Not all wine festivals are the same. There are a variety and each one offers different tasting opportunities and learning experiences. For instance, some wineries host their own, smaller festivals and some state wine associations host annual events featuring their local wineries.

Most people are familiar with the large outdoor or indoor events featuring multiple wineries, each pouring their wines along with local food vendors or chefs to pair with your sips. Maybe there’s a band or two that adds to the vibe. These are always fun and a great way to sample different styles and varieties of wine.

I love these types of events when they’re pouring local wines from a specific region or state. It’s an awesome way to explore a region without visiting. It’s even better if the person pouring is the winemaker, who can really explain and go into the region and their specific wines. I have learned so much when this is the case and fallen in love with new wineries as a result. That said, there aren’t always state or regional wine festivals but rather ones that incorporate a variety of regions and countries. These can also prove to be a lot of fun and informative if you want to learn.

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This coming week in Vail, you have the opportunity to sip, eat and learn from winemakers and wine pros at the Taste of Vail. Saturday’s Grand Tasting is a large, indoor tasting with a variety of wineries from all over the world and local chefs that I mentioned earlier. It’s a blast but what’s so unique about this festival is all the learning opportunities and winemaker dinners that happen days before the Grand Tasting.

The educational seminars and small, regional-specific tastings that start on Thursday and run through Saturday are amazing and something you won’t find at a lot of events. Last year, I spent an hour in a seminar on the Willamette Valley in Oregon learning about its different American Viticultural Areas from Eric Misiewicz at Van Duzer.

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I had a trip planned that summer, so I went to learn and it 100% influenced where I sipped during my visit in June. I had also never sampled many island wines until last year’s Taste of Vail. Alder Yarrow, wine writer and critic of JancisRobinson.com and Vinography.com, did a fabulous seminar and tasting on island wines, which included some from Sicily. I’m now planning a group wine trip to Sicily in 2026, where we’ll focus on that island’s wines.

I’m in the process of studying for another wine certification so this year I’m taking full advantage of the blind tasting seminar and deep dives into Napa Valley and Paso Robles as well as Champagne.

The Grand Tasting and the Mountaintop Tasting are a lot of fun, and you will be able to meet and speak with winemakers at these tastings. If you want to learn, you have the opportunity to chat with the winemakers here — do it. Last year, I got a little star-struck when I got to meet and chat with Peter Mondavi Jr. of Charles Krug at the Grand Tasting. I recommend you check out the educational seminars next weekend that Taste of Vail is hosting. You will walk away with more information than you think.

Tips for doing a wine festival right

1. Stay hydrated. This is even more important in our mountain valley.
2. Check the list of events and wineries. If there’s something you’re interested in tasting go there first.
3. Eat something before you go and while you’re sipping.
4. Ask the person pouring the wine questions, especially if they’re the winemaker. You will get so much more out of what you’re sipping when you engage with its makers.
5. Take notes or pictures of the wines you like. You will forget. I promise.
6. Be open-minded and try things you may not normally try. These events are the perfect time to see if you like something you may not have ever had. Try those unique varietals or blends!!

Save the date for these Colorado Wine Festivals

• Taste of Vail, April 2-5
• Colorado Wine Walk, April 13, Denver
• Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, June 20-23, Aspen
• Manitou Springs Wine Festival, June 7,
• Crested Butte Wine & Food Festival, July 13-20, Crested Butte
• Telluride Food & Vine, July 13-15
• Breckenridge Wine Festival, July 25-27
• Vail Wine Classic, August 7-10
• Breckenridge Wine Classic, August 21-23
• Colorado Mountain Winefest, September 20, Palisade

Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer and wine judge, certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2, and a certified American Wine Expert. She is also the editor at Carpe Travel, a content site focused on wine travel. You can follow her wine 101 and sipping adventures on Carpe Travel or Instagram.