Wine Country International Magazine

WINE COUNTRY I

N

T

E

R

N

A

T

I

O

N

A

L

Special Issue Celebrate Denver

&

Wine

Food

T h e o f f i c i a l g u i d e f o r t h e 2 011 Denver International Wine Festival

Raise your glass and fork... celebrate Denver Wine Week!

UR WA O Y E YT N I W HR OUGH WI NTER

SUMMIT AT THE BROADMOOR After the holidays are over and the New Year is here, we’re going to keep the fun flowing! Join Summit at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for the “Wine Your Way through Winter” dinner series, featuring exclusive wineries from around the world. Starting January 15, Summit will host a wine pairing dinner nearly every Sunday through March.

Kicking off with the Pinot Posse on January 15, other dinners include a Tour of Italy, Napa Valley vs. Bordeaux, Champagne and Syrah vs. Syrah. A special room rate of $130 plus taxes and fees will be available for this dinner series. For room reservations call 719.634.7711 and ask for the "Summit Rate".

To avoid the season slump, wine your way through winter!

Visit BroadmoorDining.com or follow The Broadmoor on Facebook and Twitter for the full list of events.

Call 719-577-5896 to make your reservations.

page 3

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

November 2011 Welcome to Wine Country International® magazine’s special issue dedicated to The 7th Annual Denver International Wine Festival, presented by Key Private Bank.

2011 has been exciting year to be in Colorado! People work hard and play hard, enjoying more than 300 days of sunshine and mild arid weather. This year Colorado was host to USA Pro Cycling Challenge, America’s version of the Tour de France!

Colorado’s sizzling food and wine culture keeps broadening it’s offerings with wine inclined restaurants, celebrity chefs, Master Sommeliers, wine bars and wine savvy retailers. The City Of Boulder is now recognized as being the epicenter for both the beer and organic food industries.

The Mile High City has a lot to offer to a foodie and wine lover. With more than 2,000 restaurants and several of the nations largest wine retailers, Denver is considered a “hot spot” for the wine industry. Consumption is bubbling over greater populated, major metropolitan markets.

Christopher J. Davies

Colorado’s burgeoning wine industry is also growing from the western slope and reaching into urban city limits. This year the industry set the quality bar higher by inviting a national panel of respected wine experts to review and select its best wines. The top winners joined in a special event at the Governors Mansion.

The 7th annual Denver International Wine Festival and competition offer the largest, most Internationally diverse selection of wines available in the Rocky Mountains. Our goal is to educate attendees palates while creating a truly unique experience.

The annual Denver International Wine Competition receives more than 500 entries from producers around the world. Wines are tasted by a prestigious panel of Colorado wine professionals consisting of Master Sommelier’s, Wine Directors, F&B Directors, Wine Journalists and Retailers. Our goal is to create a well-rounded panel of experts that taste wines “double-blind” and achieve the fairest scoring results possible. In 2011, the judges awarded more than 150 medals.

Only Gold Medal winners are selected to be poured at Pairsine, The Taste of Elegance Chefs Food and Wine Competition. 15 Wine Savvy Chefs compete to make 24 custom paired epicurean delights. Denver’s premier annual foodie event has been graced by Colorado master chefs, including Top Chef Season 5 winner Hosea Rosenberg, who returns this year as a celebrity judge and co-host with Chef Kelly Liken of Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail.

Almost a full year goes into the planning and execution of the Denver International Wine Festival. In business it is paramount to have a great support system. We would like to thank all of our esteemed sponsors, partners, wineries, importers, distributors, chefs, restaurants, vendors and family members for making this festival a great success! À Votre Santé! To Your Health!

Darcy R. Davies President & Festival Co-Founder

Christopher J. Davies CEO & Festival Co-Founder

Darcy R. Davies

page 4

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Wine Country International ® Magazine Christopher J. Davies Co-Founder, Editor & Publisher Darcy R. Davies Co-Founder & Design Director Managing Editor Beth Prieto Travel/Beer Editor Dan Rabin Food Editor Clair Walter Lifestyle Editor V.G. Walsh Public Relations Marilyn M. Miller Director of Photography Christopher J. Davies Contributing Editors: Paul David Rob Rudko Claire Walter Barrie Lynn Mary Foster Morgan Advertising, Sponsorship and Club Sales Sharon Bolton Eastern Advertising Sales Emily White East Coast Business Manager Dorothy Brown Director of New York Tours and Events Rob Rudko Licensing Director John Anello, Esq. Website Design nIdea.com A publication of Wine Country Network, Inc. Christopher J. Davies Chairman & CEO, Co-Founder Darcy Davies President & Co-Founder James Alterbaum, Esq. Corporate Counsel Wine Country Network, Inc. P.O. Box 6023 Broomfield, CO 80021 Tel. 303-664-5700 Fax. 303-648-4199 www.winecountrynetwork.com e-mail: info@winecountrynetwork.com Address editorial inquiries to editor@winecountrynetwork.com VINOTASTING Newsletter at www.Vinotasting.com Twitter: vinotasting Wine Country International Magazine is published 3 times per year by Wine Country Network, Inc. Subscriptions are offered as part of the Wine Country Network Club™ membership in the United States and possessions, $24 for one year; in Canada, $40; foreign prices on request. To join, visit our website or call 1-866 Wine Country (866 946-3268). Wine Country International Magazine does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, photographs or other works. All rights in letters sent in to Wine Country Network will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes. Contents © 2011 by Wine Country Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or part without written permission of the publisher.

All photography in this publication, unless otherwise noted is copyrighted by Christopher J. Davies, www.daviesphotos.com, all rights reserved.

Front Cover Credits (Clockwise from top left. Chef Mario Clapes, Omni Interlocken Resort, Food by Chef DeWayne Lieurance, Chef Leo Harvey, Big Game, Denver, Food by Chef Robert Corey, Grand Tasting at The Mile High Station, Chef David Oliveri, Farradday’s/Isle Black Hawk, Food by Chef Robert Corey, Guests at The Taste of Elegance, Food by Chef David Harker, Omni Interlocken Resort, Cocktails by Patricia Richards, Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg chats with guests, Food by Chef Michael Long. All photos © 2011 by Christopher J. Davies

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

page 5

page 6

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Seminars

CHEESE 101 CLASS & BOOK SIGNING by Liz Thorpe, Vice President of Murray’s Cheese, Author of The Cheese Chronicles Books for 2011

The Gift Of Hearing

Mitch Shapiro and The Foundation For Sight & Sound Mitch Shapiro comes from a legendary Long Island catering & restaurant legacy. His family ran the worldfamous Swan Club overlooking Roslyn Harbor.

Mitch and his older sister are afflicted by Usher Syndrome, a rare condition characterized by hearing loss or deafness and progressive vision loss. Mitch is legally blind and requires the help of a guide dog to get around. While he was progressively becoming deaf, he has managed to greatly improve his hearing with colloquial implants.

A positive and fun loving individual, Mitch has devoted his time to raising money and awareness for finding a cure and helping individuals improve their quality of life.

As The CEO & Co-Founder of The Foundation For Sight & Sound, Mitch has produced numerous fundraisers, such as Long Island’s "Blind Wine Gala", a popular annual wine tasting & network event, “The Tug-a-Jet” which involves corporate sponsors and their employees pulling a jet on airport runway and a new event called "Over The Edge" that involves Mitch actually propelling down a 6 or 12 story building!

This past spring Mitch and his girlfriend Donna purchased a bicycle built for two and participated in the 42 mile, 5 borough bike tour in New York City. This past summer, Mitch and Donna rode their bike 100 miles to Montauk, Long Island.

Mitch is also an accomplished motivational speaker who travels nationally with his guide dog. For this year’s Denver International Wine Festival he will be flying by himself to Denver on a red-eye flight from New York.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and 100% of all silent and live auctions at the Denver International Wine Festival benefit the Foundation For Sight & Sounds, Help America Hear Program (HAHP). Established in 2009, HAHP has fitted 190 disadvantaged people in the US with hearing aids, 41 of Colorado residents have receive hearing aids. On Wednesday November 2, 2011, Mitch plans a Day Of Giving Hearing Aid Mission. His organization will be fitting 18 Colorado residents with hearing aids at the Lakewood Hearing and Speech Center.

FOUNDATIONFORSIGHTANDSOUND.ORG

2:00 to 3:00pm Liz began working the counter at Murray’s Cheese in 2002 after graduating from Yale University and working in a “normal” job for a couple of years. Soon she was managing and expanding Murray’s wholesale business and designing cheese menus for the country’s best restaurants.

As Vice President, Liz oversees Murray’s wholesale, education, mail order and marketing programs. Additionally, she is the project manager for Murray’s partnership with Kroger supermarkets; together, the companies are opening 50 Murray’s cheese shops in Kroger stores nationwide, including 6 King Soopers stores in Denver and Boulder. Liz co-authored The Murray’s Cheese Handbook, and in 2009 she published The Cheese Chronicles (Ecco), a celebrated book that gives an insider’s look into the making of cheese in America.

JORDAN WINERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON VERTICAL TASTING AN EVOLUTION!” By Chris Avery, Sales Director, Jordan Winery

3:00 to 4:00pm At 600 feet above sea level, the rolling hillside vineyards of our Alexander Valley estate are steep enough to gently stress the vines, screaming intensity of flavor in the grapes. Foggy mornings and cool nights moderate the warm climate, extending the growing season well into October when the fruit is harvested at optimal maturity.

The Jordan estate is comprised of three sites (one expansive parcel of rolling hills behind the winery and two smaller, valley floor parcels below the winery) totaling more than 1,500 acres with 223 acres of Bordeaux varieties under vine, divided into 32 individual blocks. There are 158 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 44 acres of Merlot and 21 acres of Petit Verdot. Vines were planted primarily in 1996 with additional Petit Verdot planted in 2005. As stewards of an estate with three-quarters of its acreage dedicated to natural habitat

The Evolution Of Hungarian Wines! By Nimród Kovács

5:00 to 6:00pm Great grapes are the foundation of great wine. While seemingly intuitive, it is imperative to wine quality that grapes be grown where the land is best suited for the needs of that particular varietal. At Kovács Nimród Winery a combination of tried and true ¹old country¹ methods are used, combined with more modern viticultural techniques currently practiced in California and around the world. Furthermore Kovács Nimród Winery started to use eco-friendly and ¹green¹ cultivation and production techniques in an effort to be kind to the earth and to maintain sustainable farming methods.

Kovacs Nimrod Winery was fortunate to acquire 10 hectares in the region¹s finest vineyard, located atop the city¹s ³sacred hill², Nagy Eged. This area has unique soil characteristics that are comparable to Burgundy and Northern Rhone and allow varietals such as Furmint, Kekfrankos, Syrah and Pinot Noir to thrive. Kovács Nimród Winery, aside from producing Furmint and Chardonnay mainly focuses on red varietals such as Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch), Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In carefully selecting which varietals the winery will use, the objective is to create wines that represent the best aspects of the region as well as hold their own in a very competitive international market. The grapes used are harvested by hand and processed promptly in order to maximize juice quality.

page 7

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Seminars Grand Cru...Beer??? By Keith Villa, Brewmaster of Blue Moon Brewing

6:00 to 7:00pm The term Grand Cru literally means “great growth” and conjures up images of the best wine that a vintner can offer. However, other food and drink can also utilize the term Grand Cru, including beer. A Grand Cru beer can be described as a bigger, bolder, stronger version that is brewed for a special occasion. The history of Grand Cru beers will be presented, along with a tasting of a new Grand Cru offering from Blue Moon.

Meet the brewmaster and mastermind behind Blue Moon Brewing. Keith is also a big wine enthusiast.

Moscato, Surrender to the Sweet By Andrew Quady, ³The Muscat King*

8:00 to 9:00pm Moscato is topping the charts and coming to the main stage. Sweet wines are back with a vengeance and ready to rumble. Find out the difference between Muscat² and ³Moscato². Sample ³Moscatos² from California, Italy and France.

Learn from Andrew Quady, a.k.a. ³The Muscat King²* and get juiced about sweet wine!

Since 1975 ³Keeping it Sweet² has been the raison d¹etre of Quady Winery. Located in the warm central valley of California where the growing conditions are well suited to ripening Muscat grapes, Andrew and Laurel Quady and the Quady crew focus on crafting refreshingly sweet wines.

Andrew will be joined by Bob and Kelly Yepello, owners of Yepello Chocolates, who have crafted the perfect chocolate and moscato accompaniments for your tasting pleasure. Yepello, from Steamboat Springs, use only the finest locally grown (whenever possible) ingredients in their chocolates and confections. Sip moscatos and savor chocolates ahhhh bliss!! *²The Muscat King² title from the English wine writer Neville Blech and the California wine writer Rich Hinkle.

Tim Baldwin-Wine Director The Broadmoor Congratulations to The Broadmoor’s Wine Director and Sommelier Timothy Baldwin! He was awarded the Top Sommelier in the World Finals of the Copa Jerez, a food & Sherry pairing competition in Jerez, Spain. Baldwin and Chef Bertrand Bouquin competed against six teams from other countries to present their ultimate food & Sherry pairings. Baldwin selected the Sherry wines to be paired with each dish, gave a detailed description about the wines, as well as an explanation of how each pairing was selected and why the wine & food worked so well together.

A panel of highly respected members of the international food & wine community, including Pontus Elofsson from NOMA in Denmark and Juli Soler from the former El Bulli in Spain, judged the competition to determine the winners of the Best Starter, Main Course and Dessert Pairings, Best Chef, Best Sommelier and the Overall Champions for the Best Food & Sherry Menu.

“It was awesome to participate in a competition with such talented, esteemed chefs and sommeliers, and it was even more awesome to receive the honor of Top Sommelier,” said Baldwin. “Bertrand and I set out to represent the Unites States the best we possibly could and I can say confidently we did that.”

You can taste Tim and Chef Bertrand’s amazing Sherry and food pairings nightly at Summit, the Broadmoor’s contemporary American Brasserie. broadmoordining.com

Chief Moderator: Paul David-Sommelier & Founder of Wineparings A Finance graduate from Concordia University in Montreal, Paul started collecting wines in the late 70’s.

His wine interest continued throughout a career in the financial field, and, later ownership of several small businesses. Paul later became a sommelier and currently owns and operates Wine Pairings, a wine concierge service providing wine for your everyday consumption as well as wine catering for major events. www. Wineparings.biz

2011 Denver International Wine Festival Supports Eat Denver!

The DIWF is proud to be supporting EatDenver, an association of locally owned, independent restaurants committed to supporting and promoting the value of independent dining within the community.

A portion of ticket proceeds from our 2011 Pairsine Denver VIP tickets will be donated to EatDenver. www.eatdenver.com

{eat/Roma}

Wine, Roses and Cuisine Perfectly in Rome Story and Photos by Christopher J. Davies

If you are thinking about making a winter vacation to Rome, odds are that you really love delicious food and wine. Rome’s mild Mediterranean weather allows you to eat outside as early as a sunny March afternoon.

Best of all, you will find the city less crowded than during spring or summer.

Rome’s many tourist sites are within walking distance of the world famous Spanish Steps which climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the church of Trinità dei

Monti. The Scalinata-as the steps are known to the Romans-is the widest staircase in Europe.

At the top sits one of the highest acclaimed hotels in the world: The Hotel Hassler. It is owned and personally managed by Robert Wirth, one of the most detail-oriented owners in the hotel industry. Mr. Wirth is a member of a Swiss hotel family dynasty.

Today, the Hassler offers 95 individually decorated rooms and suites. Spacious and elegant, each Grand Deluxe room has its own

exclusive décor and atmosphere. My wife and I were fortunate to stay in room 514, a special Grand Deluxe room with a private balcony overlooking the church of Trinità dei Monti with an aerial view of the Spanish Steps. Grand Deluxe Room 630. Rates vary by season, but worth every Euro!

Visit: www.hotelhasslerroma.comPhoto to left, 1000 year old trees in a dead sea.

All photos © 2010 by Christopher J. Davies.

page 10

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Co l o r a d o D i n i n g Trends

by Claire Walter, Photo by Christopher J. Davies

Leading chefs are cooking with natural, organic and local ingredients Once upon a not very long time ago, a good meal in many Colorado restaurants was a steak and a great meal was a big steak. That time has passed. The Centennial state is now home to award-winning chefs, nationally renowned restaurants, sophisticated foodies and wine-lovers who appreciate the increasingly vibrant culinary scene. The most creative local chefs have been on the leading edge of many national trends, using locally sourced ingredients such as farm-fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, beef, lamb, bison, poultry and even Colorado-farmed fish. They offer farm-to-table and wine-pairing dinners. They cater to guests who want to graze from a selection of tapas, sample house-made charcuterie (or salume if the restaurant is Italian), taste designer pizzas or fork up upscale comfort food.

With high-profile media recognition, chefs like Hosea Rosenberg, Kelly Liken and Alex Seidel have raised Colorado’s standing as a culinary Mecca. Rosenberg, then with Boulder’s Jax Fish House and now planning his own restaurant, won Season 5 of the hit show, “Top Chef.” Kelly Liken, owner/chef of namesake Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail, made it to Round 13 of 14 on “Top Chef” two seasons later and also has been a three-time finalist for James Beard Best Chef, Southwest honors. Seidel, owner/chef of Denver’s Fruition, was the latest Colorado chef to be named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs of the Year. He made the list in 2010.

More and more Colorado chefs are using ingredients from local farms and ranches, often with exclusive arrangements where a farmer grows to order for individual restaurant clients. A few restaurants are even growing their own. Some have a few herb pots on the kitchen windowsill, while others are running

full-fledged farms. Examples: Boulder’s Black Cat Bistro in Boulder begat Black Cat Farm in nearby Niwot, and Fruition Restaurant in Denver begat Fruition Farm in Larkspur.

What Colorado chefs do with these fine, fresh ingredients varies, but high quality and careful presentation are hallmarks of the best of the best. You won’t find any more carefully composed plates than those presented by Michael Long who founded both Opus in Littleton and more recently Aria in Denver, Jean-Luc Voegele the classically trained French chef who oversees the kitchens at the Westin Tabor Center or Kevin Taylor with a small group of local restaurants.

In terms of catering to diners’ varied needs, menus include everything from house-made sausages based on nose-to-tail utilization to delicious and creative vegetarian and even vegan dishes that do not create a sense of deprivation.

On the local scene are excellent renditions of specialties from various culinary trends including Asian by Lon Symensma at ChoLon Asian Bistro, Italian by Elise Wiggins at Panzano and Geoffrey Groditski of Southwestern, French at Le Grand Bistro and Oyster Bar and frontier fare at The Fort in Morrison.

In the adult beverage area, local restaurants order both globally and locally when it comes to wines, beers and spirits. Drink menus list alcoholic beverages of various types from around the corner and around the world.

Colorado wines are increasingly respected, and Colorado microbreweries and microdistilleries offer distinctive beverages, adding another dimension to the Colorado dining city, which just keeps getting better.

2011 Pairsine Chefs Food & Wine Pairing Competition (Formerly The Taste Of Elegance)

Geoffrey Groditski The Fort

Robert N. Corey 12 Seasons

Tim Payne

Terroir Restaurant

Elise Wiggins Panzano

Daniel Joly

Restaurant Mirabelle David Olivieri Farraddays’ Isle Casino Black Hawk

Daniel Asher

Root Down & Linger Matt Mine The Oceanaire Seafood Room

Joseph Hsu

Simms Steak House

David Harker & Mario Clapes

The Meritage at The Omni Interlocken

Lon Symensma

Cholon Modern Asian Bistro

Jensen Cummings Row 14

Will Cisa

The Corner Office Restaurant & Martini Bar

Jeff Bolton

Second Home Restaurant & Bar

Jeremy Thomas

Le Grand ­Bistro & Oyster Bar

page 12

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

2011 Denver International BEST OF SHOW 2011 Best White Wine Double Gold Deerfield Ranch

Best Red Wine Double Gold

Pinot Gris

2010 Mendocino County

Silkwood Wines Satin and Silk VSPS

2007 Stanislaus County

Petite Sirah

Medal Winning Wines 2011 SPARKLING WINE Gold Chateau Frank Blance de Blancs 2005

Finger Lakes Silver Chateau Frank Celebre Rose NV

Finger Lakes Silver Rack and Riddle Brut NV

North Coast Bronze Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee NV

California PROSECCO (made in Italy) Silver Bivo Italia Prosecco

Veneto Italy

NV

OFF DRY WHITE (1-3% sugar) Gold Dr. Konstantin Frank Muscat Ottonel

2010 Finger Lakes Silver Airlie Winery White Blend 2009

Willamette Valley Silver Santa Fe Vineyards Indian Market White

NV New Mexico Bronze Wheelhouse Wine Cellars Kumbaya

NV California LATE HARVEST/SWEET WHITE (4% & over) Gold White Truck Moscato 2010

California Silver Coyote Moon Vineyards White Blend

2010 New York State Bronze Coyote Moon Vineyards Brianna

2010 New York State PINOT BLANC Gold Verterra Winery Pinot Blanc 2010

Leelanau Peninsula Silver Dr. Konstantin Frank Pinot Blanc

2010 Finger Lakes

PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO Gold Deerfield Ranch Winery Pinot Gris

2010 Mendocino County Silver Van Ruiten Winery Pinot Gris 2010

Lodi Bronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Pinot Gris

2010 Finger Lakes SAUVIGNON BLANC UNDER $15.00 Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 270

2010 Russian River Valley Silver Napa Station S auvignon Blanc 2009

Napa Valley Bronze Goldschmidt Vineyards Nick Goldschmidt

2009 Marlborough SAUVIGNON BLANC $15.01 UP Gold Peju Province Winery Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Napa Valley Silver Cakebread Cellars S auvignon Blanc

2010 Napa Valley Bronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Finger Lakes CHARDONNAY UNDER $15.00 Gold Sweet Chardonnay 2010

California Gold First Press Chardonnay 2009

California Silver Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 273

2009 Arroyo Seco Bronze Bodega Elena De Mendoza Chardonnay

2009 Mendoza ARG

CHARDONNAY $15.01 - $25.00 Gold Hook & Ladder Winery Chardonnay

2009 Russian River Valley Silver Rodney Strong Vineyards 2010

Northern Sonoma County Bronze Hagafen Cellars C hardonnay 2010

Oak Knoll District

SEMI-DRY RIESLING Gold Flying Ace Kabinett 2009

Mosel Silver Airlie Winery Semi-Dry Riesling 2009

Willamette Valley Bronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Riesling

2010 Finger Lakes

CHARDONNAY $25.01 - $35.00 Gold Solitude Chardonnay 2009

Carneros Silver Bailyana Fire Pike Vineyard 2008

Edna Valley

GEWÜRZTRAMINER Gold Dr. Konstantin Frank

gewürztraminer 2009 Finger Silver Verterra Winery gewürztraminer 2010

Leelanau Peninsula Lakes Bronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards gewürztraminer

2009 Finger Lakes

CHARDONNAY $35.01 - OVER Gold Jeff Gordon Cellars C hardonnay 2008

Carneros Silver Alysian Star Ridge Vineyards 2008

Russian River Valley Bronze Partridge Cellars R ichard Partridge 2 009

Napa Valley VIOGNIER Gold Rock Wall Winery Viognier 2010

California Silver Lange Twins Viognier 2010

Clarksburg Bronze Coyote Canyon Winery Viognier

2010 Horse Heaven Hills Bronze Creekside Cellars V iognier 2010

Colorado DRY RIESLING Gold Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Riesling 2010

Finger Lakes Silver Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2 010

Finger Lakes Bronze Flying Ace Dry Riesling 2009

Mosel Bronze Sheldrake Point Vineyard Riesling 2010 Finger Lakes

WHITE RHONE BLENDS Gold Micheal David Winery Incognito

2010 Lodi Silver Un4Seen White Wine 2010

California Bronze Peirano Estates T he Other 2009

Lodi OTHER DRY WHITE WINE-EURPOEAN Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 228

2010 Sori Italy Silver Grape Creek Vineyards Cuvee Blanc

2010 Texas Bronze Coyote Canyon Winery Downtown White

2010 Columbia Valley GRUNER VELTLINER Gold Zocker Paragon Vineyard 2010

Edna Valley Silver Dr. Konstantin Frank Grüner Veltliner

2010 Finger Lakes

page 13

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Wine Competition Winners ALBARIÑO Gold Tangent Albariño

Edna Valley Silver Coyote Canyon Winery

2010 Columbia Valley

2010 Albariño

ROUSSANNE Silver Hagafen Cellars Roussanne 2010

Lodi Bronze Cap Rock Winery Roussanne 2010

Texas High Plans ROSÉ –DRY STYLE Gold J H Holesinsky Winery Pink Unicorn

2010 Snake River Valley Silver Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 256

2010 Napa Valley Silver Coyote Canyon Winery Life is Rose

2010 Horse Heaven Hills Bronze Cap Rock Winery Dry Grenache Rose

2010 Texas High Plans ROSÉ - BLUSH STYLE Gold Cap Rock Winery Blush Royale 2010

Texas High Plans Silver Westport Winery Smoky Nor’wester

2009 Washington Bronze Grape Creek Vineyards Cabernet Blanc

2009 Texas

SANGIOVESE OVER $50.00 Silver Petroni Brunello di Sonoma 2005

Sonoma Valley

MALBEC under $15.00 Gold Loscano Vineyards Private Reserve 2008

Mendoza ARG Silver Redwood Creek F rie Brothers Vineyards

2009 Argentina Bronze Bodega Elena De Mendoza Malbec

2009 Mendoza ARG MALBEC $15.00 to $25.00 Silver Grande River Vineyards Malbec

Colorado Bronze Loscano Vineyards Grand Reserve 2 008

Lujandecuyo MALBEC OVER $25.00 Gold H/H Estates G W Smith 2009

Horse Heaven Hills Silver Pend d’Oreille F reepond Vineyard 2 008

Washington

GRENACHE Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 231

2008 Campo de Borja Silver Venteux Vineyards Grenache 2008

Paso Robles

PINOT NOIR under $15.00 Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 276

2009 Los Carneros Gold Red Rock Winery Pinot Noir 2009

California Silver Turning Leaf Vineyards Pinot Noir

2009 California Bronze Fat Cat Pinot Noir 2009

California Bronze Hahn Winery Nicky Hahn 2010

Monterey County

TEMPRANILLO Gold Peirano Estates Heritage Collection

2008 Lodi Silver Red Caboose Winery La Reina

2009 Texas Bronze Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 263

2002 Ribera Del Duero

PINOT NOIR $15.01 - $25.00 Gold Irony Pinot Noir 2009

Monterey County Silver Lange Twins Pinot Noir 2010

Clarksburg Bronze William James Cellars Gary Ranch

Vineyard 2008 S anta Maria Valley

BARBERA Gold VJB Vineyards & Cellars Barbera

2009 Mendocino County Silver IL Coure The Heart 2009

Mendocino County

PINOT NOIR $25.01 - $35.00 Gold Ventana Pinot Noir 2009

Arroyo Seco Silver Laural Lake Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve

2008 North Fork of Long Island Silver Davis Bynum R ussian River Valley 2 009

Russian River Valley Bronze Bailyana Fire Pike Vineyard 2008

Edna Valley

SANGIOVESE UNDER $50.00 Gold Kiona Sangiovese

Red Mountain Silver Marchesi Torrigiani Chianti

Tuscany

2004 2008

PINOT NOIR $35.01 - $45.00 Gold Cadre Architects 2007

South East Coast Silver Alysian Russian River Selection 2008

Russian River Valley

PINOT NOIR OVER $45.00 Gold Alysian R ochioli Vineyards River Block

2008 Russian River Valley Silver Alysian F loodgate Vineyards Rock Hill

2008 Russian River Valley Silver Jeff Gordon Cellars P inot Noir 2008

Sonoma Valley CARMENERE Gold Casa Lapostolle C uvee Alexander 2009

Colchagua Valley Chile Silver Vina Sutil C olchagua Estate Carmenere

2009 Colchagua Valley CL Bronze Fab Wines+ C hile Carmenere 2009

Colchagua Valley CL MERLOT under $15.00 Gold Domaine Laurier M erlot

Sonoma Valley Silver Arroba Winery Merlot

Sonoma Valley Bronze La Famiglia Merlot

Sonoma Valley

2007 2007 2009

MERLOT $15.01 - $25.00 Gold Napa Station Merlot 2008

Napa Valley Silver Red Caboose Winery Merlot 2009

American Bronze McNab Ridge Winery Merlot 2009

Mendocino County MERLOT $25.01 - $35.00 Gold Lange Twins Merlot 2008

Clarksburg Gold Hagafen Cellars Merlot 2009

Napa Valley Silver Westport Winery Boom Runner 2009

Washington Bronze Sagebrush Annie’s M erlot 2009

Santa Barbara MERLOT $35.01 - $35.00 Silver Jeff Gordon Cellars M erlot 2005

Napa Valley MERLOT OVER $35.00 Silver Prix Vineyards B lock Four

Napa Valley

2006

CABERNET FRANC Gold Micheal David Winery Inkblot

2009 Lodi Silver Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet

Franc 2008 Alexander Valley Bronze Creekside Cellars C abernet Franc 2007

Colorado

CABERNET SAUVIGNON under $15.00 Gold Loscano Vineyards P rivate Reserve 2 008

Mendoza ARG Silver Lange Twins Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Lodi Bronze Peirano Estates H eritage Collection

2009 Lodi CABERNET SAUVIGNON $15.01 - $25.00 Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 267

2009 Spring Mountain Silver Black Stallion Winery Cabernet

Sauvignon 2008 Napa Valley Bronze Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 290

2008 Spring Mountain CABERNET SAUVIGNON $25.01 - $35.00 Gold Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Red Mountain Silver Napa Station C abernet Sauvignon 2008

Napa Valley Bronze Mill Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Dry Creek Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON $35.01 - $50.00 Gold Peju Province Winery Cabernet

Sauvignon 2007 N apa Valley Silver R & B Cellars Reserve Cab Sauv 2007

2007 Napa Valley Bronze R & B Cellars Reserve Cab Sauv 2006

2006 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON over $50.00 Gold Partridge Cellars R ichard Partridge 2007

Napa Valley Silver Hughes Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon

2008 Napa Valley Bronze Hughes Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Napa Valley

page 14

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Medal Winning Wines 2011 ZINFANDEL under $15.00 Gold Carmentet Zinfandel 2009 California Silver Zynthesis Zinfandel 2009 California Silver Van Ruiten Winery Old Vine Zinfandel 2008 Lodi Bronze Redwood Creek Frie Brothers Vineyards 2009 Lodi ZINFANDEL $15.01 - $25.00 Gold Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zin 2007 Dry Creek Valley Silver Micheal David Winery 7 Deadly Zins 2009 Lodi Bronze Klinker Brick Winery Old Vine 2009 Lodi ZINFANDEL $25.01 - $35.00 Gold Micheal David Winery Zinfandel 2009 Lodi Silver Rock Wall Winery Rockfile Road

Zinfandel 2009 Sonoma Valley Bronze Klinker Brick Winery Old Ghost Old Vine 2009 Lodi Bronze Sagebrush Annie’s Zinfandel 2009 Santa Barbara PETITE SIRAH Gold Silkwood Wines Satin and Silk VSPS 2007 California - Stanislaus County Silver Silkwood Wines Petite Sirah 2007 California Bronze Van Ruiten Winery Petite Sirah 2009 Lodi PETIT VERDOT Gold Creekside Cellars Petite Verdot 2008 Colorado Gold Canyon Wind Petite Verdot 2008 Grand Valley, Colorado SHIRAZ / SYRAH under $25.00 Gold Micheal David Winery 6th Sense Syrah 2009 Lodi Silver Klinker Brick Winery Farrah 2009 Lodi Bronze Van Ruiten Winery Shiraz 2008 Lodi SHIRAZ / SYRAH over $25.00 Gold Coiled Sidewinder 2009 Snake River Valley Silver Venteux Vineyards Tache Le Verre 2008 Santa Barbara Bronze Ampelos Cellars Gamma 2007 Sta Rita Hills PINOTAGE Gold McNab Ridge Winery 2009 Mendocino County

Pinotage

OTHER FRENCH REDS Gold Don Ernesto Vineyards Crescendo 2009 Napa Valley Gold H/H Estates Robert Andrews Mourvedre 2009 Horse Heaven Hills Silver Prix Vineyards Melange 2006 Napa Valley Bronze Don Ernesto Vineyards Clarinet 2010 North Coast OTHER ITALIAN REDS Gold Coyote Canyon Winery Primitivo 2009 Horse Heaven Hills Silver VJB Vineyards & Cellars Primitivo 2007 Sonoma Valley Bronze Vivo Bivio Tuscan Red 2007 Tuscany Italy OTHER SPANISH REDS Gold Bodega Numanthia Termes 2008 Toro Spain Silver Red Caboose Winery Tempranillo 2008 Texas Bronze H/H Estates M ichael Andrews Red 2009 Horse Heaven Hills OTHER RED WINE-OLD WORLD Gold Peirano Estates T he Other 2009 Lodi Silver Marchesi Torrigiani G uidaccio 2004 Tuscany Bronze Loscano Vineyards G rand Reserve

Capriccio 2008 L ujandecuyo OTHER RED WINE – NEW WORLD Gold Wheelhouse Wine Cellars Red Blend NV California Silver Hook & Ladder Winery Station 10 2008 Russian River Valley Bronze Hook & Ladder Winery The Tillerman 2007 Russian River Valley BORDEAUX BLENDS/MERITAGE $15.00 Gold Mill Creek Vineyards Crush Red 2006 Dry Creek Valley Silver Pend d’Oreille B istro Rouge 2008 Washington Bronze Coyote Moon Vineyards Casa Papa Red NV New York State BORDEAUX BLENDS/MERITAGE OVER- $15.00 Gold Lange Twins Petite Sirah/Petit Verdot 2009 California Silver Fletcher Bay Winery Brinbridge Island 2009 Yakima Valley Bronze Grape Creek Vineyards Mosaic 2009 Texas GSM BLENDS Gold Hahn Winery Nicky Hahn 2010 Central Coast Silver Coyote Canyon Winery Tres Cruces 2009 Horse Heaven Hills

RED RHONE BLENDS Gold Micheal David Winery 2009 Lodi Silver La Mistral Red Blend Monterey County Bronze Trenza Tinto San Luis Obispo

Incognito 2008 2008

WHITE ICE WINE Gold Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Ice Wine 2010 Finger Lakes Bronze Antolino Brongo Cryomalus 2008 Quebec PORT STYLE Gold Graystone Winery Port IV 2004 Grand Valley Silver Hawk and Horse Vineyards Latigo 2006 Red Hills Lake County Silver Quady Winery Starboard Batch 88 NV California Bronze Georgetown Winery Texas Reserve 2009 Texas ORGANIC RED WINE Gold J H Holesinsky Winery

Purple Oktopus 2009 Snake River Valley Silver Deerfield Ranch Winery Organic Syrah 2006 Sonoma Valley Bronze Orleans Hills Winery Syrah 2010 California Bronze Orleans Hills Winery Merlot 2009 California BOXED WHITE Gold Cliff Family Winery The Climber Boxed NV California BOXED RED Gold Cliff Family Winery The Climber Boxed NV California VIDAL BLANC Silver Chateau Morrisette V idal Blanc 2010 Virginia CHAMBOURCIN Bronze Chateau Morrisette C hambourcin 2 009 Virginia APPLE/PEAR WINES Gold Sheldrake Point Vineyard Apple Wine NV Finger Lakes FLOWER / VEGETABLE WINE Bronze Texas Star Winery Prickly Pear Wine 2010 Texas Bronze Texas Star Winery Hibiscus Flower Wine 2009 Texas GRAPE & FRUIT BLENDS Gold Pend d’Oreille H uckleberry Blush 2010 Washington

THE RITUAL Step Nº 3 : The Liquid Alchemy

With the Chalice held at 45-degrees the beer comes to life, creating the correct proportions of foam and liquid. Perfection is in the details, and a perfect Stella Artois is no different.

StellaArtois.com

Always Enjoy Responsibly.

© 2011 Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.,

Stella Artois® Beer, Imported by Import Brands Alliance, St. Louis, MO

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

page 17

BEER

THE SECOND YEAR Denver International Beer Competition The concept of The Taste of Elegance is to provide guests with award-winning beverages that are tasted with custom paired gourmet cuisine. We needed a way to select award-winning beers, so the Denver International Beer Competition was born.

Even though we are experienced at running wine competitions, a beer competition was something we had never run. To make sure the event was done right, we turned to our friend and fellow beer journalist, Dan Rabin. Dan has judged numerous amateur and professional beer competitions in Colorado. With his help we assembled a wonderful team of certified beer judges and stewards.

The Denver International Beer Competition was held on Saturday May 1, 2011 at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colorado. The competition was conducted double-blind. Eighteen certified beer judges and industry professionals awarded 33 medals in ten categories, plus “Best of Show�.

2011 Judges

page 18

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

BEER

BEST OF SHOW 2011

Gold: Samuel Adams Double Bock Silver: Unibroue Terrible Bronze: Oskar Blues Brewery Dale’s Pale Ale

Category 1: Pilsners Gold Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company Paradise

Road Pilsner Silver Samuel Adams Noble Pils.

Bronze Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Category 8: Brown Ales/Porters Gold Figueroa Mountain Davy Brown Ale Silver SKA Brewing Company Buster Nut Brown Bronze Santa Fe Brewing Company State Pen Porter H M Old Schoolhouse Brewery Uncle Bigs Brown

Category 14: Belgian Ales Gold Unibroue Terrible Silver Unibroue Trois Pistoles Bronze Unibroue La Fin Du Monde H M Unibroue Don De Dieu

Category 2: Light Lagers/Ales Gold Alaskan Brewing Company Summer Ale Silver Full Sail Brewing Company Session Bronze Deschutes Brewery Cascade Ale

Category 9: Amber/Scottish/Irish Ales & Hybrids Gold Madison River Brewing Company Copper John

Scotch Ale Silver Mad River Brewing Company Jamaica Red Ale Bronze Pagosa Brewing Company Firestoned Irish Red

Category 15: Sour Beers Gold New Belgium Brewing La Folie Silver Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red Bronze Deschutes Brewery The Dissident H M Petrus Aged Pale

Category 10: Stouts Gold (None Awarded) Silver Deschutes Brewery Obsidian Stout Bronze Breckenridge Brewery 72 Imperial

Category 16: Specialty Beers Gold Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla Porter Silver Hornsby Crisp Apple Bronze Unibroue Ephemere H M Pagosa Brewing Company Chocolate Stout

Category 3: Amber Lagers Gold Hacker Pschorr Original Oktoberfest Silver Tommyknocker Brewery Vienna Amber Lager Bronze AC Golden Colorado Native Lager Category 4:Dark/Strong Lagers Gold Samuel Adams Double Bock Silver Paulaner Salvator Bronze Samuel Adams Black Lager Category 5:Pale Ales/Bitters Gold Oskar Blues Brewery Dale’s Pale Ale Silver Firestone Walker Pale 31 Bronze Deschutes Brewery Bachelor ESB H M Firestone Walker Brewery Double Barrel Ale Category 6: India Pale Ales Gold Fat Head’s Brewery Head Hunter IPA Silver Full Sail Brewing Full Sail IPA Bronze Firestone Walker Brewery Union Jack H M Old School House Brewery Rudd Awakening IPA Category 7: Imperial/Double IPAs Gold Firestone Walker Brewery Double Jack Silver Troubador Magma Bronze Dry Dock Brewing Double IPA

Category 11:Strong Ales Gold Deschutes Brewery Mirror Mirror Silver Oskar Blues Brewery Ten Fidy Bronze Pumphouse Brewery & Restaurant American

Barley Wine H M Oskar Blues Brewery Old Chub Category 12: Wheat Beers Gold Dry Dock Brewing Hefeweizen Silver Breckenridge Brewery Agave Wheat Bronze Hacker Pschorr Dunkleweizen Category 13: Witbiers Gold Millstream Brewing Company John’s

Generations White Ale Silver Brewery Bavik Wittekerke Bronze Alaskan Brewing Company Alaskan White

© 2011 Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.

flavortism

Wisconsin Cheese

noun : a harmless condition in which an individual’s taste buds desire nothing but the very best. Visiting the cheese platter for the third time, the guest revealed a strong flavortism for Wisconsin Blue.

Outdo Ordinary ™

eatwisconsincheese.com

page 20

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

F O O D , BEER & CHEFS

WHEN BEER AND FOOD COLLIDE The Denver International Beer Competition was held at the Omni Interlocken Resort The 2011 Denver International Beer Competition was held at the Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield, Colorado on April 29 & May 1, 2011. We were elated to receive more than 180 entries from around the globe!

Julia Child first debuted her show The French Chef in 1963 and was immediately successful. Anybody that is a fan of Food Network or Bravo’s Top Chef Show can tell you who their favorite chef is, or what new recipe they plan to try out.

America’s love for food and cooking has become a big pastime. It extends into our homes with fancy redesigned kitchens featuring the latest appliances. Even the stores that we shop at are influenced by America’s desire to eat healthy gourmet ingredients.

Most of the food shows have purposely downplayed wine because they do not want to intimidate their

viewers. With wine consumption now on the increase, more than 7,200 wineries throughout the USA, wine pairing dinners are becoming evermore popular.

Our Pairsine: The Taste of Elegance Chefs Food and Wine Competitions have evolved into Wine Country Network’s signature food & wine events.

Colorado is one of the world’s epicenters for beer-lovers and brewers, so in 2009 we launched our Taste of Elegance Beer event. The concept of pairing gourmet food with beer is a relatively new idea within the beer industry.

The second annual Pairsine, The Taste of Elegance Chefs Food and Beer Pairing Competition, presented by Key Private Bank, featured 13 restaurants and 22 delicious food and pairings.

The event was sold out with 275 guests in attendance! On that evening

Wine Country Network officially became Beer Country Network.

As the Official Host Sponsor, The Omni Interlocken and its expert staff helped us execute a perfect event. We are grateful to the Omni Interlocken’s professional staff, our participating brewers, distributors, generous sponsors and talented chefs for making this a very successful evening!

Save the date!

2012 Pairsine, The Taste of Elegance Chefs Food and Beer Competition will be held on Tuesday June 12, 2012, 6 to 9pm, Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield, CO. For tickets and info visit: www. denverbeercomp.com or call 303 664-5700.

Photos on right page, food, guests, brewers and chefs.

All photos© 2011 by Christopher J. Davies

page 22

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

B E E R , FOOD, CHEFS

The Denver International Beer Competition was held at the Omni Interlocken Resort The sold-out event showcased 24 award winning beers from the 2011 Denver International Beer Competition with culinary creations prepared by ten master Colorado chefs. The chefs competed for three awards. Their dishes were evaluated for food quality,plating design, originality and compatibility with the assigned beer.

Best Chef 2011: Chef Robert Corey, 12 Seasons CateringMost Creative Chefs: Chef David Harker and Chef Mario Clapes of The Omni Interlocken Resort

Most Original Chefs: Chef Michael Long, Aria Restaurant Ian Kleinman, The Inventing Room Catering People’s Choice Chef: Chef Alicia Prescott, Blue Star and Nosh Restaurants

2011 Food & Beer Judges Tom Spilman, District President, KeyBank Hosea Rosenberg, Bravo Top Chef Season 5 Winner Christopher J. Davies, Co-Funder of Wine Country Network Alex Seidel, Chef/Owner Fruition Restaurant, Denver Claire Walter, Food Critic & Author of “Culinary Colorado” Dan Rabin, Journalist and Beer Competition Co-Chair Keith Villa, Brewmaster at Blue Moon Brewing Company Lori Midson, Cafe Society Editor, Westword (not pictured)

Indulge in the local flavor.

Experience cuisine like never before at the Meritage Restaurant located in the Omni Interlocken Resort. Whether staying the night or just staying for dinner, everyone is welcome to enjoy our world-class fare and warm, professional service in an atmosphere of understated elegance. For reservations, call 303-464-3330 and taste for yourself what makes Omni so good. Mention this ad and receive your first beverage on us.

Subject to availability. See website for terms and conditions.

500 Interlocken Boulevard • Broomfield, CO 80021 800-The-Omni • omniinterlocken.com

page 24

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

M u n i c h ’s Oktoberfest

Getting in the Oktoberfest spirit over liters of beer. Photo Dan Rabin

A Beer Bash Like No Other

by Dan Rabin, Photos by Dan Rabin

Of all the thousands of beer festivals staged across the globe each year, Munich’s Oktoberfest is in a class by itself. In both magnitude and beer-fueled craziness, Bavaria’s annual extravaganza is, for lack of a better term, staggering.

page 25

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

M u n i c h ’s Oktoberfest

Photo: The Hacker-Pschorr tent is nicknamed Bavarian Heaven. Photo: Munich’s Oktoberfest attracts millions of partiers from around the world.

It all started in 1810 with the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to join in the festivities. The party was so well received, it became an annual event. In its 201-year history, the gathering has seen only occasional interruptions for wars and epidemics. The scale of the gathering is difficult to grasp.

Oktoberfest has grown into the world’s largest public festival attracting more than six million visitors a year over its 17-day run. The average daily attendance is around 375,000 people.

The festival site is called Theresienwiese, or Therese’s Meadow, though the locals simply call it Die Wies’n. The 100-acre site is centrally located and easily accessible

by Munich’s excellent subway system or by taxi. The festival begins on a Saturday with a noontime tapping of the ceremonial first beer barrel by the mayor of Munich who then proclaims “O`zapft is!” (It is tapped!). For the next two weeks, people from around the world show up to party like there’s no tomorrow.

Admission to the festival is free. Throughout the expansive grounds are all manner of carnival-style attractions including games of chance, souvenir stands, food booths and rides of all types— many quite terrifying. However, for most adults, activities revolve around consuming beer in copious quantities. This is done primarily in the 14 beer tents that line the festival’s main thoroughfare. They’re not actually tents, but temporary beer halls holding up to 10,000 revelers.

The tents begin serving at 10 am on weekdays and 9 am on weekends. Last call is at 10:30 pm. Each tent serves a single festival beer made by one of Munich’s six breweries including Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner and Spaten. The beers are Märzen-style lagers; slightly sweet and highly quaffable. They’re served only in liter-sized mugs (roughly a quart) and average about 9 euros a glass (about $12 USD). In 2010, a festival-record 7 million liters of beer were consumed during

Oktoberfest. Each evening after the tents close, fresh beer supplies arrive from the breweries by tanker truck.

Inside the tents, tables are in high demand.

You can’t order food and drink unless you have a table. Reservations can be made in advance, but fill quickly. You can enter a tent without a reservation, and many do, but depending on the day, time and number of people in your party, you may be in for a long wait. Once you’re settled in with a liter of beer in your grasp, it’s impossible not to get swept up in the raucous party atmosphere.

The scene inside an Oktoberfest beer tent teeters on sensory overload. Sobriety is uncommon. Thousands of people sing and sway and dance on the benches.

Men sporting traditional lederhosen are a common sight as are women garbed in revealing, low-cut dirndls. Throughout the day, live bands play endless renditions of the traditional drinking song, “Ein Prosit,” followed by much toasting. It’s important to make eye contact when you toast as German custom dictates that failure to do so will doom you to seven years of bad sex. I kid you not. First-timers anticipating a serenade of Bavarian folk tunes are often in for a surprise. Evening playlists typically feature classic pop hits such as “Country Road,” “Smoke on the Water” and “La Bamba.”

Muscular servers - mostly female - power through the animated crowd carrying up to ten liters of beer. Though it’s illegal

to take home a mug, each year, tens of thousands of them disappear. Food is an integral part of the Oktoberfest experience and necessary to temper the effects of prolonged drinking. Bavarian fare such as sausages, roast chicken and pig knuckles are popular and delicious.

Following a session in a beer tent, some people head to the statue of Bavaria to chill out away from the rowdy masses. The statue sits atop a small rise overlooking the action along the western edge of the festival grounds. On the slopes adjacent to the statue you’ll often encounter a collection of over-imbibers strewn across the grass like downed timber, sleeping off their indulgences. The locals have a term for them, “bierleichen,” which translates to “beer corpses.”

Munich’s Oktoberfest is not a beer connoisseur’s gathering and doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a beer bash of nearly unimaginable proportion and an amazing and unforgettable experience.

Oktoberfest 2012 is scheduled for September 22 through October 7.

Oktoberfest travel packages, including flights from the U.S. and lodging, can be booked through tour operators such as Delta Vacations and United Vacations.

For more information, visit the official Oktoberfest website at www.oktoberfest. de/en.

Food by Chef Robert N. Corey, PhotoŠ 2010 by Christopher J. Davies.

page 27

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

L A ST Y EARS WINNERS

The 2010 Denver International Wine Festival “Taste of Elegance” was held at The Mile High Station, Denver, CO. We congratulate the following chefs who won the competition!

People’s Choice Chef

Best Chef

Most Creative Chef

Jean-Luc Voegele Executive Chef, The Westin Tabor Center

Robert N. Corey 12 Seasons Personal Chef and Sommelier Services

Leo Harvey, Executive Chef, Big Game Restaurant and Lounge, Denver

(formerly known as The French Manner), Boulder

Honorable Mention Geoffrey Groditski, Executive Chef, The Fort, Morrison

page 28

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

M i c h a e l David Winer y

2011 Winery of the Year During the past seven years, Michael David Winery of Lodi, California has consistently won more medals in The Denver International Wine Competition than any other producer. Wine Country International Magazine and The Denver International Wine Festival wish to recognize this great achievement by naming Michael David our 2011 Winery Of The Year.

The winery’s roots date back to Civil War times when the owners’ Great Grandparents homesteaded 160 acres near the town of Lodi. Since that time the family made its living growing vegetables and fruits and began growing grapes for home winemakers during prohibition (a prosperous time for all Lodi grape growers).

Brothers Michael and David Phillips established their family winery in 1984. During that time they have expand their winery into one of the most successful wine producers in California. All the while they have produced delicious wines with forward fruit taste profiles, attractive packaging and fun names like Six Sense, Incognito, Earthquake and most recently Inkblot.

During our recent trip to the Lodi Artisan Masters weekend, it became quite evident that the whole region shares a special pride and respect for the Phillips family and their talented team. This is why we have decided to raise our glass and congratulate Michael David Winery for a job well done.

Cheers!

Michael David Winery 4580 West Highway 12 Lodi, CA 95242 www.michaeldavidwinery.com

page 29

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Lodi, Beyond Zin The 2011 Artisan Masters Weekend Story and Photos by Christopher J. Davies Lodi, California is evolving from a sleepy farm community to a sophisticated wine region. The region’s ideal growing conditions, diverse soils and experience have allowed it to become California’s top producer of Chardonnay (19%), Pinot Grigio (26%), Sauvignon Blanc (18%), Merlot (23%), Syrah (16%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), Petite Sirah (38%) and Zinfandel (38%).

While Lodi has enjoyed its reputation as being the Zin producing region of the world, vintners and growers have been

diversifying into Spanish varietals in recent resulting in great success

Bare Ranch, owned by Michael David Winery, visit to Bokish Vineyards, Corto

During our recent trip to the Lodi Artisan Masters Weekend, we tasted world-class Albarino, Vermintino, Tempranillo and a knock-your-socks off Graciano from Bokish Vineyards and Winery. Co-owner Marcus Bokish is becoming an expert at growing Spanish varietals in California.

Olive Oil Company, Studio Samba and the big event, The Black Tie Lodi Artisan Dinner & Auction which include a delectable preevent barrel tasting with wines from more than 20 producers. Our greatly enjoyed having dinner at Lange Twins table and meeting vintner Charlene Lange.

The diverse weekend events included a highly educational Terroir Tasting led

by Wine Consultant Brad Alderson, a welcome wine & food pairing dinner at

www.theartisanmasters.com All photos © 2011 by Christopher J. Davies.

page 30

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

Denver International Wine Festival 2011

page 31

investments | trust | banking

does your financial advisor know the score?

A well-planned financial life has all the complexity – and the fluidity – of a symphony orchestra.

Real life is complicated. People come to Key Private Bank for the simplified sophistication we bring to their financial lives.

Our team can help you achieve what matters most to you, delivering strategic advice and objective wealth management solutions based on a fiduciary standard of care that puts your interests before our own.

Your finances, your life – in tune, on key – for generations.

go to key.com/kpb

Bank and trust products from KeyBank National Association, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Investment products are: NOT FDIC INSURED • NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE • NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2011 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

ADL2325