From chocolate to cigars and cheese to tea

VAIL – Attendees at the Taste of Vail April 6-9 will sample and discover the history and progression of chocolate, cheese, wine and food pairings, cigars, teas and Pinot Noir during the various seminars scheduled for the culinary event. The full list of seminars is as follows:April 7Tea seminarTour through the world of tea as Vail Mountain Coffee and Tea Company present an trip through the world of tea. Seating is limited. Event isincluded in full event package. It is $20 for individual tickets.Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and SpaWhen: 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.The Progressive Food Menu seminarLearn how to apply wine and food in balance theory to practical applications of cuisines and dishes paired to wine with Jerry Comfort of Beringer Blass. Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $35 for individual tickets. Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.A Taste of Spain with Pesquera seminarExplore the wines of Spain with Alejandro Fernandez, owner and winemaker of Spain’s Pesquera Estate. The lineup includes a taste of 1996 Pesquera Reserva. Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $50 for individual tickets.Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and SpaWhen: 1:30-3 p.m.Cigar seminarOnce again, Cigar Aficionado magazine hosts cigar and spirit tasting. The goal in this spirited debate will be to settle once and for all the “ancient and controversial issue” of which pairs better with fine cigars: super-premium Scotch or Bourbon? Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $35 for individual tickets. Where: The Sanctuary in Vail VillageWhen: 6:30-8 p.m.April 8Cheese and Sherry SeminarExplore the wonderful world of cheeses, courtesy of eat! drink!, a wine and cheese shop in Edwards. In addition, you will learn about Spain’s elixir, Sherry, courtesy of Javier Hidalgo, owner and winemaker for Bodegas Hidalgo-La Gitana. Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $35 for individual tickets. Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and SpaWhen: 9:30-10:30 a.m.Chocolate seminarExperience the best of the sweeter things in life as John Scharffenberger of Scharffen Berger Chocolates traces the history, flavor, technology and future of chocolate. You’ll taste examples of all types of chocolate, while looking at new research in the effects of chocolate on health. Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $35 for individual tickets. Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and SpaWhen: 4-5 p.m.”The Great American Martini Mix-Off” cocktail seminar For James Bond, it was shaken, not stirred. For you, it’s anything goes when you sample apres-ski martinis from Vail Valley bartenders, who will pour their signature drinks as they compete for the “People’s Choice Award” for the No. 1 cocktail. Experience why some of the great drinkers of our times have called the martini America’s most important contribution to global culture, presented by Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado. Spirit Sponsors: Ciroc Vodka and No. TEN by Tanqueray. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $35 for individual tickets. Where: The Sanctuary in Vail VillageWhen: 4-5:00 p.m.April 9Discovering the Complexities of Taste seminarFood fanatics of all levels discover the complexities of taste during this interactive seminar that puts all the senses to work, courtesy of Dr. Christine Stamm, professor at Johnson and Wales University in Denver. Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $35 for individual tickets. Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and SpaWhen: 10-11:30 a.m.New World Pinot Noir seminar and tastingTaste world-class Pinot Noir wines from a number of California, Oregon and New Zealand appellations. This will be an opportunity for Pinot Noir lovers to try some of the New World’s definitive Pinot Noir. Seating is limited. Tickets are included in full event package. It is $50 for individual tickets. Where: Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and SpaWhen: 3-4:30 p.m.To purchase tickets, call (888) 311-5665 or order tickets online at http://www.tasteofvail.com.Vail, Colorado