A long and wining road ends in Vail
If You Go
What: Quintessential Family Wineries Road Trip
When: It stops in Vail on Friday: 2-5 p.m. for an industry tasting: 6:30-9 p.m. for a public tasting, a benefit for the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.
Where: Sonnenalp Resort, Vail
Cost: $40 for the public event. You can buy tickets at the door, or RSVP at 720-245-3000.
Information: Go to http://www.veraisonbev.com or http://www.quintessentialwines.com.
Quintessential Family Wineries Road Trip
Bodega Valentin Bianchi (San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina)
Frankland Estate (Frankland River, Western Australia)
Henry’s Drive Vignerons (Padthaway, South Australia)
Kay Brothers Winery (McLaren Vale, South Australia)
Paringa/3 Rings (McLaren Vale/Barossa Valley, South Australia)
Shirvington (McLaren Vale, South Australia)
Eponymous (Napa and Sonoma Valleys, California)
Two Angels/Angel’s Secret (High Valley and Sonoma Valley, California)
Matetic Vineyards (San Antonio Valley, Chile)
Terrapura (Central Valley and Curico, Chile)
Vina Koyle (Colchauga Valley, Chile)
Cachette and Esprit (Rhone Valley, France)
Gustave Lorentz (Alsace, France)
Robin Redbreast (Mosel, Germany)
Villa Huesgen (Mosel, Germany)
Count Karolyi (Tolna, Hungary)
Agricole Vallone (Puglia, Italy)
Ascevi Luwa (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy)
Attilio Ghisolfi (Piedmont, Italy)
Casalnova (Veneto, Italy)
Paolo Manzone (Piedmont, Italy)
Tenuta di Vignole (Tuscany, Italy)
It’s good to tour wine country; it’s better for wine country to come to you
The Quintessential Family Wineries Road Trip is bringing to Vail more than 30 winemakers and 160 wines from five continents. Friday’s event is a benefit for the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.
Wine, you might have noticed, is more diverse than it was just a few short years ago. You need a little guidance to find your way.
“It’s one thing to make wine; it’s quite another to market it and sell it,” said Bob Cohen, founder of Veraison Beverage Distributors.
Support Local Journalism
“Everything becomes focused on niche markets. It’s an interesting direction for any industry,” Cohen said.
Cohen has more than 30 years in the wine industry. Collectively, the Veraison crew has more than 90 years in the business. They specialize in small, boutique producers of fine wine from around the world.
Cohen has been working with Quintessential since he launched Veraison in Oct. 2007. In fact, Veraison is Quinessential’s reigning Distributor of the Year.
“We’re both on the grow. We’re moving in the same direction,” Cohen said.
Quintessential did a road trip several years ago and Cohen suggested that the next one should roll through Colorado, which is why they’re stopping though Vail this time.
The Sonnenalp is donating the room and Quintessential is picking up the tab to get the show to town, so that all the money will go to the Shaw Center.
“They’ve been hugely helpful,” Cohen said.
The public tasting and benefit is $40 per person.
“This price keeps it attractive and offers a unique opportunity during the off season,” Cohen said.
The Quintessential Family Wineries Road Trip kicked off Monday at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla. From there it was in Orlando, Chicago, Denver and lands in Vail on Friday.
“We have long wanted to showcase the abundance of riches we have with these great wines from our family-owned producers,” said Dennis Kreps, who co-owns Quintessential with his father Stephen Kreps.
“It’s a rare event and opportunity. For people who enjoy wine, you’re going right to the source,” Cohen said.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935, and rwyrick@vaildaily.com