Taste of Vail

April 5-7, 2012

Immerse your senses in the flavors, aromas and sights of the annual Taste of Vail. Enjoy the best wines from over 50 of the country's most noted vintners. Sample the most exquisite fare of Vail Valley's world-class restaurants. Experience the dazzling spring snow, the nonstop excitement, the galleries, the shops and the incomparable views that make this event an annual favorite.

THURSDAY APRIL 5, 2012

• 11:00am  Cooking Demo $35  |  The Sebastian  Cooking demo featuring Chef Paola Garduño from Café O & O2, México City & Chef Roberto Solis from Nectar, Yucatǻn Join Paola and Roberto during this interactive cooking demo at The Sebastian, Vail. Learn to make traditional Mexican dishes from the Chef that does it best. Recipes include ceviches, tamales, pipian etc. $35 per person includes tasting of demo dish Not included in the event passes For details call: 970.477.8050

• 1pm  Mexican Wine Seminar  $35.00  |  The Sebastian  During this informative and delicious wine seminar, expand your cellar's horizons. Explore the best wines of Mexico with the finest Mexican Sommeliers, Humberto Falcón from The Little Wine Market in Monterrey $35 per person Not included in the event passes For details call: 970.477.8050 

• 3:30pm  8th Annual Colorado Lamb $75 Cook-Off and Apres Ski Tasting (Included in Festival Pass) | Vail Village  Enjoy one of Vail's favorite spring events. This year the annual Taste of Vail Lamb Cook-Off will joins with the Apres Ski Tasting to create a true Apres Ski Party. Sample an array of lamb dishes, courtesy of the Vail Valley's finest chefs and the Colorado Lamb Board. In the theme of "Life Beyond Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot" Taste of Vail's participating wineries will be showcasing wines a wide array of varietals that include Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Zinfandel. Spirits and beer will be there to enhance your experience. Individual tasting tickets will be available for $4 each Event tickets available for $75
   
• 6:00pm Block 16 Vintners Dinner Series: A Taste of Mexico  $105.00  |  The Sebastian  Block 16 invites wine lovers and foodies alike to enjoy a special evening that truly captures the spirit of Mexico with every sip and nibble. Chef Sergio Howland has collaborated with the best Mexican chefs, presenting a delicious five-course tasting menu. $105++ per person Includes five-course tasting menu with wine pairings Not included in the event passes For details call: 970.477.8050

• 6:30pm Davidoff Cigars and Craft Distillers Seminar  $50.00 | The Tap Room, Vail  Representatives from Davidoff Cigars will be on hand to demonstrate pairings of their renowned products. Learn about the world's finest cigars. Enjoy spirits from Craft Distillers

FRIDAY, APRIL6, 2012

• 10:30am  Riedel Glass Seminar Wine Pairing  $55.00 | Four Seasons, Vail  Riedel, the world's premier wine glass maker, knows that the pleasure of consuming wine starts with the glass. In this informative class, learn by doing hands-on taste comparisons how the shape of a glass can profoundly affect a wine's bouquet and flavor. Join us for an morning of learning and wine tasting that is sure to enhance your enjoyment of life's most delicious beverage. Guests will take home a 4 piece vinum wine tasting Riedel set. Space is limited, so make your reservations today! 
   
• 12:30pm Mountain Top Picnic access via the Eagle Bahn Express Gondola $135.00 | Eagle's Nest (Included in Festival Pass)  Scenic Eagle's Nest atop Vail Mointain, at 10,350 feet above sea level, serves as the venue for a small army of Vail's restaurants to serve up gourmet picnic fare. Held in a hand built snow arena, the guest wineries follow up with a marvelous selection of fine wines, spirits and beer while Mother Nature has historically served up some of Vail's famous Champagne powder. Make sure to dress appropriately  

• 1pm  Cooking Demo: Tequila, Mescal & Beer- Oh My  $35.00 | The Sebastian  Cooking Demo: Tequila, Mescal & Beer - OH MY! featuring Chefs Solange & Benito Molina from Restaurant Manzanilla in Ensenada Baja California. Join Chefs Solange & Benito Molina from Manzanilla Restaurant in Ensenada Baja for this interactive cooking. $35 per person includes tasting of demo dish Not included in the event passes For details call: 970.477.8050

• 1:00pm Mexican Spirits Seminar  $35.00  | The Sebastian  During this informative and delicious spirits seminar, explore the spirits of Mexico with the finest Mexican Sommeliers, Humberto Falcón from The Little Wine Market in Monterrey and Bernabé Luna from Luca in Carmel Hosted by Thamin Saleh, Wine Director. $35 per person Not included in the event passes For details call: 970.477.8050 

• 6pm Block 16 Vintners Dinner Series: Margerum Wines  $105.00  | The Sebastian  Block 16 is so excited to welcome Margerum Wines back to the table for the second year in a row. Enjoy a delicious five-course tasting menu, prepared in celebration of Taste of Vail and the Semana Santa holiday by Chef Sergio Howland and Chef Riley Romanin. Each dish will be paired perfectly with Margerum wines. $105++ per person Includes five-course tasting menu with wine pairings Not included in the event passes For details call: 970-477-8050 
   
• 6:30pm  Belgian Beer Food Pairing  |  Mirabelle, Avon  Join Chef Daniel Joly (Mirabelle at Beaver Creek) on a tasting and cooking journey with Belgian beers Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe Blonde. Learn about Belgium?s amazing brewing history and how a country the size of Maryland can brew more styles of beer than any other nation in the world. A native of Belgium, Chef Joly will explain the perfect way to enjoy Belgian beer, from the importance of glassware to proper pouring and tasting techniques. Learn great home entertainment tips on how best to pair these fabulous beers with the right dish or add them to the right recipe. Accented with delicious plate selections created by Chef Joly, this seminar will change the way you look at, taste and cook with Belgian beer.   

• 6:30pm A Decade of Wine | La Tour Restaurant  La Tour Restaurant owner Chef Paul Ferzacca and Sommelier Paul DiMario are opening the wine cellar to a decade of wine from 1990 to 1999. One wine from every vintage in the 90s will be paired with a five course tasting menu at this extraordinary evening event. Make your reservations now as seating is very limited. Call La Tour Restaurant for more information(970) 476-4403 or book your party now. $235 per person not including tax or gratuity. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2012

• 11:00am Cooking Demo featuring Chef Guillermo Gonzalez from Pangea in Monterrey And Chef Sergio Howland from The Sebastian-Vail $35.00 | The Sebastian  Join Guillermo and Sergio during this interactive cooking demo at The Sebastian - Vail. Learn to make traditional Mexican recipes in a contemporary way. Dishes like salmon "al pastor" or duck in tequila-chipotle glaze. $35 per person includes tasting of demo dish Not included in the event passes For details call: 970-477-8050 

• 11:00am  Wine & Cheese Pairing Made Simple - The Chemistry Behind the Romance with Jerry Comfort  | The Sebastian Vail  Jerry Comfort is the senior manager of wine education for Beringer Vineyards. He has created a tool to help demystify cheese and wine pairing. The seminar will explore the sensory of "flavor" versus "taste" with six cheeses and four wines. Although it seems like a no-brainer, pairing wine and cheese can be confusing. Who do you believe. Jerry is here to demystify the experience and make it enjoyable for you. Many will tell you to serve red wine with all cheeses. Jerry has met several wine experts who feel white wine is a much better match for most cheese
   
• 1:30pm Speed Dating with Wine  $50.00  |  Lodge at Vail  Start a new love affair with wine as six producers will showcase their finest products. The Speed Dating seminar is $50 per person

•  3:00pm  Renaissance of Spanish Wine  $50.00 | Sebastian, Vail  Spain is in the process of reinventing itself; changing appellation rules, resurrecting varietals and growing areas, visionary wine makers producing wines of startling quality and world class appeal. This will be a tasting and discussion that attempts to take the pulse of the current Spanish wine renaissance.
   
• 7:00pm Grand Tasting and Auction  $175.00  (Included in Festival Pass)  | Vail Marriott Grand Ballroom  The grand daddy of wine, spirits, beer and food tastings. Experience Taste of Vail's annual decadent and unparalleled wine and culinary spectacle. This event features all of Taste of Vail's wineries and restaurants, spirits and beer. The evening will include Taste of Vail's Auction