Vail Wine Classic 2026

Grand Tastings, sommelier-led wine hikes, paired dinners, and a sunset showcase over the Gore Range — the Vail Wine Classic is a summit-country celebration of everything in a glass.

The Vail Wine Classic returns August 6–8, 2026 for its sixth annual celebration of wine, beer, and spirits set against the peaks of Vail and the Vail Valley. Across three days the festival pours 300+ selections from California to France, with the signature Grand Tastings on August 7 & 8 spread out on the Vail athletic fields.

Beyond the tents, the weekend fills out with sommelier-led wine hikes, paired lunches and five-course dinners at top Vail restaurants, and an exclusive Best of Fest sunset showcase featuring 90+ rated wines overlooking the Gore Range. It is one of the most memorable food-and-wine weekends on the Colorado summer calendar.

Festival Highlights

• 300+ pours — wine, beer, and spirits from California to France
• Grand Tastings — the signature tasting events on August 7 & 8 at the Vail athletic fields
• Sommelier-led wine hikes — taste your way through the mountains with expert guides
• Paired lunches & five-course dinners — curated meals at top Vail restaurants
• Best of Fest showcase — an exclusive sunset tasting of 90+ rated wines overlooking the Gore Range
• 21+ celebration — a spirited, grown-up weekend in the heart of Vail

Plan Your Weekend

Here’s the general flow of the weekend. Exact times, dinner venues, and the full lineup of events are posted closer to the festival — confirm details and reserve tickets at vailwineclassic.com.

The Tastings & the Setting

The heart of the weekend is the Grand Tasting on the Vail athletic fields, where more than 300 wines, beers, and spirits fill the tents and winemakers pour alongside distillers and brewers. Wander from table to table, follow a sommelier on a mountain wine hike, sit down to a five-course paired dinner, and cap the weekend with the Best of Fest sunset showcase as the light drops over the Gore Range.

Know Before You Go

• Date: August 6–8, 2026 (Thu–Sat); Grand Tastings on August 7 & 8
• Where: Vail and Vail Valley venues; Grand Tasting at the Vail athletic fields
• Admission: Ticketed, 21+ with valid ID — General Admission from about $114 plus fees, Early Access about $144, Premium about $174
• Parking: Use the Vail Village and Lionshead public parking structures; walk or ride the free village shuttle to the fields
• Highlights: 300+ pours, sommelier-led wine hikes, paired lunches & five-course dinners, Best of Fest sunset showcase
• Altitude: Vail sits above 8,000 feet — hydrate between pours and pace yourself

A Taste of the Weekend