La Viña Wine Fest returns September 19-20

ANTHONY, New Mexico (KVIA) - The La Viña Wine Festival begins day one of it's two day celebration on Saturday at Noon offering people a chance to try over 20 different wines from their selection.

While people sample wine, as much as their tickets attached to their wrist band included with a ticket allow, the atmosphere was pleasant with conversation filling the air with the event being soundtracked by a live band maintaining a packed dance floor all afternoon.

One of the attendees, Luz Gonzalez, said she thought it was good to have something like this in a place like Anthony which she said she doesn't visit often.

"It's a great idea to come and bring everyone together and bring like a new experience to places over here," Gonzalez said.

There was more than one occasion that brought people to La Viña, one attendee saying it was to celebrate his first wedding anniversary while sisters Carla Villanueva and Sofia Mcdonald told ABC-7 they came as an early birthday celebration.

Another benefit, as Villanueva said, was seeing what the Anthony community and it people has to offer from a place she also said she doesn't come to often.

"I love it, the vibes are nice, the people come together. Like I said, we're 30, we have kids so it's good to get babysitters and come together and nice views, nice scenery," Villanueva said. "El Paso doesn't offer wine festivals so it's good that we're close by and we get to come here."

Mcdonald said she though the people, in addition to the music and the wine tasting, was one of the best parts of coming to Anthony, saying she thought this was a good show of community in the town and even said she wants to come back.

"It's a great way to bring the community together, it's really cool, trying different wines, bringing music, bringing culture and we all vibing together it's a great way to connect with everybody," Mcdonald said. "The people here are really friendly, we all connect together and they're really welcoming. So I really love it here, I want to come here again."

It was that welcoming environment that also stood out to Gonzalez, telling ABC-7 about the 'friendly' people creating an enjoyable experience for her Saturday afternoon.

"It's a really friendly moment or experience you have. I think it's great, I love the environment that it creates like a nice community to get together and everyone has been so friendly," Gonzalez said.

As the afternoon turned to evening the wine continues to flow just like the conversation at all the tables and shaded areas while the band kept playing with their music keeping the dance floor occupied before taking a break for a surprise birthday celebration.

The La Viña Wine Festival will continue Sunday from noon till 7 p.m.

Tickets for adults are $30 while children ages 12-20 are $10 and Children 11 and under get in for free with V.I.P tickets available for $100.

For more information you can visit La Viña's website here.