While well-known areas spring to mind when thinking about the world’s finest vintages, but to know that excellent wine is being made and enjoyed just about everywhere is wonderful to hear.

While Italy and France beats Steamboat, we’re still known to be right up there with them on the top 25 list. When you visit other cities, add a new wine to your repertoire. As years go by, when you taste that varietal, it can take you right back to your special trip. While known for world calls skiing, Steamboat is a summer haven – to enjoy fresh mountain air, wine and music. A tiny specialty grocer, Market on the Mountain, can assist you in packing the perfect picnic basket with your favorite cheeses, crusty bread and a Pinot Grigio, so you may enjoy the majestic beauty of Mt. Werner and the Yampa Valley.

The question of the day is:

Are you drinking the WINE or the LABEL?

I have found incredible wines at what I thought were very low prices and I have found some that were terrible and yet cost a small fortune. There really are only two types of wine:

1. Wines you like.

2. Wines you don’t.

I believe that in the end, wine is supposed to be fun. I like to think that most people would rather enjoy a glass (or two) of wine than read about it and the only way to REALLY learn about wine is to DRINK it and drink a lot of it. Let me clarify, not drink a lot of wine at one time, but to drink LOTS of wines over a lot of time.

The Steamboat Wine Festival is coming soon, this year’s event takes place August 5-8th and they have started to search for a photograph to grace the cover of this year’s festival program. The program, which will appear in the July & August 2010 Issue of Mountain Living, will be viewed by 150,000 ML Readers, plus 7,500 festival attendees. If you think you have the right picture for the Cover Photo Contest, enter today with one great photo that captures Steamboat’s one of a kind Western Spirit. They prefer summer shots and images that must be 300 DPI and at least 9.5″ wide and 11.5″ high. The deadline for entries is May 3rd, 2010, so enter today!

Organic vineyards are not necessarily “tidy” in the conventional sense with “spreadsheet” rows of vines devoid of all interior plant or animal life except the prized vine. However, they are beautiful – a stunning display of nature’s innate system of checks and balance, cover crops, bugs, bees, birds, bats and the like checking in on vine-destroying insects and weeds – helping to balance their formidable populations to give rise to a vine that can thrive. Organic wines area true ecosystem gem.

With grapes topping the list of the most chemically “sprayed” (with insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other nasty “cides”) categories of produce on the market today, it is no wonder that many are seeking an organic alternative to their conventional wines. Tides are certainly turning as more vintners are discovering that the common-sense approach to both organic and bio-dynamic growing methods, results in not only “healthier” vines, but in wines with greater flavor, more distinct terrior character and at times a noticeable cost-savings on their bottom line.

A Few Recommended Organic Wine Producers:

Benziger Winery (California)

Grgich Hills (California)

Bonterra Vineyards (California)

Frog’s Leap (California)

The Organic Wine Company (Key importer of Organic French Wines)

Frey Vineyards (California)

Organic Vintners (Importers of internationally produced Organic Wines)

Ceago Vinegarden (California)

Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic (Israel)

Summerhill Pyramid Winery (Canada)Robinvale Organic Wines (Australia)

Richmond Plains (New Zealand)

Kawarau Estate (New Zealand)

Temple Bruer Winery (Australia)

Nuova Cappelletta (Italy)

Bodega Hermanos Delgado (Spain)

Badger Mountain Vineyard (Washington)

There has been a recent study from MSNBC that drinking light to moderate amount of red vino may keep pounds off. Light to moderate alcohol consumption, especially red wine, is not only good for a women’s heart, it’s also good for her waistline, according to a study reported to MSNBC News.

The study started out with nearly 20,000 trim middle-aged and older women. Overtime, women who drank alcohol in moderation put on less weight and were less apt to become overweight compared to nondrinkers. This was true even after taking into account  various lifestyle and dietary factors that might influence a woman’s weight. Red wine seemed best at keeping weight in check, but white wine, beer and spirits also had some benefit.

Many prior studies have suggested that moderate drinking, usually defined as a drink or two a day, can be a healthy habit, particularly with regard to heart health, while heavy drinking can harm health. There are several reasons why alcohol might help women stay trim. In a current study, women consuming more alcohol ate less, particularly carbohydrates, a finding seen in other studies. Moreover, it’s been shown that women tend to expend more energy after drinking alcohol, more so than that contained in the alcohol.

The 7th Annual Steamboat Wine Festival

A Weekend of Fine Wines and Culinary Delights, August 5-8, 2010

The Steamboat Wine Festival is proud to announce their final plans that were recently met and announced to public. “Like the Steamboat Pilot says, Steamboat pops cork on plans”! Steamboat will be holding the 7th Annual Wine Festival on August 5th through the 8th of 2010 this year. It will take place at venues in downtown Steamboat Springs and Torian Plum Plaza in the mountain area. The kickoff celebration will start on that Thursday evening, public tasting events will take place on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and seminars throughout the weekend. On Saturday, August 7th, 2010; Steamboat will have “The Denver Five” joining to Toast of local and regional chefs featuring the Steamboat Grand Toasting. Very exciting to have such talented chefs to come to town to show and cook their talents off during the sipping of wine! The Steamboat Wine Festival is fast becoming one of Colorado’s most popular summer events, attracting nearly 3,000 attendees, over 100 wineries from all over the world, and top-notch chefs. This celebration of culinary delights, wine tastings, outdoor activities, arts and entertainment offers visitors to Steamboat Springs the opportunity to sniff, swirl and sip their way through a glorious summer weekend!

Cheers All!