ON FOOD: Fall fests celebrate food, libations

Leaves are turning and there's a chill in the air - a sure sign there will be a slew of harvest-type events popping up.

So why not take advantage of the opportunity for a road trip to admire the colors and have some good food to boot?

To me the best event is the Harvest Fest at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 3011 E. U.S. Highway 50 in Cañon City, Sept. 26-28.

If at all possible, try to make it to the kick-off winemaker dinner Friday evening. The dinners have been held in several venues over the past several years - on the train going through the Royal Gorge, at the winery - but last year's dinner seems to have struck a note.

Sally Cookson, tasting room manager and wife of winemaker Matt Cookson, has once again arranged for the meal to be catered by Richard Warner and Mary Oreskovich, the husband-and-wife chef team of the award-winning (and now defunct) Steel City Diner in Pueblo. The couple, both graduates of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., now own Hopscotch Bakery in Pueblo.

Like last year, the multicourse meal, paired with Matt's Holy Cross Abbey wines, will be served at the scenic Shadow Hills Golf Club, 1232 Country Road 123 in Cañon City. Hors d'oeuvres will be passed at 6 p.m., and the seated dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person. Call 1-719-276-5191 for reservations.

The fest at the winery is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be crafts and food vendors selling local produce, roasted chiles, breads and cheese. At 11 a.m. each day, festivalgoers can buy lunch at a Mexican food buffet.

This year's guest cookbook author is Linda Bauer of Houston, who with her husband wrote "Recipes from Historic Colorado - A Restaurant Guide & Cookbook." Bauer will do book signings and cooking demonstrations with food samples from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the fest.

A big part of the fest is the Community Grape Crush. Each year Matt Cookson takes in grapes grown by the local community, then crushes them to make the annual Wild Cañon Harvest blend. This year the winery will pay $800 per ton of grapes, or 40 cents per pound. Growers who bring in more than 20 pounds of grapes will have their name put on the back label as part of the "2008 Wild Bunch." Call 719-276-5191, ext. 1219 or 1288, for more information about bringing grapes for the crush.

Looking for a reason to hit the road sooner? Then head north from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday for the Denver International Wine Competition at the Warwick Denver Hotel, 1776 Grant St.

In the past, the competition was a private affair, with the winning wines announced to the public at a reception. This year the tasting is open to the public.

You, too, have a chance to taste the more than 250 wine entries from around the world. Then cast your vote for the Consumer's Choice Awards for the best white, red and Bordeaux blends.

Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Call 1-303-664-5700 or visit www.denverwinefest.com.

If beer is more your drink of choice, then the Oktoberfest in Vail Village might be your thing.

You can raise your steins and have a full weekend of oom-pah music, bratwurst and German beers 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, with food and beverages available for purchase.

Visit www.gohighline.com/oktoberfest for a complete schedule of activities.
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Reach Farney at 636-0271 or teresa.farney@gazette.com.