Wine & Food Festival

“It’s about bringing the world to our little corner of the mountains”

BY KATHERINE NETTLES

“For one week each summer, Crested Butte becomes a place where winemakers, chefs, sommeliers and guests from across the country gather in shared curiosity and celebration,” describes Wine + Food Festival director Natalie Pfister Riha.

A wide array of events begin on July 13, from foraging in the woods to pop-up spirit tastings, seminars to al fresco dinners, and culminate at the Grand Tasting on July 18. Choose one or two events or from a variety of passes to dive in deeper.

“It’s about bringing the world to our little corner of the mountains,” says Pfister Riha. The Wine & Food Festival is one of the Center for the Arts signature events, having grown out of the Tour de Forks dinners that started 30 years ago in the valley. She says she has seen the festival become a space where visiting creators and local community members connect. “It’s a reminder that even in a small mountain town, we are deeply connected to global creativity, culture, and craft. There’s also a subtle shift toward more immersive, place-based experiences where the landscape itself becomes
part of the storytelling.”

Ticket information can be found at
www.cbwineandfood.org.

Tour de Forks Dinners

Tour de Forks is a series of dinners connected to the festival. Each gathering brings together celebrated chefs, wineries and live music for a magical, high alpine culinary experience.

July 15 | 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wild Dusk: Tour de Fork Dinner + Live Concert with Asleep at the Wheel

Chef Ty Lyon (Restaurant Olivia and Dear Emilia) and Cantina Terlano Wines at 11-7 Ranch

July 30 | 6-9 p.m. Golden Hour: Tour de Fork Dinner + Live Concert with Matt & Madeline Shugert

Chef Barclay Dodge (Bosq) and Rutherford Hill Wiines at the Almont Resort

August 6 | 5-9 p.m. High Note: Tour de Fork Dinner + Live Concert with Steve Earl

Chef John Leonardi (Soupçon) and Johan Vineyards at the Center for the Arts

Pop-up Tastings

CB’s downtown hub comes alive with rotating wine tastings throughout the afternoon offering quick pours, surprise finds and a chance to discover something new between events. Swing by, sip a little, chat with the pros and keep the energy flowing right on Elk Avenue. Located next door to Elk Ave Prime.

July 13 through July 17 | 2-7 p.m.

Foraging Hikes

These immersive outings invite locals and visitors alike to explore mountain ecology, discover seasonal plants and tune into the natural rhythms of the landscape.

July 15 | 9-11 a.m. | Snodgrass

July 16 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Lower Loop, followed by a chef-prepared brunch

July 18 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Long Lake