An opportunity to taste all of the finest wines being produced in New Mexico? To hear some great live music and stuff our bellies with delectable New Mexico-grown treats? You better believe we were in.

Every year, the wineries in the state converge just outside of Albuquerque in the city of Bernalillo.  The three-day event takes place in a space over 5 acres and hosts plenty of wineries (in our 2007 trip, there were just over 20) alongside food, art and memorabilia vendors from all over the state.  The festival co-founder and Mayor of Bernalillo welcomed us herself.

Some of the wineries we visited included Black Mesa, Casa Rondena, Santa Fe Vineyards, Corrales Wineries, and, of course, Anasazi Fields Winery.  Each one featured an amazing assortment of wines, so different from each other and yet using locally grown fruits.

The host of the festivities is Maria Rinaldi, descendant of one of the first wine makers in the state.  She is the great-granddaughter of  Giovanni Giorgio Rinaldi, a wine maker who traveled from Tuscany to lease the La France Winery from La Salle Christian Brothers.  During prohibition, the winery was only able to continue through the graces of it being "sacramental" wine on order of an Archbishop.

What really surprised both of us was the amount of families attending.  It's not just for wine connoisseurs.  With a mini-train, petting zoo, and fun house in the middle of the grounds, there's really something for everyone to enjoy.  And yes, we did ride the train.  But in our defense it was to get us to the food stands and then back to the wine stands.  We're firm believers in not driving while you're still drinking...

For 20 years now, the festival has grown in leaps and bounds... And so has its corresponding festival attendees' tongue for the fermented grape.

!Viva el vino!