The Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta is an annual five-day collection of events highlighting the culinary artistry found in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s many excellent restaurants coupled with the sophistication of wines from around the world.

By bringing 90 wineries to Santa Fe to partner with 75 of the city’s best restaurants, a five day schedule of food and wine events is created featuring cooking demos, wine seminars, winery luncheons and dinners. 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. The Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta will be held from September 27 to October 1, 2017—with a kick off and art preview party on September 12.

Here is a taste of the events happening during the 27th Annual Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta:

Each year an artwork is selected for the Wine and Chile Fiesta. This year “Dark Forms with Red Sky” by Dick Evans was selected. (Photo courtesy of Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta)

Did you know the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta has a film festival of its own? On September 24 and 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.  Violet Crown will be showing two films each night. "Bottle Shock” and “Heavenly Vintage” will be shown on September 24 and "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" and Somm II (Into the Bottle) on September 25.  Price of ticket also includes a food and wine reception.

Cooking demonstrations have been an integral part of the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta. This year the lineup of guest chefs include: Chef Fernando Olea from Sazon Santa Fe, Chef James Campbell Caruso of La Boca, Chef Rick Bayless from Topolobampo in Chicago, Chef Martin Rios of Restaurant Martin, Chef Kai Autenrieth from Terra at Four Seasons, and Chef Cristian Pontiggia from El Nido.

You may also want to check out the amazing wine pairing dinners at select restaurants and be a part of the fiesta!  Wine dinners will be held at various Santa Fe restaurants where a spokesperson will be present to introduce all wines to you and your guests at a set time with a special wine pairing menu. You’ll want to call the host restaurants for time, price and reservations well in advance. Participating restaurants can be found [blog_link url="https://www.santafewineandchile.org/wine-dinners/" text="here" date="2017-08-22"].

Over 75 restaurants will be cooking and preparing delicious food pairings. (Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe)

If all that isn’t quite enough wine and chile. . .enter the grand-daddy of the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta: The Grand Tasting. The tasting takes place on September 30 at the world famous Santa Fe Opera from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and this year the Grand Tasting will feature a more spacious layout. You will experience a wide-open and guest-friendly setting with more shaded tables and seating areas. Here’s the great news:  when the doors open at 1:00 pm you will have immediate access to the restaurants and wineries. There’ll be no more waiting in a packed courtyard for the food and wine tents to open. Without a parking pass, there is no parking available at the Santa Fe Opera. E-ticket parking passes should be purchased in advance. There will also be free continuous shuttles starting at 11:30 am from and returning to the PERA building at Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail (with free parking).

Over 90 wineries will showcase their best at the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta. (Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe)

Why not add one of the best food and wine events in the country to your travel schedule this year? For more information and a complete schedule of events, click [blog_link url="https://www.santafewineandchile.org/events/schedule" text="here" date="2017-08-22"]. Be sure to purchase your tickets early, as soon events may sell out. September is a great month to visit The City Different. You’ll want to start planning your wine and chile fiesta adventure now by ordering the [blog_link url="https://santafe.org/Visitors_Guide/index.html" text="2017 Santa Fe Travel Guide" date="2017-08-22]. Make your September adventure even more special by checking out our [blog_link url="https://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Specials/" text="Deals and Specials" date="2017-08-22] to save on accommodations, dining and more!