BREWERIES AND WINERIES | RED RIVER
Vino in the Valley returns to Red River
The annual art and wine festival features eight local wineries, more than 60 vendors, and live music at Brandenburg Park
There鈥檚 just something about wine and art that makes them an ideal combination.
For one, both can have an similar effect on those who experience their charms.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e supposed to put your nose in the wine glass, smell it, and then take a sip and let it flow over your palate,鈥� Naoma Staley, the CEO for the Red River Chamber of Commerce, said. 鈥淚n so many ways, it鈥檚 an experience that relies on all your senses, and art does the same.
鈥淎rt is about what you see, what you feel 鈥� I kind of think that might be why art and wine pair so well, is that they鈥檙e all about the senses and how you experience the moment.鈥�
That鈥檚 the concept behind Vino in the Valley, which traditionally takes place on Father鈥檚 Day weekend 鈥� Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21 鈥� at Brandenburg Park in Red River. The celebration of art, wine and culture debuted in 2004 and is hosted by the Red River Chamber of Commerce. Initially called the Art and Wine Festival, it rebranded under its current name following COVID.
鈥淎fter the worst of the pandemic, I found it incredibly difficult, not only to get people to come back and join us for the festival, but also to attract really a diverse base of artists,鈥� Staley said. 鈥淎nd so what I thought was, what if we give it a cool name and really emphasize the experience people will have by being in a one-of-a-kind location, sipping all New Mexico wine and enjoying amazing art.鈥�
The three-day festival will include eight local wineries and more than 60 vendors. After a cumulative attendance of 4,800 in 2025, Staley hopes to reach 5,000 people over the course of the weekend this year. Friday and Saturday are typically the busiest days, with things slowing down on Father鈥檚 Day.
The smaller nature of the festival tends to attract some of the prominent players from the wine industry.
鈥淲hat they say is that serving at Vino in the Valley feels like being with family,鈥� Staley said.
鈥淲e get a lot of winemakers and business owners serving the people who are up there. So if a person chooses to come up to Red River, they very well may meet the winemaker who鈥檚 made their favorite New Mexican wine.鈥�
The majority of the artists and artisans are New Mexican, but there will also be others in attendance from neighboring states. The festival will include a local artists鈥� pavilion 鈥� a tent which includes small-scale artists who might not have enough to sell to warrant a spot for the full three days. Other attractions include a photo booth, a group art project and multiple free, artist-led workshops. There鈥檚 also an interactive area called The Commons.
鈥淛ust by entering the space, they鈥檙e going to be making their artistic mark,鈥� Staley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a surprise; people will find out when they get there.鈥�
The ultimate goal, Staley says, is to created a 鈥渟pecific experience鈥� that gives people a feast for their various senses.
鈥淲e want to make the park as walkable and accessible as possible. We make sure that we don鈥檛 have too many kinds of any one category of vendor. We鈥檝e paired that really, well with a robust music performance presentation each day. I focused as much as possible on hyperlocal musical performances,鈥� Staley said.
鈥淪o each thing, whether it be wine, art or music is specifically put together to create something special each day, and even each hour of the day, for all our attendees.鈥�
