Uncork & Eat Well

The second annual Crested Butte Land Trust Wine & Food Festival, July 23 - 26, will showcase hundreds of wines and cuisine in the serene surroundings of Crested Butte, Colo. All events during last year’s festival sold out, which led organizers to add new opportunities to indulge in great food, drink and a biking winemaker trails.

The festival, produced by Colorado Mountain Events, LLC, benefits the Crested Butte Land Trust, which has a mission to protect open space and wildlife habitat, preserve the valley’s ranching heritage, and provide access via trails.

Festival Favorites Returning
Wine seminars allow wine novices and aficionados alike to learn the nuances of wine during classroom-style sessions. These 10 seminars, either 60 or 90 minutes in duration, will be held all days of the festival and are sold a la carte from $35 to $50 each. Each event is limited to approximately 24 guests and is conducted in local restaurants.

The most exclusive happenings during the four-day event are chef dinners, where nationally renowned chefs are invited to Crested Butte and paired with distinguished local chefs to create a series of intimate dinners in private homes. The four dinners each allow 12 guests to enjoy a multi-course dinner that is paired with some of the finest wines in the world selected by the chefs and master sommeliers. Out-of-town chefs who have committed to date include Frank Bonanno, Keegan Gerhard, Troy Guard and Tyler Wiard of Denver and Kent Rathbun of Texas. Seats are $500 per person.

The Grand Tasting will feature hundreds of wines from around the world and hors d’oeuvres from more than a dozen local restaurants. Scheduled for Saturday, July 25 from 4 to 7 p.m., the Grand Tasting will be held in the Lodge at Mountaineer Square’s Grand Ballroom, located at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Tickets are $65 in advance and $80 day of event (21 years of age and older only), and $15 for children and designated drivers. Only 400 tickets will be sold.

What’s New
Due to an outstanding response to the Grand Tasting in 2008, an Evening on Elk Avenue will feature a similar format on Friday, July 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. From First Street to Second Street on Elk Avenue, guests will do a wine walk, enjoying wine sampling and hors d’oeuvres prepared by local eateries.  Tickets are $45 (21 years of age and over), and those under 21 are welcome to stroll with parents at no cost. A package price of $100 is available when purchasing an adult ticket for both the Grand Tasting and Evening on Elk Avenue.

Participants who want to add the world-class mountain biking of Crested Butte to their weekend can explore some of the most beautiful rides on Earth with a few grapes and gourmet food as part of the mix. Winemaker Trails are rides led by professional guides at both beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced levels. Bicyclists will convene afterwards for a gourmet picnic prepared by notable local chefs in a remote yurt in a beautiful mountain valley. A winemaker will bring favorite wines to share and discuss with each group, limited to 24 participants for each Friday, Saturday (two rides) and Sunday rides. Each rider will receive a custom festival cycling jersey. The cost is $175 per person.

Tickets for all festival activities may be purchased at www.crestedbuttewine.com or in person at the Crested Butte Land Trust office (308 Third Avenue, Crested Butte).

June 22nd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | (0)