The Connoisseur’s Seminar Pass – $270
Immerse yourself in the artistry of wine and food with our exclusive Seminar Pack, designed for those who want to go deeper into the Taste of Vail experience. Good for Seminars that will be held throughout Taste of Vail, April 1-4. There will be 7 seminars throughout the event.
Three Voices, One Valley: Interpreting Russian River Terroir
Thursday, Apr 2 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am
In the Russian River Valley, the day begins in silence. This seminar is not just about wine. It is about place.
In the Russian River Valley, the day begins in silence.
Fog drifts inland from the Pacific, wrapping the vines in a cool, silver hush. By mid-morning, the sun breaks through. By afternoon, warmth coaxes ripeness from thin-skinned Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. By evening, the temperature drops again, locking in acidity, tension, and grace.
This seminar is not just about wine. It is about place. It is about how three producers listen to the same landscape, and answer differently.
Syrah Speaks: Place, Precision, and Patience
Friday, Apr 3 from 11 am to 12 pm
Pax Wines Presents: Explore the philosophy and flavor of natural wine in this guided tasting seminar featuring five expressive wines made with minimal intervention and native fermentation. Learn how organic and biodynamic farming, low sulfur, and hands-off winemaking shape wines that are vibrant, textured, and alive
Few grape varieties articulate place as transparently, or as honestly, as Syrah. In the hands of Pax Mahle, Syrah becomes a lens through which soil, climate, and farming speak with clarity and restraint.
Join us for an in-depth exploration of Syrah through the philosophy of Pax Wines, a producer devoted to cool-climate vineyard sites across Northern California. With a focus on site expression, native fermentations, and patient élevage, Pax crafts Syrahs that are savory, structured, and deeply expressive of origin.
The Modern Indulgent: Wine, Whisky & Cannabis in the Age of Connoisseurship
Friday, Apr 3 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
This first-of-its-kind conversation examines the cultural evolution of indulgence, where luxury, wellness, and personal ritual intersect. Through visuals and storytelling, the seminar traces how three distinct categories—fine wine, whisky, and cannabis—are converging around shared values of craftsmanship, discernment, and sensory experience. Along the way, it considers how evolving attitudes toward wellness, moderation, and cultural stigma are reshaping connoisseurship itself.
The way we indulge is evolving. This seminar explores how, and why.
Guests will also enjoy a special pour of Robert Mondavi Winery wine, along with a brief update on the estate’s dramatic Spring 2026 renovation and reopening.
Minimal Intervention, Maximum Expression: The Natural Wine Experience
Saturday, Apr 4 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Explore the philosophy and flavor of natural wine in this guided tasting seminar featuring five expressive wines.
Idola and Doctor’s Orders - Explore the philosophy and flavor of natural wine in this guided tasting seminar featuring five expressive wines made with minimal intervention and native fermentation. Learn how organic and biodynamic farming, low sulfur, and hands-off winemaking shape wines that are vibrant, textured, and alive
Art of Making Low Production Wines with Mon Premier and Lussier Wineries
Friday, Apr 3 from 11 am to 12 pm
Join boutique winemakers G.W. Lussier of Lussier Wine Company and Mark Gamache of Mon Premier Wines for an immersive exploration of small-lot, handcrafted winemaking.
Through a guided tasting of six distinctive wines, Mark and G.W. will walk attendees through every stage of the winemaking journey, from vineyard selection to fermentation techniques, barrel aging decisions, blending, and bottling.
Southern Hemisphere: Estate Expression from Australia to South Africa
Friday, Apr 3 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Jackson Family Wines is a family-owned collection of wineries dedicated to crafting expressive, high-quality wines from exceptional vineyard sites around the world. Rooted in a commitment to sustainability and a deep respect for terroir, the Jackson family focuses on wines that reflect a true sense of place, from everyday favorites to world-class, estate-driven bottlings.
Legacy Winegrowing : Three Generations Garden Creek Vineyards
Friday, Apr 3 from 6 pm to 7 pm
Garden Creek Ranch Winery and Vineyard - Legacy Winegrowing: Three Generations & The Evolution of Quality and Innovation
Featuring Garden Creek with Warnelius Miller Family of Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
In the rolling hills of Alexander Valley, where morning fog yields to warm afternoons and cool evenings preserve tension and structure, Garden Creek Ranch stands as a living expression of continuity. This seminar explores what happens when stewardship spans generations, when land is not simply farmed, but understood, protected, and refined over time.
Legacy Winegrowing traces three generations of the Warnelius Miller family and their commitment to elevating estate viticulture in Sonoma County. From early plantings to today’s precision farming practices, the evolution of Garden Creek reflects both reverence for tradition and an embrace of innovation. Thoughtful clonal selection, sustainable vineyard management, and meticulous cellar decisions converge to produce wines of structure, depth, and age-worthiness.
The Duckhorn Portfolio: Five Icons of California Wine
Saturday, Apr 4 from 11 am to 12 pm
Experience five of California’s most celebrated wines in one rare tasting—from the legendary Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Merlot to the site-driven Pinot Noirs of Kosta Browne, Calera, and Goldeneye to the crisp, cool-climate Chardonnay of Sonoma-Cutrer. In partnership with Wine Spectator, this seminar will reveal how site, craft, and winemaking philosophy shape each expression, showcasing the shared pursuit of excellence that unites these celebrated estates.
The Tasting Lineup:
Duckhorn Vineyards, Three Palms Merlot
Kosta Browne, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Calera, Mt Harlan Pinot Noir
Goldeneye, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Sonoma-Cutrer, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay