ASPEN FOOD & WINE CLASSIC
“It Feels Like Summer Camp at 8,000 Feet”
The 7,000 good burghers of Aspen will see its population almost double the weekend of June 20-22 when the Aspen Food & Wine Classic will come to town for the 42nd time. One of the most important culinary events in the country, the festival goers will think “it feels like summer camp – at 8,000-feet.”
That’s in the experience of Amanda DeRienzo, executive director of event marketing -- and titular camp counselor of the Classic.
“Aspen is pivotal in the magic formula for the weekend” DeRienzo proclaims. “From events on the top of Aspen Mountain, when “We take over the hotels and parks. …”
All day and all night will be the climate that will be created by the marathon partying, eating food created by some of the most innovative chefs in the country; and by drinking some of the most interesting wines produced by some of the best winemakers in the world.
This year’s lineup includes:
- Former The New York Times food writer Mark Bittman, who will be “Turning Up the Heat” on sous vide, steaming, and searing
- Food & Wine Magazine wine writer Ray Isle will pair potato chips & wine(!) at The Little Nell
- A Fireside Chat with Padma Lakshmi and then Ayesha Curry
- “The Future of Wine is Female” will feature cold climate wines from extreme regions with wine journalist Julia Coney
- A screening of “Somebody Feed Phil” with Phil Rosenthal
- Aspen chef Mawa McQueen of Mawa’s Kitchen, which is “hyper-seasonal” and reflects Mawa's international heritage serving up Afro-Mediterranean food
“The Classic is an event that includes the whole town of Aspen, whether or not you're participating in seminars, volunteering at tents, or hosting private events at your own restaurant,” says Rachael Liggett-Draper, one of the sommeliers at The Little Nell, which serves as a hub for the event’s revelers. “… We're especially busy late night when the common areas become standing room only and the ‘who's who’ of famous chefs and winemakers come to pull corks together. Each year you can find me and my team working long hours to keep up with the high volume...
“I describe the Classic as the Super Bowl for sommeliers. You're pulling corks for celebrity chefs and master sommeliers as fast as you can make a trip up and down the stairs to the wine cellar.”
Continues Liggett-Draper: “I think it's a special thing that the entire community of restaurants and food and beverage professionals become involved. It's a special opportunity to see world-class figures come and connect with others over a glass of wine. It's always an honor to host wonderful winemakers in our restaurants and get to meet the many people who have paved the way for the culinary industry.
“I hope over the years we see more involvement from Colorado wineries. It would be an amazing opportunity to have them rub shoulders with some of the most famous winemakers in the world."
The three-day event will feature 80 cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, panel discussions, and spirits tastings, combined with five featured tastings where attendees can sample ingredients, dishes, and drinks from 150-plus winemakers, chefs, distillers, destinations, and lifestyle companies. Tickets are available now at classic.foodandwine.com
Alan Goldfarb is a longtime wine journalist. His work has appeared in the Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Alta Journal among many others; and he’s interviewed Robert Mondavi. Francis Ford Coppola, Joan Baez, Daniel Ellsberg and Rupert Murdoch among hundreds of others.