Top Four Mountain Wine Festivals You Don’t Want To Miss

Vail Wine Classic’s lineup of add-on experiences August 8-11 are on sale now. Elevate your Vail Wine Classic itinerary with immersive activations such as an exclusive wine dinner featuring DAOU Vineyards’ wine portfolio at Chasing Rabbits, one of Vail’s most eclectic venues that features psychedelic spaces including a restaurant, library, and 13,000-square-foot rabbit hole. Enjoy a scenic mountain trail hike taking in the striking vistas of Vail Valley followed by a delectable paired lunch at Gessner Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Vail, and engage in a round-robin style pickleball tournament that also includes expertly hand-picked wines and curated eats, and more.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Cox Photography

“While the crown jewel at the Vail Wine Classic is our all-inclusive grand tastings, we encourage adventure-seeking wine lovers to partake in all that the Wine Classic has to offer,” says Vail Wine Classic Event Director Kristen Slater. “Enjoy a sunset tasting at the Vail Nordic Club at Best of Fest, take a mid-morning somm-led hike through the picturesque Rocky Mountains that concludes with a curated lunch at a mountainside restaurant, and get your heart rate up playing pickleball to determine the Vail Wine Classic pickleball champion!”

Experiences for the 2024 Vail Wine Classic are included here. Tickets for all of the hikes and paired dinners, including Best of Fest and Grand Tastings, can be purchased here.

The highly anticipated Fifth Annual Park City Wine Festival, the ultimate food and wine festival that brings wine experts and epicurean lovers together every year in beautiful Park City, returns October 3-5. After its inaugural smash success last year, Wine is Blind is returning and the festival is introducing another brand new event – Rarities & Reserve – which brings exclusive, hard-to-find wines to attendees. Due to the popularity of the all-inclusive wine tastings, Park City Wine Festival is continuing to host a second Grand Tasting session on Saturday. Tickets for the Grand Tastings, Best of Fest, Wine Is Blind and Rarities & Reserve are on sale now via Eventbrite. Paired wine lunches and dinners, somm-led hikes, and other add-on experiences will be announced in June.

Photo courtesy of Team Player Productions

Park City Wine Festival allows imbibers to sip, swirl, and savor wine from more than 100 international wineries from California to France at the Grand Tastings, while taking in breathtaking views of Park City’s fall beauty. Mix and mingle with winemakers and vintners, immerse yourself in the world of wine during expertly paired lunches and dinners throughout the weekend, add some adventure with a paired wine hike, and participate in events like Wine Is Blind, a new collective experience that reveals your favorite wine without preconceived notions.

“Every year, visitors show off that they’re hungry – and thirsty – for more Park City Wine Festival activations. We’ve added on new sessions and large-scale events to accommodate the growing demand. As always, the event does sell out, so we recommend buying your tickets ASAP,” said Park City Wine Festival Events Director Kristen Slater.

Photo courtesy of Team Player Productions

“There’s only one Park City Wine Festival – the ability to customize a wine-filled weekend that is as serious or as carefree as you want it to be is unparalleled. We encourage everyone to consider adding on an event (or two!) to your Grand Tasting as it very well could become a tradition that you look forward to year after year,” said Slater.

For more information about the Park City Wine Festival, visit ParkCityWineFest.com.

Photo courtesy of Team Player Productions

Explore the award-winning vintages that are reshaping Colorado’s winemaking tradition at two upcoming Blanchard Family Wines Colorado Wine Walks on August 24th.

Experience the unrivaled vintages that are revolutionizing Colorado’s winemaking tradition at this celebration of the Centennial State wine industry. Featuring renowned Front Range and Western Slope wineries – including Chill Switch, The Odell Wine Project, Restoration Vineyards, and Blanchard Family Wines – guests can savor live local music, an array of tantalizing bites all while sampling some of the best wine in the state.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Fierberg

The Colorado Wine Walks will take place in Fort Collins’ vibrant Exchange development on Saturday, June 23rd from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and LoDo’s enchanting Dairy Block Alley on Saturday, August 24th, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Both events are sponsored by Venture X, Thirst Colorado, NOCO Style, and Birch Road Clubhouse.

Tickets to each Colorado Wine Walk are priced between $45- $95, encompassing unlimited wine samples, a commemorative wine glass, wine purchases and engaging conversations with winemakers and winery owners. For those looking for a more intimate wine experience, there will be a Bubbles & Brunch hosted at the Dairy Block Blanchard Family Wines on Sunday, August 25^th at 11 a.m.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Fierberg

To secure your spot to any of the Colorado Wine Walk events, please visit www.coloradowinewalk.com. All participants must be at least 21 years old.

The Blanchard Family Wines Denver tasting room, situated in the Dairy Block Alley, offers an exceptional wine experience, featuring a full lineup of wines available as flights, by the glass, or by the bottle, complemented by delicious charcuterie & desserts. For more information, please visit https://bfwcolorado.com/.