From Bold Barrels to Brilliant Bordeaux: Breckenridge Wine Classic Announces Lineup of Events
Courtesy of Full Pour Media
One of the world’s highest-altitude – and highly anticipated – wine festivals announces new experiences
BRECKENRIDGE (May 25, 2023) - This summer, indulge your Italian dinner party dreams, hike a breathtaking range followed by a three-course sommelier paired lunch, and revel in the most brilliant California Bordeaux-style – without ever leaving Breckenridge, Colo. Ticketed experiences to one of the world’s highest-altitude wine festivals Breckenridge Wine Classic are on sale now. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Breckenridge Wine Classic is a three-day festival, from August 24-26, anchored by the two-day Grand Tasting in addition to unique add-on programming such as a guided hike and wine pairing lunch with master winemakers, wine dinners planned by world-class sommeliers, and more with over 100 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and epicurean purveyors at this ultimate food, wine, and sensory experience.
“Our events this year allow wine lovers to travel the globe in an epicurean sense - from the riff of the American sensation that is Love is Blind to a Tuscan dinner party,” said Breckenridge Wine Classic Festival Events and Marketing Director Kristen Slater. “In the heart of Colorado, we’re bringing the country and the world’s best wine regions to you.”
Ticketed events at the 2023 Breckenridge Wine Classic, celebrating its ninth year, include:
Thursday, August 24
Italian Dreams Dinner: Located in the 125-year old Kaiser home, Executive Chef Michael Halpin and the culinary team at the Hearthstone restaurant will present an artfully crafted five-course menu paired with a selection of Italian wines from Old Bridge Cellars’ Poggiotondo portfolio. Sommelier Chris Rowe will take you on a journey of rich flavor profiles and heritage. Let Tuscany’s wines transport you to a realm of beauty and taste at this divine dinner in the mountains. Price: $195
Bordeaux Brilliance Dinner: Experience Bordeaux-style red wines from California wine country alongside JUSTIN Vineyard & Winery. Join us for an evening of exquisite cuisine prepared by the culinary team at Spencer’s at Beaver Run Resort while sipping on paired wines from one of California’s finest wine regions. As you savor each course, JUSTIN will guide you through the bold wine pairings, sharing insights about the winemakers, vineyards, and winemaking techniques that make their wines so unique. Price: $165
Master Sommelier Cellar Dinner: Master Sommelier Sean Razee goes off the menu to take you on an exploration of food and wine at one of Breckenridge’s finest restaurants. Situated in a small Victorian house built in 1889, Breckenridge’s Rootstalk offers an elegant and intimate dining experience. Focusing on thoughtfully curated menus, Chef Matt Vawter focuses on approachable seasonal food and an ode to upscale comfort food. Price: $260
Wild West of Wines Dinner: Join the team that’s bucking trends and breaking norms at Carboy Winery for a night of delight, including a signature five-course dinner featuring fresh local ingredients, thoughtfully paired with the latest Carboy Wines. Since 2016, Carboy’s award-winning wines have helped lift the Colorado wine industry into prominence as a wine region ripe with possibilities, crafting impactful wines that reveal the extraordinary terroir, and unmistakable typicity of Colorado’s Grand Valley and Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills. Price: $165
Friday, August 25:
NEW: Wine Is Blind: Wine is Blind is a collective experience that seeks to uncover favorite wines without the pomp and circumstance of labels. During the late night blind tasting, guests in a cocktail party environment will sample more than 20 mystery wines and vote for favorites based on the flavor profile alone. The wines presented are all 90+ point rated and will be concealed in mystery bags. The night will end with a dramatic wine reveal so guests can meet their “wine” in a million, followed by a live DJ, dancing and desserts. Price: $65
Barreled & Bold Cocktails & Wine Seminar: Join Breckenridge Distillery’s own Liquid Chef Billie Kiethley on a bold journey into cocktails like you’ve never experienced them before. At this seminar you’ll explore the art of crafting delicious and creative cocktails using wine as the star ingredient. Billie will guide you through the process of selecting the perfect wine varietals and blending them with a range of spirits, fruits, herbs, and other flavorful ingredients to create unique and refreshing wine-based cocktails. Price: $85
Path Less Traveled Hike & Lunch: Enjoy scenic mountain trails in a guided hike that explores the breathtaking Tenmile Range in Breckenridge before enjoying a three-course wine paired lunch at Gravity Haus’ Cabin Juice restaurant. Sip on sustainably farmed wines from LangeTwins Winery as you learn about their winemaking process, the unique terroir of the region, and the history of the vineyards that make their wines so rich. The culinary team at Cabin Juice has pairings that are always bright, fun and only uses the freshest ingredients. Price: $135
Blue River Bistro Lunch: Join us for a delightful three-course paired wine lunch at Blue River Bistro, a lively, eclectic-American restaurant serving only the freshest ingredients, inspired by seasonal progression, always delivered with elegant style and grace. Alongside a selection of exquisite wines from Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits, this Sommelier-led lunch will have wines carefully chosen to complement the flavors of the dishes, creating a harmonious symphony for your palate. Price: $125
Saturday, August 26:
Slopeside Sparkling Lunch: Champagne may still be the finest sparkling in the world, but other regions have made an impressive step toward closing that gap. Cremants from Alsace, Italian Prosecco, Sparkling from California, and Spanish Cavas are sure to make your taste buds dance – Join SommSchool’s Kellie Martin as she takes you on a worldly tour of different sparkling wines. Want to drink fine bubbly all the time? Learn useful tips and sample sparkling wines outside Champagne. Delicious eats will be paired by the culinary team at Beaver Run Resort as you sip slopeside in their beautiful Imperial Room. Price: $95
Trail to Tasting Hike and Lunch: Enjoy scenic mountain trails and adventurous wines on a guided hike that explores breathtaking views in Breckenridge. As you take in the panoramic views of the hike, enjoy a delicious paired lunch at Gravity Haus’ Cabin Juice with J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Their culinary team will showcase authentically flavored cuisine that only Colorado can offer! This event will highlight J. Lohr’s 49 years of family owned & operated award-winning wines from Certified California Sustainable estate vineyards in Monterey County and Paso Robles. Price: $135
Master Sommelier Giampietro’s Lunch: Join us for an afternoon of deliciously paired food and wine with Master Sommeliers Sean Razee and Damon Ornowski at Breckenridge’s own Giampietro Pasta and Pizzeria. Sean and Damon will go off the menu to bring you an exceptionally diverse pairing experience with the Giampietro culinary team. Price: $130
Tickets to the Grand Tastings on Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26 are still available. The Classic’s Grand Tasting features an impressive selection of hundreds of domestic and international wines, plus premium craft beer and spirits. In an effort to provide a truly intimate tasting experience for patrons, there will be two sessions of the Grand Tasting. Both sessions feature the same beverages and samples.
Volunteer applications will open in June.
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About Breckenridge Wine Classic
The Breckenridge Wine Classic is a premier destination event where master winemakers, culinary greats, and our distinguished guests gather to play, wine, and dine in beautiful Breckenridge, Colo from August 24-26, 2023. Experience more than 100 food artisans, wineries, breweries, distilleries, epicurean purveyors, and locally-made products at this ultimate food and wine experience. Whether you are a full-fledged foodie or an emerging gourmand, you are sure to find more than one event to whet your appetite at the Wine Classic. There is something for everyone – from food and wine tastings, to seminars and luncheons, to outdoor adventures with food & wine influences, there are tastes and temptations at every turn. For more information, visit breckenridgewineclassic.com or follow @breckwineclassic on Instagram and @breckenridewineclassic on Facebook.
About Team Player Productions
Founded more than 25 years ago in Denver, Team Player Productions (TPP) has produced and managed more than 400 events around the country, raising more than $2 million for its various nonprofit partners. TPP has created and continues to produce beloved annual events including Vail Wine Classic, Breckenridge Wine Classic and Vail Craft Beer Classic, and adopted others, such as Denver Burger Battle and the Boulder Creek Festival. The company was also the originator of events including Taste of Fort Collins, Steamboat Wine Festival and Park City Food & Wine Classic. TPP consults and produces events for a portfolio of clients as well, such as Goose Island Beer Co., Blue Point Brewing Co., Great Divide Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, Red Bull, City of Centennial, Anheuser-Busch, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and City of Littleton. For more information, visit TPPEvents.com, or follow @TPPEvents on Facebook and @TeamPlayerProductions on Instagram.