Mountain High, Taos

There’s More than Powder at Taos This Week

By Celestia Loeffler, 1-24-07

It’s that time of year again— when you take a quick drive through the magnificent Taos Gorge, wind up at the Taos Ski Valley with a glass in your hand and a world of wine at your fingertips.  Yes, it’s the 21st annual Taos Winter Wine festival, with a brand new schedule of tastings, dinners, and seminars to get you tipsy and educated about wines and the wineries that produce them.

The Grand Tastings (one more this Friday the 26th) take place at Tenderfoot Katie’s (The main cafeteria) and Martini Tree upstairs.  This means you have two floors worth of luscious reds and whites in which to indulge.  A few of last Friday’s wineries included the famous Joseph Phelps (pouring their ’04 cabernet, yummy!), Sebastiani, La Crema (who busted out a well-rounded pinot), and many others, who brought their region’s finest. 

I am not a total wine snob, but I can appreciate a good glass of red or white (mostly red), especially when there is someone who can answer questions such as year/make/model of the wine.  Each winery has staff on hand to enlighten you about the particulars, and more importantly, to give you another taste. 

And thankfully, this is not a snooty event.  Anyone, over 21, can come and have fun, even if you’re only there for the people watching and snacks.  There are some of the most brilliant finger foods you could think of, particularly the decadent little lavender and dark chocolate morsels from the Xoatle Chocolatier, or the mini-wiener schnitzels with crout and mustard from the Bavarian. I enjoyed a plate of oysters on the half-shell and steamed mussels while watching as women in furry accessories and gobs of turquoise jewelry (just visitors, no doubt) woozed themselves from table to table.  Delightful! 

Most wineries even hand out flair, from pins and calendars to bumper stickers-- my personal favorite was “No vinos sin Juevos,” from Ravenswood winery.

So, whether you are a connoisseur, checking for viscosity and a good nose, or you just like sippin’ on the grape juice, there is something sure to please every palette.  It’s only $60 bucks a head for 3 hours of amazing food and wine, and generally there’s entertainment to be enjoyed somewhere on the mountain if you feel like reveling ‘til the later hours.

This entire week is packed with wine seminars and dinners, and the final wine tasting (Friday the 26th from 3:30 to 6:00) promises some delectable wines (St. Supery and Justin, two of my favorites, will be in attendance).  Some of our local wineries, including Gruet and Vivác, will be there to represent New Mexico’s growing wine market.  So if nothing else, come and support your local wineries.

Make sure you drink lots of water (They provide huge water containers) if you’re gonna’ hit the fresh powdery slopes the next morning.  Visit the Ski Taos website and check out their “Events” link for more information.  This is one event that locals and visitors alike shouldn’t miss!  Cheers!

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