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Inside the Mountain Top Tasting: Five Things to Know to Make this Your Best Mountain Top Tasting Yet

March 1, 2016 10:37 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookTaste of Vail’s Mountain Top Tasting, with its sea of white tents spread before you, can be a bit overwhelming if you haven’t been before. While some would say the best advice is to just jump right in and start sampling from the more than 50 wineries on site, other longtime attendees are a bit more strategic about the experience, not wanting to miss out on all the fun bites and drinks from their favorite local restaurants and wineries. From pork sliders and tacos overflowing with just-grilled meats and fresh toppings, to creamy corn and crab chowder, followed by Guinness s’mores, cupcakes blanketed in frosting, fresh strawberries and drizzled chocolate, no matter what the menu holds, it’s always guaranteed to be tasty. We talked with a few Taste of Vail veterans to get their advice so that any novice or expert can ensure 2016 is the best Mountain Top Tasting to-date. Come early Mountain Top Tasting Director Chris Benson recommends arriving right when the gates open. The event is only two-and-a-half hours long and Benson recommends starting with the food first. “There are usually only 15 or so restaurants attending, so I would try to get food first,” he said…. View Article

The School of Seminars at Taste of Vail

February 12, 2016 6:59 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookTaste of Vail dives deep into the world of food and wine, with an array of seminars sure to pique anyone’s interests.  From March 30th – April 3rd, Taste of Vail will host unique seminars ranging in subjects from cigars, to wines, to olive oil. You’ll walk out of each far more educated than you were before.   Six Seminars are currently available for purchase on the website: Cigar and Spirits Sampling Thursday, March 31 | 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m Location: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Pool Cost: $60 Participants have an opportunity to sample handcrafted cigars with a variety of tobacco blends. What Puts the Pop inside of Sparkling Wine? Friday, April 1 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Location: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail Cost: $55 Sparkling wine is having its moment in the sun. Gone are the days when bottles of bubbly were saved for special occasions.  Sparkling wines’ light and cleansing palates make them the perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes.  “What Puts the Pop” educates participants on where the name “champagne” comes from, what is it with the bubbles and more. A must for anyone who loves to make toasts! Wake up… View Article

Participate in This Week’s Wine Hunt and You Could Win Tickets to Taste of Vail

January 16, 2015 9:33 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookYou’re invited to participate in a social Wine Hunt for the chance to win either two tickets to the Mountaintop Picnic or the grand prize of two Signature Passes to the 25th anniversary of Taste of Vail. From Jan. 17-24, simply like the Taste of Vail Facebook page and follow the clues that will be posted throughout the week in order to find four wine bottles hidden (similar to the ones picture) in Vail. In order to enter, a picture of you and the wine bottle must be either uploaded to the contest tab on Taste of Vail’s Facebook page or tagged on Instagram or Twitter with #tasteofvail2015. Participants who enter via Instagram must make sure that their profile is public prior to tagging #tasteofvail2015. A new location with a different wine bottle will be revealed throughout the week so participants are encouraged to follow the clues posted on Facebook in order to increase their chances of winning. Those who have located and uploaded pictures from one to three locations will automatically be entered to win two tickets to Taste of Vail’s signature Mountain Top Picnic. Participants who upload images from all four wine bottle locations will be entered to… View Article

Organic Winery Spotlight: Paul Dolan Vineyards

March 20, 2014 10:50 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookLooking for organic wine varietals at this year’s Taste of Vail? Look no further. Paul Dolan Vineyards has been producing organic and biodynamic wines for more than eight years. With organically grown wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfadel, Paul Dolan Vineyards aims to create wines with a distinct sense of place. Located in the heart of Mendocino County, Northern California, Paul Dolan Vineyards is comprised of a secluded piece of land rich in biological diversity and unique microclimates. Paul Dolan Vineyards’ grapes are sourced from organic and biodynamic vineyards, and their balanced winemaking practices support each bottling’s expression of terroir for wines of unforgettable character. At Paul Dolan Vineyards, organic grape growing and wine making are approached as a partnership with nature instead of an exploitation of the land. This takes patience, requiring more time in the vineyard. There are no short cuts or quick fixes with organic farming, but the care invested creates healthy soil, balanced grapes, and elegant wines that are expressive of place. Look for Paul Dolan Vineyards at the 24th Annual Taste of Vail. For more information or to purchase tickets for Taste of Vail, visit www.tasteofvail.com.

Calling All Volunteers – Make $2,000 for Your Favorite Nonprofit

March 14, 2014 9:12 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookThis year, Taste of Vail is adding a twist to its volunteer program. The organizers of the event would like to donate $2,000 to a number of nonprofit groups in the Vail Valley who are willing to rally the troops to sell tickets and volunteer for the annual food and wine event. Taste of Vail is looking for a group of 20 volunteers from each nonprofit organization to sell 20 Mountain Top Picnic and/or Grand Tasting Tickets and volunteer six to seven hours for the event. For this time and effort, Taste of Vail will donate $2,000 to the non-profit organization. In addition, for every ticket sold, above the original 20 tickets, the organization will receive a donation of 20 percent of the ticket sales. Organizations interested in participating in the Taste of Vail volunteer/non-profit program, can contact Angela Mueller at info@tasteofvail.com. All other individuals willing to volunteer for the 24th Annual Taste of Vail can email kathie@tasteofvail.com.

Winner Selected for Taste of Vail’s Mountaintop Picnic Giveaway

February 25, 2014 11:32 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookWe’d like to congratulate Becky from Denver for winning Taste of Vail’s Mountaintop Picnic Giveaway. With more than 200 entries, Becky was randomly selected and will be receiving two tickets to enjoy ski country’s most celebrated picnic along with overnight lodging accommodations in Vail. The Mountaintop Picnic is located at 10,350 feet above sea level in a hand-built snow arena near Vail Mountain’s Eagle Bahn Gondola. Chefs from Vail’s top restaurants serve up gourmet foods, while guest wineries pour selections of their finest varietals. Guests can ski over or take the gondola out of Lionshead to access the on-mountain picnic. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit Taste of Vail’s website.

Last Chance: Enter to Win Tickets to Taste of Vail’s Mountaintop Picnic

February 21, 2014 3:16 pm Published by 3 Comments GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookHere’s your final chance to win tickets to ski country’s biggest and most celebrated picnic, Taste of Vail’s Mountaintop Picnic on Friday, April 2. All it takes is a completed entry form for the opportunity to take part in a gourmet picnic complete with fine wine, craft beer and cocktails on Vail Mountain. Refer friends, tweet us or follow us on Pinterest for even more chances to win! The Mountaintop Picnic is located at 10,350 feet above sea level in a hand-built snow arena near Vail Mountain’s Eagle Bahn Gondola. Chefs from Vail’s top restaurants serve up gourmet foods, while guest wineries pour selections of their finest varietals. Guests can ski over or take the gondola out of Lionshead to access the on-mountain picnic. Taste of Vail’s Mountain Top Giveaway includes two tickets to the event as well as overnight accommodations. The giveaway closes on Feb. 25 at 8 a.m., so get your entries in as soon as you can. The winner will be announced on Feb. 26.

Taste of Vail Featured Winery: Bodegas Muriel

January 23, 2014 6:26 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookIn 1982, Julian Murua Entrena set out to revive the winery his father, Jose Murua, brought to life in the 1920’s in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa. “Muriel” is the combination of the family name Murua and the town of Elciego. Known for its Riojan surroundings that produce some of the best terroir, the quaint village of Elciego houses the Bodegas Muriel cellars and has been woven into the name and history of the winery. Today, Julian and his son Javier run the winery with the mission to mend the winemaking traditions of the region with new technologies in order to make wines that express the best qualities of grapes coming from the Riojan vineyards. All Bodegas Muriel wines are 100% Tempranillo, the signature grape of the Rioja region. The unique micro-climate of the region is influenced by the Mediterranean, Continental and Atlantic climates, which helps the vines produce aromatic and elegant wines that have great potential to age. Come and try varietals produced by Bodegas Muriel at the 24th Annual Taste of Vail on April 2-5, 2014. Click here to purchase tickets.

Facebook Fans Save 10 Percent on Select Tickets Through MLK Weekend

January 17, 2014 9:22 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookTaste of Vail Facebook fans can save 10 percent on select tickets to the 24th Annual Taste of Vail through MLK Weekend. Simply “like” the Taste of Vail Facebook page for this special offer. This year’s event promises to be among the best in the event’s history with a new event – Debut of Rosé – and the 10th Annual Colorado Lamb Cookoff & Apres Ski Tasting. The Debut of Rosé is the newest addition to the Taste of Vail lineup and allows guests to experience the largest celebrated rosé-tasting event in the country with more than 100 varietals and exclusive debuts of 2013 releases. The the 10th Anniversary of the Lamb Cookoff will prove to be another exceptional competition of world-class chefs battling to be the best. With additional iconic events such as the Mountaintop Picnic with stunning views at 10,000 feet, the Grand Tasting and interactive seminars, 24th Annual Taste of Vail is not to be missed. For more information on the special savings for Facebook fans, please visit the Taste of Vail Facebook page.

Buy Early and Save for the 24th Annual Taste of Vail Food and Wine Festival

November 8, 2013 10:05 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebook  Buy now and save on tickets to the 24th Annual Taste of Vail food and wine festival, which is scheduled April 2-5, 2014. Save up to 20 percent on ticket prices when purchased before Dec. 31, 2013. Taste of Vail also is offering a variety of new ticket options for the 2014 event including a Signature Event Pass and special seminar packs. The Signature Event Pass provides access to the 10th Annual Colorado Lamb Cookoff & Apres Ski Tasting, Mountaintop Picnic and Grand Tasting for $350 (regular $385). New Four and Six-Pack Seminar passes also are available for attendees to experience a wide range of entertaining and educational sessions. The Four-Pack is on sale for $110 (regular $150) and the Six-Pack is currently $155 (regular $185). These seminar packs are non-transferrable and guests will need to sign up for individual sessions once they are announced. “We wanted to provide our attendees with more flexible pass options,” said Chris Chantler, chairman of the Taste of Vail board. “These new ticket options allow guests to mix and match the Taste of Vail experience they would like to have.” Individual event tickets also are on sale now with the signature Mountaintop Picnic… View Article