Photo courtesy of Full Pour Media.
One of the world’s highest-altitude wine festivals introduces new experiences, restaurants, and wineries on August 24-26
One of the world’s highest-altitude wine festivals Breckenridge Wine Classic has announced 2023 changes as tickets are on sale now. New to 2023 is Wine is Blind, 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. This year, the festival is also shifting from September to August 23-25.
“It’s no surprise that food and wine festivals need to adapt to consumer preferences, honing in on experiential aspects that consumers wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere,” said Breckenridge Wine Classic Festival Events and Marketing Director Kristen Slater. “With our new signature event Wine is Blind, we’re mixing pop culture, a cocktail party and an expansive taste testing – while removing the curtain that is wine labels.”
Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Breckenridge Wine Classic is a three-day festival anchored by the two-day Grand Tasting in addition to unique seminars such as a guided hike and wine pairing lunch with master winemakers, wine dinners planned by world-class sommeliers, and more than 100 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and epicurean purveyors at this ultimate food, wine, and sensory experience.
The 2023 Breckenridge Wine Classic, celebrating its ninth year, includes:
The Grand Tasting, Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26: 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.
Pairings & Seminars, all weekend: Ticketed 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, and/ a wine reprievement with a cocktail class.
Wine dinners, Thursday, Aug. 24 Expertly curated wine dinners and paired lunches will be held at local top dining restaurants across Breckenridge with Master Sommeliers and winemakers. Restaurants so far include Hearthstone Restaurant, Giampietro Pasta & Pizzeria, and Ember fine dining restaurant.
“There’s truly no place else this summer where you can hike alongside a somm, go to a Love is Blind-themed cocktail party, and taste 100+ wines under the Colorado sun. Even better, we aim to keep this affordable, making it as accessible for oenophiles as it is for the couple or bachelorette group who wants to enjoy a weekend in the mountains,” said Slater.
More details regarding the seminars and events will be released closer to the festival. Volunteer applications will open in June.
