Wine & Wagyu Weekend (Angel Fire, NM)

You know what pairs perfectly with a buttery chardonnay, a fruity malbec, and an oaky tempranillo? The crisp, clean air of the New Mexico mountains.

My favorite time of the year is only a few weeks away. It's wine festival season! Grab a glass and join the fun at the Wine & Wagyu Weekend in Angel Fire, followed by the Taos Summer Wine Festival.

All-you-can-eat gourmet food? Check.
Fun activities, like cooking demos and dancing and bacon? Check.
(Yes, bacon counts as an activity. Ask anyone.)
Bottomless glasses of fine wines? Check.

This year, the Wine & Wagyu Weekend is held August 15-18th and the Taos Summer Wine Festival is August 23-25th. They're only a week apart, so it's a great idea to plan a trip that includes both.

I highly recommend overindulging in wagyu beef sliders (and wagyu pastrami fritters and wagyu short rib street tacos and wagyu smoked brisket...), followed by a round of golf at the Angel Fire Resort and hiking through the stunning Sangre de Cristo mountains while you wait for the next wine festival.

Angel Fire Resort

But I don't live in Angel Fire, NM or Taos, NM, you think? Neither do I. These events are worth traveling for. But there are food and wine festivals closer to where I live. Nonsense. That's like saying, "I have trees in my backyard. Why would I want to go to Yosemite?" You have my promise that you're going to have the BEST time ever.

My family in Tucson, AZ? They agree it's worth the trip. My family in Salida, CO? They agree it's worth the trip. The entire state of Texas? Oh, you'd better believe the entire state of Texas agrees it's worth the trip! They outnumber the New Mexicans at the Angel Fire Wine & Wagyu Weekend every year.

Here is a taste of what you can look forward to at the third annual Wine & Wagyu Weekend, which promises to be the best yet:

Thursday, August 15, 2019

5 pm: A Bar N Ranch hosts Dinner at the Summit, an unforgettable dining experience. You'll be whisked away on a chairlift ride to the top of the Angel Fire Resort ski summit, where live music, a glass of Champagne, and gourmet hors d'oeuvres await. Enjoy the view as you dine on a 4-course meal featuring the best cuts of mouthwatering wagyu beef, expertly prepared by chef Paul Voboril. This is an exclusive event with a maximum of only 30 diners allowed.

Friday, August 16, 2019

6-9 pm: Dress in your favorite cowboy attire for the Boots Boogie & BBQ at the elegant Angel Fire Resort Country Club. After an upscale, buffet-style meal of New Mexican and Texan favorites, plus endless desserts including cheese cake, fruit cobbler, and ice cream, dance off the calories to the live music of country singer Donnie Lee Strickland. This memorable evening also features a silent auction.

Angel Fire Resort

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Today's activities all take place in the heart of Angel Fire, Frontier Park. Be sure to stop by again tomorrow morning at 10 am for the weekly Art + Farmers' Market. This time of year, the irresistible aroma of Hatch green chile, roasted on site, will be in the air.

11-11:45 am: Start the day with a Cooking Demo with Chef Al Havens, who will be teaching the best ways to prepare wagyu beef. Samples of his cooking are included.

12-1 pm: Be prepared for this afternoon's main event, the Grand Tasting, by attending the Wine Appreciation Seminar. You'll learn the history of wine making in New Mexico and the special details that make our wine so special. Wine tasting is included.

1-1:45 pm: Improve your culinary skills with a Cooking Demo with Chef Ray Naranjo. He is a chef from the Santa Clara Pueblo and a contributor to The Pueblo Food Experience Cookbook: Whole Food of Our Ancestors.

3-6 pm: Bring your appetite for unlimited food and wine at the highlight of the day, the Grand Tasting. Unlike the frantic crowds that are common at other festivals, this tasting event is relaxed. Enjoy the wildflowers and live music. Pair your favorite glass of wine with an assortment of chef-prepared treats and find a spot in the shade.

Sunday, August 19, 2019

11 am-1 pm: End the Wine & Wagyu Weekend on a delicious note with the Bloody Good Bacon Brunch at the Angel Fire Resort Country Club. A few of the highlights of year's breakfast were an impressive assortment of pastries, wagyu pastrami hash, bacon and chicken apple sausage, breakfast burritos, and a chef-carved wagyu roast. Of course, with this being a food and wine festival, you can expect a nice drink (or two) to accompany your meal. The bartender will be happy to help, or you can test your own bartending skills at the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar.

Angel Fire Resort

My husband and I have our "All In" tickets. This will be our third year in a row attending the Angel Fire Wine & Wagyu Weekend and we can't wait! If you're still on the fence about attending, please feel free to send me an email with any questions about the event. I'm happy to help!

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