The festival is held the second week of August, August 5–9 this year. What started as a weekend event now runs over six days starting with the already sold-out Farm to Barn Wine Dinner on Tuesday, August 5. Other events that will be held during this week include golf outings, yoga classes, bike and brew events, lunches, cooking classes, and tasting seminars before culminating in the grand event on Saturday, the Toast of Steamboat. But the weekend isn’t over yet because there is a Mimosa Morning hangover brunch to finish off the festival on Sunday, August 9.

New to the tasting this year is The Beast and the Brew seminar featuring Beer Cicerone and Sommelier Mike Kelley pairing great tasting beers with red meat from E3 Chophouse. Also new this year is Colorado Craft, a tasting of craft spirits and cocktails featuring Leopold Brothers, Spring44, and Woody Creek Distillers, all from Colorado. Carl’s Tavern will provide the small bites to pair with the booze. Also new is the Best of the Fest VIP Tasting, which will allow guests to enjoy a specially selected group of wineries that will present their best wines, only 90 points and above allowed.

Tickets to the main event, Toast of Steamboat, are $99 per person and include souvenir tasting glass, a chance to taste as many premium wines, beer, and spirits as possible, and delicious food from over 20 local restaurants. VIP tickets are $150 per person and include early entrance at 2 PM and a special shaded VIP area in the square. Tickets for other events run from $65 to $95 per person. Check the festival website for more information. All tickets are available online.

Put the Steamboat Wine Festival on your summer travel calendar, because events are selling out quickly and you don’t want to miss this fun and delicious weekend in the mountains.

Photos by Carrie Dow