The ABQ Accent · City of Albuquerque - Office of Civic Engagement

The ABQ Accent | EP 41 - Sean Sheehan

February 11, 2026·39 min·1 clip

Seven years working day and night, plus 10 years of experimentation before opening—then won best wine in the state.

Mariah Harrison opens with a warm welcome for Sean Sheehan and sets the episode around the idea of people putting their accent into their work. She gives him space to tell his story and suggests that listeners can learn about more than wine, including New Mexico itself. The conversation then moves to a local feature in Edible magazine, where Sean is described as a local hero, and Mariah treats the autograph moment as a small celebration of his role in the city. From there, the discussion shifts to his partnership with United, now rebranded as Vintage United. Sean explains that the wines are basically the same and the labels are mostly the same, but the new name fits the partnership better. He says the aim is to sell wine, show up at the festivals, tell the story, and donate through that work. He notes that the partnership has sent more than $30,000 to the Somos Nidos Foundation. He also talks about the less visible support: making vehicles available when needed and helping set up and break down events for the foundation. He says he has a strong relationship with Fia, the executive director of Somos Nidos, and wants to keep growing that partnership. The conversation also mentions the kids from Bosque Prep who came back the next week to finish planting as part of their community experience. By the end, the episode comes back to gratitude for the community, Albuquerque, the farmers, the students, and the many people who help make the work possible.

As heard by us

A local business story that treats wine as a civic relationship, not just a product.

Sean Sheehan's conversation lands less as a pitch for wine and more as a study in how a winery can belong to Albuquerque. Mariah Harrison keeps steering the discussion toward story, community work, and the people around the business, so the episode shifts from personal history…

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Why you'd press play

Hear how Sean Sheehan and Vintage United turn wine sales into real community support in Albuquerque.

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