Schedule
August 11-13TH, 2022
The Vail Wine Classic is a premier destination event where master winemakers and enthusiasts gather to enjoy wine in beautiful Vail, CO. Join us August 11-13th for a mountainside tasting of hundreds of high end wines, spirits and food.
All events, prices, personalities, performances, venues, dates and times subject to change without notice. No refunds or exchanges. No one under 21 will be admitted, including infants or children, and you must show valid photo ID. The Classic urges all adults to consume alcoholic products responsibly.
2022 Schedule of Events
Wine dinners, pairings & educational seminars released in May
Grand Tastings
Friday, August 12 & Saturday, August 13
VAIL ATHLETIC FIELDS
More Info: Age 21+ | Outdoor | Wine | Beer | Spirits | Small Bites
The Grand Tasting is the unparalleled wine adventure of the Vail Wine Classic, featuring a diverse and distinctive showcase of wines from around the world. Immerse yourself in the extravagant mountainside tasting while exploring everything from fruit-forward sauvignon blancs and pinots, to rich cabernets and zinfandels. In addition to an impressive, curated selection of domestic and international wines, the Grand Tasting has hand crafted cocktails and local beer. Your all-inclusive ticket includes a full size wine glass for you to take home, small bites, and live music at the event.
Premier Access Tickets 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Premier Access tickets allow you to be the first to enter the event and imbibe with a limited number of other enthusiasts. Enjoy the first sips of wine and an extra hour at the Classic.
Early Access Tickets 2:30 pm – 5:30: Early Access tickets allow you to get ahead of the tasting and enter the Classic before the big crowd. Select the perfect table by the band with this limited capacity ticket.
General Admission Tickets 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm: This all-inclusive ticket allows you to imbibe in two and half hours of mountainside wine sampling during the Grand Tasting event.
Location:
Vail Athletic Field
646 Vail Valley Dr, Vail, CO 81657
Best of Fest
Friday, August 12 – 7:00-9:30pm
VAIL NORDIC CLUB
More Info: Age 21+ | Indoor and Outdoor | High End Tasting | Wine Pairings | Small Plates | Master Sommeliers
Raise a glass at the Best of Fest as the sun sets over Vail Valley. The curated sampling selects the gems from exclusive winery portfolios for you to sip, swirl, and savor. Only 90+ point ratings, reserve bottles, and higher price points will make the cut in this unique tasting opportunity. Chefs at the Vail Nordic Club have prepared a menu of small plates with suggested pairings to perfectly compliment the wine collection.
Vail Nordic Center
1775 Sunburst Dr.
Vail, CO 81657
Live Music
Blue River Grass
Saturday Grand Tastings
Pure Colorado Blue Grass
Hardscrabble music can best be described as pure Colorado bluegrass. The band has made a name for itself by offering a unique blend of original songs mixed with traditional bluegrass anthems, and colorful renditions of crowd favorites. They deliver a lively show aimed at audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds.
Hardscrabble
Saturday Grand Tastings
Pure Colorado Blue Grass
Hardscrabble music can best be described as pure Colorado bluegrass. The band has made a name for itself by offering a unique blend of original songs mixed with traditional bluegrass anthems, and colorful renditions of crowd favorites. They deliver a lively show aimed at audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds.
Blue River Grass Band
Best of Fest
Blue Grass
Great wine and food is accompanied by great music at the Best of Fest on Friday night. Blue River Grass Band performs traditional BlueGrass with a string quartet.
Vail Uncorked: La Tour Wine Dinner
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th at 7:00pm
French Food and Wine
More Info: Age 21+ | Paired Dinner | Sommelier | French Wine & Food
La Tour presents an artfully crafted five course meal highlighting French food paired with an exploration of lesser known French wines from the regions of Alsace, Beaujolais, Languedoc, Jura, and Loire Valley. Discover new favorites loved by sommeliers to add to your repertoire of go-to wines.
Full menu to be released this summer. Extremely limited tickets.
Address: 122 E Meadow Dr, Vail, CO 81657
*Please note, the dinner is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Vail Uncorked: Matsuhisa Wine Dinner
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th at 7:30pm
Austrian Wine And Chef’s Choice Dinner
More Info: Age 21+ | Paired Dinner | Master Sommelier | Austrian Wine
Full menu to be released this summer. Extremely limited tickets.
Address: 141 E Meadow Dr, Vail, CO 81657
*Please note, the dinner is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Vail Uncorked: Wonderful World of Pinots Dinner
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th at 7:00pm
Wine Dinner at Bol
More Info: Age 21+ | Paired Dinner | Sommelier
Bol presents an artfully crafted five course meal highlighting food that’s paired with a variety of Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley. When you think of Oregon, you think Pinots! They have mastered the art of producing the World’s best Pinots. See the versatility of the Pinot grape as you dive into aging techniques, white Pinots and even sparkling varietals with the Pinot grape. And best of all – Pinots go with every food, as you will learn with this fantastic wine dinner pairing.
Full menu to be released this summer. Extremely limited tickets.
Address: 141 E Meadow Dr #113, Vail, CO 81657
*Please note, the dinner is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Vail Uncorked: Collaborative Dinner
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th at 7:00pm
Collaboration between Grand Hyatt Vail’s Gessner restaurant and Denver’s Avelina
More Info: Age 21+ | Paired Dinner | Sommelier | Fine Wine
With the idyllic mountain and creek-side views, Grand Hyatt Vail’s signature restaurant Gessner will partner with Denver Chef from Avelina to create a one of a kind menu that shouldn’t be missed. The two will showcase authentic flavors from the Rocky Mountain inspired cuisine that are expertly paired with Daou’s incredible portfolio of wines. Family owned and operated, DAOU Family Estates is committed to producing collectible, world-class wines to rival the most respected appellations in the world. Situated on a hilltop in Paso Robles, this remarkable estate’s goal is to craft unique fine Bordeaux style wines that combine Old World tradition with New World techniques. This wine dinner will highlight the big bold wines of Daou with the big bold flavors that only this type of collaboration can deliver.
Full menu to be released this summer.
Address: 1300 Westhaven Dr, Vail, CO 81657
*Please note, the dinner is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Bubbles & Blossoms Lunch
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13th – Hike 10am, Lunch 12pm
Hike and paired lunch
More Info: Age 21+ | Guided Hike | Paired Lunch | Sommelier | Sparkling Wines of the World
Enjoy scenic mountain trails with the Vail Wine Classic in a guided hike that explores the breathtaking Gore Range in Vail. After you take in the panoramic views of the hike enjoy a delicious paired lunch at La Tour featuring an exhibition of the wines from Champagne Collet. This sophisticated landmark restaurant has consistently been named one of the best restaurants in Vail and has won many awards for its outstanding dishes. Led by Vail’s own super sommeliers Thoger Petry and Rachael Liggett-Draper, this pairing will explore Collet’s signature style and exemplify the many types of bubbles from the region.
This hike is approximately 3 miles long. Please allow approximately 2 hours for the hike and 90 minutes for the lunch. Address: Meet at La Tour at 122 E Meadow Dr, Vail, CO
Full menu to be released this summer. Extremely limited tickets.
Address: 122 E Meadow Dr, Vail, CO 81657
*Please note, the lunch is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Tasting The Master's Way
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13th at 12:00pm
Learn the go-to wines our panel of sommeliers choose
More Info: Age 21+ | Wine | Master Sommeliers | Charcuterie
We’ve rounded up four world class Sommeliers leading you through a tasting of their favorite wines from around the globe. This is your chance to learn the regions, grapes and pairings that Master Sommeliers go to when they’re looking to uncork some inspiration. Consider this your personal invitation to taste wines as they would amongst their peers. Shhhh….you just can’t don’t tell anyone their secrets! Expect world-class wines from around the world, served alongside a charcuterie spread from our friends at Root & Flower.
Plan 90 minutes for this seminar.
Address: 288 Bridge St, C4, Vail, CO
*Please note, the charcuterie is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Better Off Red Lunch
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13th at 12:00pm
Red Wine & Red Meat Tasting
More Info: Age 21+ | Paired Lunch | Wine | Sommelier
Attention all meat lovers! Savor the delicious pairing of red meat and red wine in this delectable luncheon. At Vail’s new Gravity Haus Slope Room restaurant, relish select red wines from Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate and Reserve portfolios. This family-run winery has been producing classic Sonoma wines for over 40 years and you’ll get a chance to experience them firsthand with this not-to-miss wine seminar. Discover the true power of wine and food pairings at this heavy hitting lunch at Gravity Haus.
Full menu to be released this summer. Extremely limited tickets.
Plan 90 minutes for this lunch.
Address: 352 E Meadow Dr, Vail, CO 81657
*Please note, the lunch is a fixed menu and we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests. Wines and courses are subject to change, but only for the better.
Class on Glass - Riedel Workshop
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14th at 11:30am
Keep the Riedel Wine Glass Set of 4 Varietal Specific Glasses
More Info: Age 21+ | Indoor | Wine | Keep the Glasses
Riedel’s varietal-specific glasses enhance the aromas and taste components, to showcase each style in its finest form. Discover the effect of shape and size on the perception of wine in a glass & wine tasting tutorial.
In a unique and fascinating wine glass tasting, Sommelier Shelly Sale, will demonstrate the relationship between the shape of a glass and our perception and enjoyment of wines. Guests will enjoy tasting the stemware best suited for Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. If you love wine, this seminar will change your wine life forever! Guests who attend this seminar receive a clean Riedel Performance Tasting Kit with four glasses to take home (retails for $129). This is an experience that a true wine lover should not miss!
Please allow up to 75 minutes for the seminar.
Wine Dinners & Paired Lunches
More Info: Age 21+ | Wine Pairing | Full Meal | Sommelier | Winemaker
A celebration of local food and fine wine! The Vail Wine Classic is proud to kickoff a weekend of great wine and food with a series of wine dinners and paired lunches at local establishments in Vail.
Full schedule and tickets available in June.
Lifestyle & Classroom Seminars
More Info: Age 21+ | Educational | Experiential | Winemaker
Seminars play into a variety of interests and activities. You could take a hike with a winemaker followed by a paired lunch; learn the basics of wine pairing at home; or taste why the wine glass really does make all the difference.
Full schedule and tickets available in June.
Safe Sips - How It Works
COVID Safety at the Festival
Safe Sips – How It Works
The safety of our guests and wineries is our top priority! To keep you safe, we’ve implemented a few rules for a safe event. We fully anticipate these changing by the time this event happens. Thank you for working with us on these.
- Masks may be required in some areas of the festival when mingling and chatting with wineries
- Collect samples from the wineries on your tray and take your beers back to your area to remove your mask and drink your samples with your group.
- Temperature Checks upon entry to the festival
- Hand Sanitizer will be readily available all over the event
- View full COVID Safety details
