wine country international magazine

WINE COUNTRYI N T E R N A T I O N A L

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

S p e c i a l i S S u eCelebrate DenverWine

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 in ternat ional Wine Fes t i va l

WINE YOUR WAY THROUGH WINTER

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 TheBroadmoor 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. Aspecial 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".

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

Call 719-577-5896 to make your reservations.

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

Bmoor|DenverWineFest_Bmoor DenverWineFest11 10/25/11 10:29 AM Page 1

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.

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 Christopher J. DaviesPresident & Festival Co-Founder CEO & Festival Co-Founder

Christopher J. Davies

Darcy R. Davies

WINE YOUR WAY THROUGH WINTER

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 TheBroadmoor 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. Aspecial 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".

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

Call 719-577-5896 to make your reservations.

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

Bmoor|DenverWineFest_Bmoor DenverWineFest11 10/25/11 10:29 AM Page 1


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 RabinFood Editor Clair Walter

Lifestyle Editor V.G. WalshPublic Relations Marilyn M. Miller

Director of Photography Christopher J. Davies Contributing Editors:

Paul DavidRob Rudko

Claire WalterBarrie Lynn

Mary Foster Morgan

Advertising, Sponsorship and Club Sales Sharon Bolton Eastern Advertising Sales Emily White

East Coast Business Manager Dorothy BrownDirector 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-FounderJames Alterbaum, Esq. Corporate Counsel

Wine Country Network, Inc.P.O. Box 6023

Broomfield, CO 80021Tel. 303-664-5700Fax. 303-648-4199

www.winecountrynetwork.com e-mail: [email protected]

Address editorial inquiries to [email protected] 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


SeminarscHeeSe 101 claSS & BOOK SiGNiNG by liz Thorpe, Vice president of Murray’s cheese, author of The cheese chronicles Books for 2011 2:00 to 3:00pmLiz 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 4:00pmAt 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 6:00pmGreat 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 ¹sacred hill¹, 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.

The Gift Of HearingMitch Shapiro and The Foundation For Sight & SoundMitch Shapiro comes from a legendary long island catering & restaurant legacy. His family ran the world-famous 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 in-volves 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


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

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

SeminarsGrand 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 9:00pmMoscato 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 Muscat¹ and ¹Moscato¹. Sample ¹Moscatos¹ from California, Italy and France. Learn from Andrew Quady, a.k.a. ¹The Muscat King¹* and get juiced about sweet wine!Since 1975 ¹Keeping it Sweet¹ 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!!*¹The Muscat King¹ title from the English wine writer Neville Blech and the California wine writer Rich Hinkle.

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

{eat/Roma}

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.

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


Colorado Dining Trends

Leading chefs are cooking with natural, organic and local ingredients

by Claire Walter, Photo by Christopher J. Davies

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 micro-distilleries 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. Corey12 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 HsuSimms Steak House

David Harker & Mario Clapes The Meritage at The Omni Interlocken

Lon SymensmaCholon Modern Asian Bistro

Jensen Cummings Row 14

Will Cisa The Corner Office Restaurant

& Martini Bar

Jeff BoltonSecond Home Restaurant & Bar

Jeremy Thomas Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar


Best White WineDouble Gold Deerfield Ranch Pinot Gris 2010 Mendocino County Best Red Wine Double Gold Silkwood Wines Satin and Silk VSPS Petite Sirah 2007 Stanislaus County

SPARKLING WINEGold Chateau Frank Blance de Blancs 2005 Finger LakesSilver Chateau Frank Celebre Rose NV Finger LakesSilver Rack and Riddle Brut NV North CoastBronze Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee NV California PROSECCO (made in Italy)Silver Bivo Italia Prosecco NV Veneto Italy OFF DRY WHITE (1-3% sugar)Gold Dr. Konstantin Frank Muscat Ottonel 2010 Finger LakesSilver Airlie Winery White Blend 2009 Willamette ValleySilver Santa Fe Vineyards Indian Market White NV New MexicoBronze Wheelhouse Wine Cellars Kumbaya NV California

LATE HARVEST/SWEET WHITE (4% & over)Gold White Truck Moscato 2010 CaliforniaSilver Coyote Moon Vineyards White Blend 2010 New York StateBronze Coyote Moon Vineyards Brianna 2010 New York State

PINOT BLANCGold Verterra Winery Pinot Blanc 2010 Leelanau PeninsulaSilver Dr. Konstantin Frank Pinot Blanc 2010 Finger Lakes

PINOT GRIS/GRIGIOGold Deerfield Ranch Winery Pinot Gris 2010 Mendocino CountySilver Van Ruiten Winery Pinot Gris 2010 LodiBronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Pinot Gris 2010 Finger Lakes

SAUVIGNON BLANC UNDER $15.00Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 270 2010 Russian River ValleySilver Napa Station Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Napa ValleyBronze Goldschmidt Vineyards Nick Goldschmidt 2009 Marlborough SAUVIGNON BLANC $15.01 UPGold Peju Province Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Napa ValleySilver Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Napa ValleyBronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Finger Lakes CHARDONNAY UNDER $15.00Gold Sweet Chardonnay 2010 CaliforniaGold First Press Chardonnay 2009 CaliforniaSilver Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 273 2009 Arroyo SecoBronze Bodega Elena De Mendoza Chardonnay 2009 Mendoza ARG

CHARDONNAY $15.01 - $25.00Gold Hook & Ladder Winery Chardonnay 2009 Russian River ValleySilver Rodney Strong Vineyards 2010 Northern Sonoma CountyBronze Hagafen Cellars Chardonnay 2010 Oak Knoll District CHARDONNAY $25.01 - $35.00Gold Solitude Chardonnay 2009 CarnerosSilver Bailyana Fire Pike Vineyard 2008 Edna Valley CHARDONNAY $35.01 - OVERGold Jeff Gordon Cellars Chardonnay 2008 CarnerosSilver Alysian Star Ridge Vineyards 2008 Russian River ValleyBronze Partridge Cellars Richard Partridge 2009 Napa ValleyVIOGNIERGold Rock Wall Winery Viognier 2010 CaliforniaSilver Lange Twins Viognier 2010 ClarksburgBronze Coyote Canyon Winery Viognier 2010 Horse Heaven HillsBronze Creekside Cellars Viognier 2010 Colorado DRY RIESLINGGold Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Riesling 2010 Finger LakesSilver Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2010 Finger LakesBronze Flying Ace Dry Riesling 2009 MoselBronze Sheldrake Point Vineyard Riesling 2010 Finger Lakes

SEMI-DRY RIESLINGGold Flying Ace Kabinett 2009 MoselSilver Airlie Winery Semi-Dry Riesling 2009 Willamette ValleyBronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Riesling 2010 Finger Lakes GEWÜRZTRAMINERGold Dr. Konstantin Frank gewürztraminer 2009 Finger Silver Verterra Winery gewürztraminer 2010 Leelanau Peninsula LakesBronze Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards gewürztraminer 2009 Finger Lakes WHITE RHONE BLENDSGold Micheal David Winery Incognito 2010 LodiSilver Un4Seen White Wine 2010 CaliforniaBronze Peirano Estates The Other 2009 Lodi

OTHER DRY WHITE WINE-EURPOEANGold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 228 2010 Sori ItalySilver Grape Creek Vineyards Cuvee Blanc 2010 TexasBronze Coyote Canyon Winery Downtown White 2010 Columbia Valley GRUNER VELTLINERGold Zocker Paragon Vineyard 2010 Edna ValleySilver Dr. Konstantin Frank Grüner Veltliner 2010 Finger Lakes

2011 Denver International Wine Competition WinnersBEST OF SHOW 2011

Medal Winning Wines 2011


ALBARIÑOGold Tangent Albariño 2010 Edna ValleySilver Coyote Canyon Winery Albariño 2010 Columbia Valley ROUSSANNESilver Hagafen Cellars Roussanne 2010 LodiBronze Cap Rock Winery Roussanne 2010 Texas High Plans ROSÉ –DRY STYLEGold J H Holesinsky Winery Pink Unicorn 2010 Snake River ValleySilver Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 256 2010 Napa ValleySilver Coyote Canyon Winery Life is Rose 2010 Horse Heaven HillsBronze Cap Rock Winery Dry Grenache Rose 2010 Texas High Plans ROSÉ - BLUSH STYLEGold Cap Rock Winery Blush Royale 2010 Texas High PlansSilver Westport Winery Smoky Nor’wester 2009 WashingtonBronze Grape Creek Vineyards Cabernet Blanc 2009 Texas

GRENACHEGold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 231 2008 Campo de BorjaSilver Venteux Vineyards Grenache 2008 Paso Robles TEMPRANILLOGold Peirano Estates Heritage Collection 2008 LodiSilver Red Caboose Winery La Reina 2009 TexasBronze Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 263 2002 Ribera Del Duero BARBERAGold VJB Vineyards & Cellars Barbera 2009 Mendocino CountySilver IL Coure The Heart 2009 Mendocino County

SANGIOVESE UNDER $50.00Gold Kiona Sangiovese 2004 Red MountainSilver Marchesi Torrigiani Chianti 2008 Tuscany

SANGIOVESE OVER $50.00Silver Petroni Brunello di Sonoma 2005 Sonoma Valley MALBEC under $15.00Gold Loscano Vineyards Private Reserve 2008 Mendoza ARGSilver Redwood Creek Frie Brothers Vineyards 2009 ArgentinaBronze Bodega Elena De Mendoza Malbec 2009 Mendoza ARG

MALBEC $15.00 to $25.00Silver Grande River Vineyards Malbec ColoradoBronze Loscano Vineyards Grand Reserve 2008 Lujandecuyo

MALBEC OVER $25.00Gold H/H Estates G W Smith 2009 Horse Heaven HillsSilver Pend d’Oreille Freepond Vineyard 2008 Washington PINOT NOIR under $15.00Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 276 2009 Los CarnerosGold Red Rock Winery Pinot Noir 2009 CaliforniaSilver Turning Leaf Vineyards Pinot Noir 2009 CaliforniaBronze Fat Cat Pinot Noir 2009 CaliforniaBronze Hahn Winery Nicky Hahn 2010 Monterey County PINOT NOIR $15.01 - $25.00Gold Irony Pinot Noir 2009 Monterey CountySilver Lange Twins Pinot Noir 2010 ClarksburgBronze William James Cellars Gary Ranch Vineyard 2008 Santa Maria Valley PINOT NOIR $25.01 - $35.00Gold Ventana Pinot Noir 2009 Arroyo SecoSilver Laural Lake Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve 2008 North Fork of Long IslandSilver Davis Bynum Russian River Valley 2009 Russian River ValleyBronze Bailyana Fire Pike Vineyard 2008 Edna Valley

PINOT NOIR $35.01 - $45.00Gold Cadre Architects 2007 South East CoastSilver Alysian Russian River Selection 2008 Russian River Valley

PINOT NOIR OVER $45.00Gold Alysian Rochioli Vineyards River Block 2008 Russian River ValleySilver Alysian Floodgate Vineyards Rock Hill 2008 Russian River ValleySilver Jeff Gordon Cellars Pinot Noir 2008 Sonoma Valley

CARMENEREGold Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexander 2009 Colchagua Valley ChileSilver Vina Sutil Colchagua Estate Carmenere 2009 Colchagua Valley CLBronze Fab Wines+ Chile Carmenere 2009 Colchagua Valley CL

MERLOT under $15.00Gold Domaine Laurier Merlot 2007 Sonoma ValleySilver Arroba Winery Merlot 2007 Sonoma ValleyBronze La Famiglia Merlot 2009 Sonoma Valley MERLOT $15.01 - $25.00Gold Napa Station Merlot 2008 Napa ValleySilver Red Caboose Winery Merlot 2009 AmericanBronze McNab Ridge Winery Merlot 2009 Mendocino County

MERLOT $25.01 - $35.00Gold Lange Twins Merlot 2008 ClarksburgGold Hagafen Cellars Merlot 2009 Napa ValleySilver Westport Winery Boom Runner 2009 WashingtonBronze Sagebrush Annie’s Merlot 2009 Santa BarbaraMERLOT $35.01 - $35.00Silver Jeff Gordon Cellars Merlot 2005 Napa Valley

MERLOT OVER $35.00Silver Prix Vineyards Block Four 2006 Napa Valley

CABERNET FRANCGold Micheal David Winery Inkblot 2009 LodiSilver Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2008 Alexander ValleyBronze Creekside Cellars Cabernet Franc 2007 Colorado CABERNET SAUVIGNON under $15.00Gold Loscano Vineyards Private Reserve 2008 Mendoza ARGSilver Lange Twins Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 LodiBronze Peirano Estates Heritage Collection 2009 Lodi

CABERNET SAUVIGNON $15.01 - $25.00Gold Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 267 2009 Spring MountainSilver Black Stallion Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa ValleyBronze Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 290 2008 Spring Mountain

CABERNET SAUVIGNON $25.01 - $35.00Gold Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Red MountainSilver Napa Station Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa ValleyBronze Mill Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Dry Creek Valley

CABERNET SAUVIGNON $35.01 - $50.00Gold Peju Province Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa ValleySilver R & B Cellars Reserve Cab Sauv 2007 2007 Napa ValleyBronze R & B Cellars Reserve Cab Sauv 2006 2006 Napa Valley

CABERNET SAUVIGNON over $50.00Gold Partridge Cellars Richard Partridge 2007 Napa ValleySilver Hughes Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa ValleyBronze Hughes Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa Valley

2011 Denver International Wine Competition Winners


ZINFANDEL under $15.00Gold Carmentet Zinfandel 2009 CaliforniaSilver Zynthesis Zinfandel 2009 CaliforniaSilver Van Ruiten Winery Old Vine Zinfandel 2008 LodiBronze Redwood Creek Frie Brothers Vineyards 2009 LodiZINFANDEL $15.01 - $25.00Gold Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zin 2007 Dry Creek ValleySilver Micheal David Winery 7 Deadly Zins 2009 LodiBronze Klinker Brick Winery Old Vine 2009 Lodi

ZINFANDEL $25.01 - $35.00Gold Micheal David Winery Zinfandel 2009 LodiSilver Rock Wall Winery Rockfile Road Zinfandel 2009 Sonoma ValleyBronze Klinker Brick Winery Old Ghost Old Vine 2009 LodiBronze Sagebrush Annie’s Zinfandel 2009 Santa Barbara

PETITE SIRAHGold Silkwood Wines Satin and Silk VSPS 2007 California - Stanislaus CountySilver Silkwood Wines Petite Sirah 2007 CaliforniaBronze Van Ruiten Winery Petite Sirah 2009 Lodi

PETIT VERDOTGold Creekside Cellars Petite Verdot 2008 ColoradoGold Canyon Wind Petite Verdot 2008 Grand Valley, Colorado

SHIRAZ / SYRAH under $25.00Gold Micheal David Winery 6th Sense Syrah 2009 LodiSilver Klinker Brick Winery Farrah 2009 LodiBronze Van Ruiten Winery Shiraz 2008 Lodi

SHIRAZ / SYRAH over $25.00Gold Coiled Sidewinder 2009 Snake River ValleySilver Venteux Vineyards Tache Le Verre 2008 Santa BarbaraBronze Ampelos Cellars Gamma 2007 Sta Rita Hills

PINOTAGEGold McNab Ridge Winery Pinotage 2009 Mendocino County

OTHER FRENCH REDSGold Don Ernesto Vineyards Crescendo 2009 Napa ValleyGold H/H Estates Robert Andrews Mourvedre 2009 Horse Heaven HillsSilver Prix Vineyards Melange 2006 Napa ValleyBronze Don Ernesto Vineyards Clarinet 2010 North Coast

OTHER ITALIAN REDSGold Coyote Canyon Winery Primitivo 2009 Horse Heaven HillsSilver VJB Vineyards & Cellars Primitivo 2007 Sonoma ValleyBronze Vivo Bivio Tuscan Red 2007 Tuscany Italy

OTHER SPANISH REDSGold Bodega Numanthia Termes 2008 Toro SpainSilver Red Caboose Winery Tempranillo 2008 TexasBronze H/H Estates Michael Andrews Red 2009 Horse Heaven Hills OTHER RED WINE-OLD WORLDGold Peirano Estates The Other 2009 LodiSilver Marchesi Torrigiani Guidaccio 2004 TuscanyBronze Loscano Vineyards Grand Reserve Capriccio 2008 Lujandecuyo

OTHER RED WINE – NEW WORLDGold Wheelhouse Wine Cellars Red Blend NV CaliforniaSilver Hook & Ladder Winery Station 10 2008 Russian River ValleyBronze Hook & Ladder Winery The Tillerman 2007 Russian River Valley

BORDEAUX BLENDS/MERITAGE $15.00Gold Mill Creek Vineyards Crush Red 2006 Dry Creek ValleySilver Pend d’Oreille Bistro Rouge 2008 WashingtonBronze Coyote Moon Vineyards Casa Papa Red NV New York State

BORDEAUX BLENDS/MERITAGE OVER- $15.00Gold Lange Twins Petite Sirah/Petit Verdot 2009 CaliforniaSilver Fletcher Bay Winery Brinbridge Island 2009 Yakima ValleyBronze Grape Creek Vineyards Mosaic 2009 Texas

GSM BLENDSGold Hahn Winery Nicky Hahn 2010 Central CoastSilver Coyote Canyon Winery Tres Cruces 2009 Horse Heaven Hills

RED RHONE BLENDSGold Micheal David Winery Incognito 2009 LodiSilver La Mistral Red Blend 2008 Monterey CountyBronze Trenza Tinto 2008 San Luis Obispo

WHITE ICE WINEGold Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Ice Wine 2010 Finger LakesBronze Antolino Brongo Cryomalus 2008 Quebec

PORT STYLEGold Graystone Winery Port IV 2004 Grand ValleySilver Hawk and Horse Vineyards Latigo 2006 Red Hills Lake CountySilver Quady Winery Starboard Batch 88 NV CaliforniaBronze Georgetown Winery Texas Reserve 2009 Texas

ORGANIC RED WINEGold J H Holesinsky Winery Purple Oktopus 2009 Snake River ValleySilver Deerfield Ranch Winery Organic Syrah 2006 Sonoma ValleyBronze Orleans Hills Winery Syrah 2010 CaliforniaBronze Orleans Hills Winery Merlot 2009 California

BOXED WHITEGold Cliff Family Winery The Climber Boxed NV CaliforniaBOXED REDGold Cliff Family Winery The Climber Boxed NV California

VIDAL BLANCSilver Chateau Morrisette Vidal Blanc 2010 Virginia CHAMBOURCINBronze Chateau Morrisette Chambourcin 2009 Virginia

APPLE/PEAR WINESGold Sheldrake Point Vineyard Apple Wine NV Finger Lakes

FLOWER / VEGETABLE WINEBronze Texas Star Winery Prickly Pear Wine 2010 TexasBronze Texas Star Winery Hibiscus Flower Wine 2009 Texas

GRAPE & FRUIT BLENDSGold Pend d’Oreille Huckleberry Blush 2010 Washington

Medal Winning Wines 2011

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BEER

THE SECOND YEARDenver 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


category 1: pilsnersGold Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company Paradise Road PilsnerSilver Samuel Adams Noble Pils.Bronze Samuel Adams Boston Lager category 2: light lagers/alesGold Alaskan Brewing Company Summer AleSilver Full Sail Brewing Company SessionBronze Deschutes Brewery Cascade Ale category 3: amber lagersGold Hacker Pschorr Original OktoberfestSilver Tommyknocker Brewery Vienna Amber LagerBronze AC Golden Colorado Native Lager category 4:Dark/Strong lagersGold Samuel Adams Double BockSilver Paulaner SalvatorBronze Samuel Adams Black Lager category 5:pale ales/BittersGold Oskar Blues Brewery Dale’s Pale AleSilver Firestone Walker Pale 31Bronze Deschutes Brewery Bachelor ESBH M Firestone Walker Brewery Double Barrel Ale category 6: india pale alesGold Fat Head’s Brewery Head Hunter IPASilver Full Sail Brewing Full Sail IPABronze Firestone Walker Brewery Union JackH M Old School House Brewery Rudd Awakening IPA category 7: imperial/Double ipasGold Firestone Walker Brewery Double JackSilver Troubador MagmaBronze Dry Dock Brewing Double IPA

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 9: amber/Scottish/irish ales & HybridsGold Madison River Brewing Company Copper John Scotch AleSilver Mad River Brewing Company Jamaica Red AleBronze Pagosa Brewing Company Firestoned Irish Red category 10: StoutsGold (None Awarded)Silver Deschutes Brewery Obsidian StoutBronze Breckenridge Brewery 72 Imperial category 11:Strong alesGold Deschutes Brewery Mirror MirrorSilver Oskar Blues Brewery Ten FidyBronze Pumphouse Brewery & Restaurant American Barley WineH M Oskar Blues Brewery Old Chub category 12: Wheat BeersGold Dry Dock Brewing HefeweizenSilver Breckenridge Brewery Agave WheatBronze Hacker Pschorr Dunkleweizen category 13: WitbiersGold Millstream Brewing Company John’s Generations White AleSilver Brewery Bavik WittekerkeBronze Alaskan Brewing Company Alaskan White

category 14: Belgian alesGold Unibroue TerribleSilver Unibroue Trois PistolesBronze Unibroue La Fin Du MondeH M Unibroue Don De Dieu category 15: Sour BeersGold New Belgium Brewing La FolieSilver Samuel Adams Stony Brook RedBronze Deschutes Brewery The DissidentH M Petrus Aged Pale category 16: Specialty BeersGold Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla PorterSilver Hornsby Crisp AppleBronze Unibroue EphemereH M Pagosa Brewing Company Chocolate Stout

BEST OF SHOW 2011Gold: Samuel adams Double Bock

Silver: unibroue Terrible Bronze: Oskar Blues Brewery Dale’s pale ale

BEER

Wisconsin Cheese Outdo Ordinary™

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FOOD, BEER & CHEFS

WHEN BEER AND FOOD COLLIDEThe 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 re-designed 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 ever-more 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 call303 664-5700.

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

All photos© 2011 by Christopher J. Davies


BEER, 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.

2011 Food & Beer Judges Tom Spilman, District President, KeyBankHosea Rosenberg, Bravo Top Chef Season 5 Winner Christopher J. Davies, Co-Funder of Wine Country NetworkAlex Seidel, Chef/Owner Fruition Restaurant, DenverClaire Walter, Food Critic & Author of “Culinary Colorado”Dan Rabin, Journalist and Beer Competition Co-ChairKeith Villa, Brewmaster at Blue Moon Brewing CompanyLori Midson, Cafe Society Editor, Westword (not pictured)

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

500 Interlocken Boulevard • Broomfield, CO 80021

800-The-Omni • omniinterlocken.com

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.


Munich’s Oktoberfest

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.

A BEER BASH LIkE NO OTHERby Dan Rabin, Photos by Dan Rabin

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


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.

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.

Munich’s Oktoberfest

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


LAST YEARS 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!

Best Chef

Robert N. Corey 12 Seasons Personal Chef and Sommelier

Services (formerly known as The French

Manner), Boulder

Most Creative

Chef

Leo Harvey, Executive Chef, Big

Game Restaurant and Lounge, Denver

People’s Choice Chef Jean-Luc Voegele

Executive Chef, The Westin Tabor

Center

Honorable Mention

Geoffrey Groditski, Executive Chef, The

Fort, Morrison


Michael David Winery

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 DenverInternational 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 Winery4580 West Highway 12

Lodi, CA 95242 www.michaeldavidwinery.com


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

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.

The diverse weekend events included a highly educational Terroir Tasting led by Wine Consultant Brad Alderson, a welcome wine & food pairing dinner at

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

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

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

Lodi, Beyond Zin The 2011 Artisan Masters WeekendStory and Photos by Christopher J. Davies

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