Cristina Martinez warms up the Wine Festival

THE TAOS WINTER WINE FESTIVAl not only features wine from vineyards all over the world, but it also brings the culinary artistry of chefs in Taos to the fore.

Wine lovers everywhere know that the best way to experience food and wine is together, in every sense of the word. The perfect pairing of food and wine brings out the very best in both, as does the enjoyment of food and wine when you are together with fellow gourmands. The act of breaking bread with people we love is elevated to a level of communion when the wine is included; an ancient ritual that brings everyone around the table, the altar of our everyday lives.

El Monte Sagrado’s talented Executive Chef Cristina Martinez delights in the fine art of pairing the two, and this year, she presents Le Réchauffement, an exquisite menu pairing wine and flavors from around the world on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

Martinez is known for her nouvelle spin on regional, farm-fresh food, and has a slew of culinary surprises up her sleeve, always, but with her renowned (Wine Festival) dinners, she pulls out all the stops.

Tempo managed to catch up with the busy chef and popped her a few questions.

How is the experience different for you this year?

It’s been a big break from winter wine fest dinners since COVID and the aftermath, so we are finally in a good place and it feels even more special and celebratory.

Also, I’ve been trying (and hoping) to get the Reserve Tasting back to El Monte for a few years and we succeeded! So I’m very excited.

What do you have planned?

I have a fabulous French-inspired menu on the 27th, paired with Joseph Drouhin wines. You can see it on elmontesagrado.com

Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

We are open seven days a week, so come and visit, and ask about our local discount!