Steamboat Wine Festival Starts Pouring Today

Steamboat Springs is lovely in high summer, but it's even lovelier when you're holding a glass of wine. The Steamboat Wine Festival brings it all together with five glorious days of wine tastings, seminars and wine dinners, as well as other activities that offer a chance to savor the mountain town's outdoor fun — including hiking, biking and even a yoga session that ends with lunch and a sip. You can mingle with master sommeliers, vintners and chefs at VIP events hosted by Sotheby's; join Friday's Stroll of Steamboat, a moving caravan of tasting and noshing stops in the old downtown, or rub elbows with the crowds at Saturday's signature grand finale, Toast of Steamboat in Gondola Square.

To make your experience even more seamless, the fest is partnering with Front Range outlet Applejack Wine & Spirits so that selective buyers can add to their home stashes as they root through more than 500 available wines, beers and spirits. “Sometimes you want to try, love and just have your wines delivered,” says fest spokeswoman Courtney Mamuscia, who notes that Applejack will be on hand to make your purchases easier.

Explore the wine world and other perks today through Sunday, August 14. Admission to individual festival events ranges from $65 to $230; some — including tonight's Farm to Barn dinner — are already sold out. For a complete schedule and to register for events, go to steamboatwinefestival.com.