Castle Rock WineFest returns

The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce hosts the 2011 Castle Rock WineFest, with a record number of vendors, more than 25 Colorado wineries and an expanded venue with generous seating.

In its eighth year, WineFest is one of five state wine festivals officially sanctioned by the Colorado Wine Board. This year’s WineFest welcomes 27 Colorado wineries and more than 160 varieties of Colorado wine at its July 23 grand tasting event.

Event organizers expect 72 vendors, up from 54 in 2010, nearly a dozen food booths and record crowds at the event that has grown every year, said Diane Leduc, Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce director of marketing.

With record crowds expected, WineFest expanded its footprint at The Grange in The Meadows and added more shaded seating, outdoor patios and landscaping features, Leduc said.

“Because this event has grown incrementally each year, we have now expanded the venue to Paintbrush Park to the north with more umbrella tables and Douglas Lumber which will be bringing in an outdoor deck for seating,” Leduc said.

New this year is a smoking area hosted by Bubbles Liquor World, with high quality cigars and wine/cigar recommendations. WineFest traditionalists can enjoy staples including live entertainment and cooking classes that begin at 1 p.m. and continue hourly throughout the afternoon.

Cooking demonstrations are at The Grange pavilion and begin with the Kitchen Table Cooking School preparing a variety of sauces paired with bread, meat or cheese. Classes continue with Odette’s Cuisine, a retired restaurant owner and European-trained chef preparing baked, herb-crusted salmon, and finish with Tina Dolce from Castle Rock, renowned for its fresh Italian cooking, preparing grilled zucchini in puff pastry and tiramisu.

Demonstrations finish at 4 p.m. with a seminar on Colorado wines courtesy of Doug Caskey, executive director of the Colorado Wine Board.

WineFest begins with its winemaker dinner series the week before the grand tasting, which is from noon to 6 p.m. July 23 at The Grange in The Meadows.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit CastleRockWineFest.com. Advance tickets are $27; after July 21, tickets are $37. A wine tote and commemorative wine glass are included in the price of the tasting ticket.

Discount packages are available when wine-culinary pairings at select restaurants July 18-20 are combined with grand tasting tickets.