The Vintage Albuquerque Fine Wine & Art Auction, begun in 1992, supports educational outreach activities focused on K-12 students. This annual event is produced by the non-profit Vintage Albuquerque Corporation, whose president is Steve Wedeen.

Each year, a leading figure from the wine industry serves Vintage Albuquerque as its Honorary Chair. For 2010, that individual is Merry Edwards of the esteemed Russian River winery that bears her name (see What's New. Among past chairs are Peter Mondavi, Sr. (Charles Krug Winery), Dan Duckhorn (Duckhorn Wine Company), Mireille Guilano (Clicquot, Inc.), Richard Ponzi (Ponzi Vineyards), Roberto Stucchi (Badia a Coltibuono), Michaela Rodeno (St. Supery Winery), Craig Williams (Joseph Phelps Vineyards), Beth Novak Milliken (Spottswoode) and Justin Baldwin (Justin Vineyards).

From its early years, Vintage Albuquerque has been a venue for creative expression —fine wine, music and related art forms. Integral to VA is the designation annually of a featured artist who donates a work of art, the centerpiece of all event publicity materials, that is sold during the live auction.

Vintage Albuquerque 2010 is pleased to feature the work of Paul Murray, a noted Santa Fe artist. Paul has received numerous Best of Show and other awards, and his work can be found in permanent collections ranging from the U.S. State Department to the New Mexico State Fair Fine Arts Gallery. See Featured Art: Bid Now for a description of Paul’s work, Sunrise Virga.

Featured artists from years past have included Betty Sabo, James Kramer, David Vega Chavez, Doris Steider, Morris Rippel, Don Brackett, William Hook, P. J. Garoutte, J. Waid Griffin, Jane Maclean and Greg Reiche.