By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Life is short. That’s the Latin behind Vita Brevis, and Matthew Champlin has spent the better part of a year learning just how long it takes to turn a room in his Northern Meadows home into a licensed winery.
The Rio Rancho Governing Body will decide Thursday whether to approve a state winegrower liquor license for Vita Brevis LLC at 3546 Red Canyon Dr. NE. The state Alcohol Beverage Control Division has already granted conditional preliminary approval, according to the agenda packet.
City Development Services staff told Champlin in November 2025 that home wine production isn’t an allowed use. Alcohol manufacturing doesn’t appear in the neighborhood’s zoning or on the city’s list of approved home businesses, which runs more toward jewelry making, tutoring and watch repair. Still, the Planning and Zoning Board voted 4-0 on April 14 to overturn staff, board minutes show.
Champlin, a retired Santa Fe Police Department operations deputy chief, pitches a one-person, roughly 210-square-foot operation with no tasting room, no signs and no customers at the house. Sales would happen online, at farmers markets and festivals, and through restaurants and retailers. “The residence remains a residence,” his presentation to councilors reads.
The license would allow far more production than Champlin plans, and the city “will have no oversight or authority to inspect or track” output, staff wrote. Staff put proposed production at about 2,000 gallons a year; Champlin’s presentation says under 1,000.
State law lets councilors reject the license only for zoning violations, a dry location or threats to public health, safety or morals.
Also on the agenda
AMREP Southwest wants to grow the Paseo Gateway Master Plan north of Paseo del Volcan from 284.5 to 297.6 acres. The change would rezone 25 lots, including 11 to high-density residential, and flip one tract from open space to single-family homes. The zoning board recommended approval Aug. 25.
Councilors will also make the Maverik gas station denial official. The written order says the plan’s right-in-only access from NM 528 would push every exiting driver onto Monterrey, a residential street. The Sept. 10 vote was 5-1, with Councilor Jeremy Lenentine dissenting.
Two Walgreens stores, at 2101 Northern Blvd. NE and 1941 Southern Blvd. SE, seek package-sales license transfers after a parent-company merger.
The consent calendar also includes Mayor Paul Wymer’s reappointment of Darryl Manning to the Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful Committee and his appointment of Joseph Delmos to the Public Infrastructure Advisory Board.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 4-0: Planning and Zoning Board vote overturning staff on the winery
- 210: Square feet Champlin says the winery would occupy
- 13.1: Acres added to Paseo Gateway under AMREP’s request
- 5-1: Council vote denying the Maverik site plan Sept. 10
Rio Rancho Governing Body regular meeting
- When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24
- Where: Council Chambers, City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE
- Watch: rrnm.gov/2303/Watch-and-Download-City-Meetings
- Zoom: Meeting ID 833 3815 7719, passcode 554297; phone +1 720 707 2699
- Speak: Register in person with the city clerk at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts
- Write: Submit written comments to the city clerk by 4 p.m. on meeting day
- ADA help: 505-891-5003 or legal@rrnm.gov, at least 48 hours ahead