The charming, Bavarian-style mountain town of Vail, Colorado plays host to a fun, festive and informative event, the Vail Wine Classic in August. Get all of the details in this easy-to-use, sponsored article including what to expect, tips for making the most of the experience and our exclusive TICKET DISCOUNT CODE.

Save this article to help you plan your trip to Vail, Colorado for the multi-faceted Vail Wine Classic. Photos courtesy of the Vail Wine Classic. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

What to Know Before You Go to the Vail Wine Classic

IMAGINE THIS FOR A PERFECT SUMMERTIME COLORADO GETAWAY:

• The mountain town of Vail, Colorado
• Summer days and nights enjoying nature all around
• Gorgeous views
• A bounty of wines to discover and enjoy
• Delicious food from Vail’s celebrated culinary scene
• Live music, art and shopping
• The makings of great memories for a quintessential mountain getaway

Get ready for a delicious event in a beautiful setting at the Vail Wine Classic in Vail, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Vail Wine Classic.

WHEN IS THE VAIL WINE CLASSIC? August 6-8, 2026

WHERE IS IT HELD? Various locations in Vail, Colorado

WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE EVENT?
Grand Tasting (Aug. 7 & 8) – Held outdoors with expansive Vail Valley Views, sip from more than 300 wines and spirits, enjoy local gourmet food, live music and curated shopping.
Tickets for the Grand Tastings come in three levels (NOTE: Pricing is in tiers and goes up as the event approaches – purchase NOW!):
General Admission starting at $114 plus fees, from 3-5:30pm both days.
Early Access starts at $144.00 plus fees, from 2:30-5:30pm both days. (Early access means only 50% of attendees will be in the event).
Premium Access starts at $174.00 plus fees, from 2-5:30pm both days. (Even earlier access means only 15% of attendees will be in the event. Taste without the lines!)

Best of Fest (Aug. 7) – With a magnificent Colorado sunset as a backdrop, enjoy this special, intimate tasting event featuring a curated wine list made up of wines that would normally cost more than $100/bottle or are rated 90 points or higher. In addition to tasting these fine, reserve bottles, enjoy delicious food that pairs perfectly. There will also be live music for this indoor event that has a patio offering panoramic views.
Tickets for Best of the Fest are $235/person (plus $24.79 in fees). Payment plans are available.

CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Paired Wine Dinners (Aug. 6) – These special meals take place in some of Vail’s top restaurants where wineries, master sommeliers and chefs work their magic to create amazing food and wine tasting meals.
Tickets for the Paired Wine Dinners go on sale April 23.

Paired Wine Lunches (Aug. 7 & 8) – Enjoy sunny days and lunchtime at select Vail restaurants with food and wine pairings created by wineries, master sommeliers and local chefs at their restaurants.
Tickets for the Paired Wine Dinners go on sale April 23.

The Vail Wine Classic provides multiple opportunities to get to know new wines plus local food during summertime in the mountains. Photo courtesy of Vail Wine Classic.

Paired Wine Adventures (Aug. 7 & 8) – How very “Vail” to combine a wine-pairing lunch with scenic hikes and other adventures on and off the mountain. Everything tastes better with fresh mountain air and fantastic views.
Tickets for the Paired Wine Dinners go on sale April 23.

SommSchool Wine Event Guide – Sign up to receive a free wine guide for the event that includes tips for winning “Two Truths and a Wine.”

WHO ARE SOME OF THE WINE, SPIRITS AND BEER PURVEYORS WHO’LL BE THERE?
Blue Beryl
Dilécta Wines
Piattelli Vineyards
Outer Range Brewing
Michael David Winery
Woody Creek Distillers

Get to know a wide variety of wines and wineries during the Grand Tasting and other pairing events. Photo courtesy of Vail Wine Classic.

QUICK TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF THE VAIL WINE CLASSIC (AND ABOUT THAT DISCOUNT CODE…)
1. Purchase tickets for each event early because prices go up in tiers.
2. Take advantage of our exclusive discount promo code “realfoodtraveler” to receive $10 off any event ticket as events go live.
3. Make the most of Early Access tickets which give you more opportunity to speak to the wine, beer and spirits representatives. Ask questions, get to know them and their products.
4. Take pictures of the beverages you particularly enjoy so you can purchase them at home and/or ask for them in restaurants and bars. To make it even easier, the wineries, and what they are pouring, will be featured on the Vail Wine Classic website under the “Wineries” page for reference.
5. Use the free SommSchool Wine Event Guide to get tasting tips and more.
6. Get great deals on lodging with the Vail Wine Classic link.
7. Wear plenty of sunscreen and drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated.

Shop from a variety of vendors while enjoying the wine scene at the Grand Tasting. Photo courtesy of Vail Wine Classic.

The Vail Wine Classic is produced by our friends at Team Player Productions, organizers of other great culinary travel events including the Park City Wine event in Utah and the Breckenridge Wine Classic in Colorado.

Get all the details of the Vail Wine Classic on their website. And stay apprised of the latest news on their social media on Facebook and Instagram.

Plan your trip to Vail, Colorado using our affiliate link for your favorite booking site, here.

-By Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher & Managing Editor, RealFoodTraveler.com

Hungry for more? Spend more time in Colorado at this hotel in Breckenridge.