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Yes Way Rosé: Avon Liquor Buyer Cary Hogan Talks to Us About Why She Loves the Debut of Rosé

March 14, 2016 7:27 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookOne of our signature events, Debut of Rosé, is non-doubt a fan favorite. What better way to welcome the Spring season than with the debut of 2015 Rosés? The Debut will have more than 100 Rosé varietals to try, and takes place on Wednesday night, making it the perfect kick-off to Taste of Vail weekend! Avon Liquor Buyer Cary Hogan is no stranger to Taste of Vail, or the Debut of Rosé, having attended and volunteered at the event since its inception. We talked to Cary about the world of Rosé and what keeps her coming back to the event year after year. Hi Cary, thanks for taking the time to chat with us about all things Rosé! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself before we dive in? I am a Colorado native and have lived in the mountains most of my life, raising 2 wonderful boys who have followed me into the wine world. I have been involved in the wine, liquor and beer industry for over 30 years. I became passionate about wine, not just for the unbelievable versatility the world offers, but I also love the history, culture, geography and geology that is involved in the world… View Article

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

Wine Time: Three Wineries to Visit During Taste of Vail

February 2, 2016 9:25 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookUnlike many industry wine events, Taste of Vail is unique in that the actual owner or winemaker is likely to be the smiling person pouring you a glass of wine at many of the booths, making the event feel more personal and surely making it more memorable. Here are three don’t-miss wineries confirmed for the 2016 Taste of Vail. ZD Wines: This family-owned and operated Napa Valley winery has been run by three generations of the deLeuze family. Two aerospace engineers —Norman deLeuze and Gino Zepponi — started the winery in 1969. It was the early pioneer days of the California wine industry and the men wanted to produce world-class chardonnay and pinot noir reminiscent of France’s renowned Burgundy wines. ZD stands for the initials of the founding partners’ last names as well as Zero Defects, an acronym for the quality control program during the space race that Norman and Gino were a part of while at AeroJet in Sacramento. This winery has a long history with the Taste of Vail, with three generations of the family having attended TOV. This year is no different as Associate winemaker Brandon deLeuze will attend. St. Innocent Winery: Mark Vlossak, who remains the winemaker… View Article

Taste of Vail Celebrates Milestone Anniversary Along with Participating Wineries

February 13, 2015 10:26 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookSince its inception in 1990, Taste of Vail has prided itself not only in celebrating the Vail lifestyle, but also the passion and commitment behind its attending wineries. This is just one reason why dozens of winemakers and owners visit Vail every spring to showcase their products. More than 50 wineries are expected to attend the 25th anniversary of Taste of Vail presented by Audi; a number of which are celebrating milestone anniversaries. Klinker Brick Winery is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. About the Founders: Steve and Lori represent the fifth generation of their family to grow grapes in Lodi. They started Klinker Brick Winery and produced their first vintage of old vine zinfandel in 2000. About the Winery: Klinker Bricks are highly prized bricks that grace many of the historical buildings in Lodi, including their home. Chosen by Craftsmen architects in the 1920’s for their distinctive qualities, including unique shapes and dark, rich color, they are denser and heavier in weight than regular bricks. Rich, deep color, enormous density, unique and distinctive features are the same qualities found in Klinker Brick’s Old Vine Zinfandel and Farrah Syrah. About the Wine: 2012 Klinker Brick Farrah Syrah Received 91 points and… View Article

Five Favorite Spring Events in Vail This Year

February 9, 2015 8:39 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookAs the days grow longer and the bluebird skies become more frequent, locals and guests of Vail are often found soaking up the last few weeks of skiing on Vail Mountain. During the months of March and April, spring skiing is accompanied by sunshine and soft snow. In addition, there are a number of great events happening on-mountain and throughout Vail Village to celebrate the change of seasons, the love of winter sports and the Vail lifestyle. If you’re looking to plan your next Vail vacation, here are some upcoming events to consider: Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships – March 2-7 The world’s best snowboarders come together to take part in the longest running, premier snowboarding event presented by MINI. Enjoy halfpipe and slopestyle competitions performed by elite athletes as well as concerts, events, demos and more. Pink Vail – March 21 The world’s biggest, pinkest ski party has raised more than $1 million to benefit the “Spirit of Survival” program at Shaw Regional Cancer Center. This unique survivorship program offers all cancer patients and survivors at Shaw the opportunity to receive free exercise training, nutrition coaching, emotional support, outdoor adventures, a nurse navigator, massages, integrative treatments and much more…. View Article