Tag Archive: wine

Wine Tasting and Seminars

Elevate Your Palate, and Your Knowledge

March 25, 2019 8:43 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookEach year, Taste of Vail offers a variety of seminars designed to give attendees the opportunity to both interact with, and learn from, some of the nation’s best winemakers and Sommeliers. The 2019 line-up of seminars maintains a global focus that highlights some of the best winemaking regions of the world. There’s no passport required for this global experience, but do bring a thirst for knowledge, and fine wine! And don’t worry—you won’t be missing out on other events while you’re in a seminar! All seminars are scheduled strategically around Tate of Vail’s signature events to allow participants to enjoy every possible experience. Get to know Taste of Vail’s 2019 Seminars: Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Cupping & Tour Thursday, April 4th, 10 am – 11:30 am While this 4-day festival certainly celebrates the love our attendees have for grapes—and all the heavenly things that are crafted from them, we also want to celebrate the ultimate day-starter, the coffee bean. This seminar will be hosted by a coffee expert with 25 years of experience from Vail’s own Mountain Coffee & Tea. Coffee lovers will find out firsthand what it takes to turn a bean into a dearly beloved beverage. Riedel… View Article

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

Ready, Set, Eat! Taste of Vail Restaurants.

March 7, 2016 10:17 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookAs if the promise of a spring food and wine festival set in the mountains wasn’t enough to get us excited, the chance to sample and savor our way through the best of Vail Valley’s restaurants is even better. With more than 20 restaurants confirmed for Taste of Vail 2016, it’s time to start jogging a little more and swapping in some quinoa at dinnertime to help us make up for the extra calories we’ll happily consume March 30th – April 3rd.  Everyone’s favorite restaurants will be making an appearance at Taste of Vail 2016, including Flame Restaurant at Four Seasons Vail, where the steaks are always elevated. High-class, yet laid back Colorado fare will be found at Mountain Standard, Terra Bistro, Boxcar and the Fitz Bar & Restaurants’ spots. The always-impeccable Sweet Basil and the French-flared La Tour will no doubt have busy tables at the Grand Tasting.  Matsuhisa, from the Nobu family, lives up to its fame and will have a sushi grade dish sure to wow guests. Upscale Mexican at Maya Modern Mexican Kitchen from globally renowned chef Richard Sandoval is bringing its Latin flavor to events. On-mountain favorites Bistro Fourteen, Wildwood Smokehouse, Two Elk and The… 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

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.

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.

New Rosé Event Kicks Off the 24th Taste of Vail

January 22, 2014 9:57 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebookThe Taste of Vail kicks off on April 2 with the Debut of Rosé, a new event that gives guests the opportunity to taste more than 100 rosés from all over the world. Taking place from 3-6 p.m. at Arrabelle at Vail Square in Lionshead Village, the event also will offer food pairings from local restaurants for participants to enjoy while sampling from the largest selection of rosé wines. “We’re excited to feature one of the hottest wine trends at this year’s Taste of Vail,” said Chris Chantler, president of Taste of Vail. “Not only will there be a huge variety rosé wines, Debut of Rosé will be one of the first events to showcase newly released rosés from 2013. ” Rosé wine is the liquid component of the much-celebrated lifestyle of Mediterranean France. However, it has not enjoyed similar recognition in the United States until quite recently. As a category, rosé wines embrace an immense diversity of styles and flavors, especially if sparkling rosés are included. From semi-sweet to off-dry to bone-dry (very dry), they’re startlingly refreshing and immensely seductive. Rosé wines also are extremely versatile with food and pair well with an astounding variety of cuisines. In addition, wine… View Article

Wine Pairings for the Holiday Season

November 26, 2013 5:26 pm Published by Leave your thoughts GooglePinterestTwitterFacebook  So you’ve thoughtfully put together a holiday menu and as the grocery shopping commences, you realize that you haven’t even thought of what to drink. Sommelier Jim Lay of Elway’s Vail has put together a wine list that’s sure to impress the wine snobs, cork dorks and wine-Os in your family. Here are five varietals that are sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. Cheers! 1. Start the afternoon with a low alcohol, succulent German Riesling while sampling early turkey pieces. “I love a Spatlese from the Mosel, Nahe, Rheinhessen or Rheingau,” said  Lay. Some notable producers to look for: JJ Prum, Dr Thanish Basserman Jordan Dr Loose JJ Christoffel, Donnhoff Leitz 2. Beaujolais cru wines are made from the gamay grape.  This lovely wine is made in the villages of Brouilly, Chénas, Côte de Brouilly, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Régnie Reviews and St-Amour. These berry rich wines with low tannins are a perfect match to the bright rich flavors of a holiday dinner. Some notable producers to look for; Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes, Henry Fessy, Louis Jadot, Doboeuf, Beaudet, Château de la Terrière Mommesin 3. Pinot Noir has been called the most versatile varietal for good reason. … View Article