Your Taste Buds Will Thank You For Visiting This 4-Day, Extra Delicious Food And Wine Festival In Colorado
By Christy Articola|Updated on May 30, 2024(Originally published August 29, 2023)
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Food? Wine? Sign me up! The Denver Food and Wine Festival 2024 is one of the very best events in Denver every single year, and it’s just around the corner. The next Denver Food and Wine Festival is happening this Sept. 4-7, and I plan on heading down there and eating until I can’t eat anymore. I’m not much of a wine drinker, but there’s plenty of that there, too. If you haven’t been, you simply MUST go; this is an event that you’re going to love. Read on to learn more about it, and I’ll see you there with an empty stomach.
The Denver Food and Wine Festival is a fantastic event. It started in 2013 as a simple, four-hour tasting event. Since then, it has grown into a four-day festival that's huge! That's right, four days of foodie fun right here in Colorado.
It's Colorado's largest restaurant industry fundraiser. The Colorado Restaurant Foundation, which puts on the event, uses it to raise money for scholarships for culinary students, to help people in the industry get ServSafe certified, and to support its Angel Relief Fund, which offers assistance for mental health treatment for Coloradans employed in the industry. Dozens of local and national businesses participate and sponsor the event. So you're not only eating good, you're doing good.
There are lots of events that happen over the course of this festival and they all revolve around food and wine.
You won't need to worry about dinner plans during the festival, there's more than enough to eat.
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The Riedel Seminar happens on Sept. 4. Participants in this part of the event will learn all about wine tasting and will leave with a wealth of knowledge. This event always sells out, so be sure to buy tickets in advance.
It's educational whether you have a wine background or not.
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The Shake & Brake Showdown happens on Sept. 7. It's a lively cocktail competition that includes an open bar, food, music, and opportunities to vote on your favorites.
A number of local food trucks will provide the food for this event. Enjoy quesadillas, pizza, pho, and more while you watch the bartenders and mixologists make their colorful concoctions.
Although wine is the heavy hitter at this festival, there are plenty of cocktails and other beverages to enjoy as well.
The biggest and best event of the festival, though, is the Grand Tasting. This happens on Saturday, Sept. 7, and it's incredible. Over 50 top local restaurants participate in it.
There are foods of all kinds represented here. Many - if not most - of the chefs and restaurants represented have won awards in the past, at this event and in other competitions.
If you still have room to eat by the end of the day.
This is an event that will impress you and you'll be thinking about it for months after, and you'll be excited and waiting for next year's Denver Food and Wine Festival as soon as this one ends.
The Denver Food and Wine Festival 2024 is an event that you absolutely should not miss. It’s an event that is not inexpensive, but it’s worth every penny. You’ll get plenty of food and wine and you’ll also be giving back to a great organization. Come on out and check it out! You’ll be glad that you did.
Have you been to this food festival? If so, us know in the comments below. We love to hear your firsthand accounts of these unique experiences.
Are you looking for somewhere to stay near Tivoli Quad for this event? Check out Booking.com for some ideas and options!
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More to Explore
Best Restaurants In Colorado
CC|May 30, 2024
What are the best restaurants in Denver?
If you want to do a little research before attending the festival, there are lots of great restaurants to enjoy in Denver. If you make reservations at any of the best restaurants in Denver, you’ll probably see the chefs later at the festival. And by then you’ll already know what dishes you like.
Root Down
Avanti F&B
Work & Class
Old Major
Denver Biscuit Company & Fat Sully's Pizza
Cart-Driver
Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen
Table 6
There
True Food Kitchen
What mom-and-pop restaurants should I visit in Colorado?
Some of the best dining experiences can be had at small, locally owned restaurants where it feels like you’re family. If you visit The Centennial State, visit these mom-and-pop restaurants in Colorado while you’re there.