The Vintage Albuquerque Fine Wine & Art Auction (VA) was begun in 1992 to support the K-12 outreach activities of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (NMSO). Since a modest first year when the net profit was $30,000, VA has grown to become the largest charitable auction in the Southwest. Volunteer steering and wine committees and its one employee, Executive Director Greg O’Byrne, produce the event.

Every year, a wine industry luminary serves as the Honorary Chair for Vintage Albuquerque. Among past chairs are Peter Mondavi, Sr. (Charles Krug Winery), Dan Duckhorn (Duckhorn Wine Company), Mireille Guilano (Clicquot, Inc.), Richard Graf (Chalone Wine Group), Richard Ponzi (Ponzi Vineyards), Roberto Stucchi (Badia a Coltibuono), Michaela Rodeno (St. Supery Winery), Laurent Gruet (Gruet Winery), Craig Williams (Joseph Phelps Vineyards) and Beth Novak Milliken.

From its early years, the Vintage Albuquerque Fine Wine & Art Auction 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 that is the centerpiece of all event publicity materials and is sold at the live auction. 2008 Vintage Albuquerque Featured Artist Jane Maclean provided the cover work entitled “Anticipation.” Featured artists from past years include Betty Sabo, James Kramer, David Vega Chavez, Doris Steider, Morris Rippel, Don Brackett, William Hook, P. J. Garoutte and J. Waid Griffin.