Telluride Reserve: Inaugural Weekend, A Success, Cheers!

01 Sep Telluride Reserve: Inaugural Weekend, A Success, Cheers!

The Telluride Reserve celebrates a successful inaugural weekend
. Master sommeliers, winemakers, celebrated chefs and guests gathered in Telluride’s Mountain Village to celebrate food and wine.

Scroll down to learn more and to watch videos of the glorious days of wine & rosés.

Tim Mondavi

Beautiful weather, intimate lunches, great company, and conversation conspired to make the perfect weekend to launch the inaugural Telluride Reserve—Mountain Village Food & Wine Celebration, with unforgettable venues provided by event sponsor InvitedHome.

The first-year event welcomed celebrated chefs, winemakers, and master sommeliers. Talent like Chefs Marc Murphy, Katy Millard, and Mark Tarbell; winegrowers Tim and Carlo Mondavi; and sommelier Rajat Parr worked their magic to create intimate terroir-inspired lunches for fewer than 30 guests in private homes in Mountain Village. Among the featured venues were InvitedHome luxury properties Stonegate, Elkstone Penthouse, Castlewood Manor, and Russell Estate.

“The buzz from everyone involved was that the weekend experience was incredible and they hoped to return next year,” said Anton Benitez, President and CEO of Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association.

“The chefs, winemakers and sommeliers made this happen,” said Andrew Shaffner, co-founder and Wine Director at the Telluride Ski Resort. “We are so thankful for the support of these industry leaders in this our first year. They shared their knowledge—and perhaps more importantly—they were thoroughly engaged with guests and colleagues. Ultimately everyone left Telluride with lasting connections and memories.”

Russell Estate, offered by InvitedHome.

Elkstone,PH, offered by InvitedHome.

“I’ve been to a few cities in Colorado before but never Telluride” said Chef Marc Murphy of Food Network’s “Chopped.” “I’ve heard great things and it did not disappoint! Bringing together so many talented chefs and winemakers in such an unbelievably beautiful setting certainly made for a memorable weekend to celebrate the first ever Telluride Reserve.”

Chef Marc Murphy of “Chopped”

In addition to the luncheons, morning and afternoon sessions allowed guests to experience blind tastings, Malbec wines, new and noteworthy wines of Portugal and California. Guests learned how wines age and how to pair food and wine. Other sessions explored the fascinating world of sparkling wine, how to build the perfect antipasti, and the cocktails of Ernest Hemingway.

The freshman celebration also featured an exclusive re-tasting of the Judgment of Paris, a recreation of the famous blind tasting of 1976 when California wines beat French wines to earn recognition for the very first time. At the Telluride Reserve, a 2015 Roulot Meursault Charmes from France won the white wine category; a 2014 Ridge Montebello from California won the red wine category.

“We are excited to start planning for next year’s event,” said Garrett Brafford, Director of Finance and Operations of Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association. “We set the bar high and want to make the weekend even more special for our guests in 2020.”

Below a snapshot in images and videos of the 1st annual Telluride Reserve.

About Telluride Reserve:

Day 1, Invited Home Sabrage Welcome:

Photo, Ben Eng

Photo, Ben Eng.

Event co-founders Andrew Shaffner and Stephen Roth
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography .

Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography

Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography

Day 2:

Chef Mark Tarbell at Taste & Terroir of Champagne Growers
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography .

Valerie Masten Bonné, Vice President for National Sales at Skurnik Wines & Spirits at Taste & Terroir of Champagne Growers
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Greg Ralston of Lavinea Winery at Taste & Terroir of Oregon
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography .

Chef Katy Millard at Taste & Terroir of Oregon
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Winegrower Carlo Mondavi at Taste & Terroir of the Sonoma Coast
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Chef Greg Kuzia-Carmel and Chef Brandon Rice at Taste & Terroir of the Sonoma Coast
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Master Sommelier Roland Micu at Real Time Food & Wine Pairing
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Tim Buzinski at Bubbles Around the World
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography .

Day 3:

The home for Taste & Terroir of Spain
Photo credit: Chair 8 Media.

Chef Mark Murphy and Master Sommelier Damon Ornowski at Taste & Terroir of Tuscany
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

The home for Taste & Terroir of Napa Valley
Photo credit: Chair 8 Media.

Chef Jason Potanovich at Taste & Terroir of Côte de Nuits
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Chef Max MacKissock at Taste & Terroir of Spain
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Chef Jennifer Jasinski and Tempos Vega Sicilia Saleswoman Diana Kelley at Taste & Terroir of Spain
Photo credit: Ben Eng Photography.

Winegrower Tim Mondavi at Taste & Terroir of Napa Valley
Photo credit: Chair 8 Media.

Chef Sarah Scott at Taste & Terroir of Napa Valley
Photo credit: Chair 8 Media.