Winter Wine Rodeo II
While the actual competition for the best wines entered into the North Idaho Wine Rodeo happens in the summer and culminates during fair week, the winter version of the event is an even bigger celebration of participating wineries, winemakers and the winners. Last year at the winter event more than 300 wine consumers converged on the fairgrounds to taste for themselves hundreds of wines that had been entered in the competition.
The event this year will be bigger and better with an expanded venue, more restaurants, more vendors to cover some of your holiday shopping and an expanded palate of events. First the vital statistics, the event will be held this year from 3-7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds providing consumers a chance to find wines they want to serve at both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Tickets are $18 in advance and $22 at the door and again this year will include your souvenir logo glass, 5-2 ounce wine tastes and three bites of food from local restaurants that include Scratch, Angelo's, Bistro on Spruce and more. Just like last year too you will be able to buy more tastes and bites during the event.
Don't leave the beer enthusiast in your circle of friends and family behind this year though, as beer will be available from the Fair Board Beer Booth!
Also added this year will be a special VIP event held at 2 p.m. right before the grand tasting, for a total price of $35 presale or $40 on the day of the event you will be able to attend the main tasting with the glass, the tastes and bites, and also join us at 2 p.m. for "Behind the Chutes: How to taste wine like a wine rodeo judge!" This special session will be limited to 40 participants and include a panel presentation by Wine Rodeo Judges Eric Cook, me and special guest Scott Conant of local distributor Vehrs.
The Behind the Chutes event will include a tasting of three specially selected wines that will provide a chance for the folks attending to see how wine is judged, what the judges are looking for, how to identify those characteristics throughout the tasting process and an opportunity to ask unlimited questions of the panel. We will also discuss varietal characteristics and differences in winemaking styles that help the winning winemakers win the belt buckle.
Advance tickets for the grand tasting and the "Behind the Chutes" VIP event are available at the dinner party at 3520 North Government Way or at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. We can answer questions on all of the events for you by calling 765-5653. Stay tuned as we continue to add winemakers for the event that will be able to answer your winemaking questions and additional restaurants too.
We are looking forward to a great afternoon of events, wine tasting, food sampling and shopping all designed to enhance the wine knowledge and enjoyment for our local consumers, by providing access to so many great local wines, restaurants and vendors. We hope you can be there!
If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.
George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party - a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo and writes frequently for the online version of Coeur d'Alene Magazine at www.cdamagazine.com. His articles can also be found on the blog at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.