so they could go back and buy their favorite later on, while others were just there to enjoy the atmosphere.