The Denver Food + Wine Festival is more than just a chance to partake of great food and drink, although that would be reason enough to go. It’s also a way to get to know, revisit, support and celebrate more than 40 of Denver’s best restaurants, food trucks, chef, and bartenders. And there’s a charitable element to the event too, rounding out how awesome it is. The In Good Taste Denver blog was founded by born-and-bred Denverites so we’re happy to partner with the Denver Food + Wine Festival for this sponsored article to help support Denver’s foodie scene and to help YOU make the most of each festival event.
When is the 2024 Denver Food + Wine Festival?
It’s September 4-7, 2024
Where is it being held?
At the Tivoli Quad on the Denver Auraria Campus; 1000 Larimer Street.
What happens there?
The event is created BY and FOR restaurant lovers. There are four main elements to the Denver Food + Wine Festival. (Please note, all events are for ages 21+ only and no children or pets are allowed. This is YOU time!):
Riedel Wine Glass Seminar – September 4, 6-7pm
There’s a lot of function to a wine glass beyond just being a pretty thing holding your favorite drink. Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Sommelier Shelley Sale will explain the relationship between the shape of the wine glass and your ultimate enjoyment of the wine. Attendees will sample multiple pours to experience how different wines and vintages taste and smell in different Riedel glassware. Big bonus? After the seminar, you’ll be given your own four-glass Riedel kit to take home, which is valued at $178.
Shake + Brake Showdown – September 5, 7-10pm
This is a friendly cocktail competition paired with bites from eight of Denver’s most popular food trucks. Ticket-olders get all-you-can-drink from 12 of the best Denver bartenders, plus appetizers from the food trucks. Still hungry? Order more food from the food trucks! Vote on the People’s Choice Best Food Truck and Best Cocktail, with the grooving tunes of DJs to move you. Competitors include Zuri Resendiz from the Luchador Food Truck; Fetien Gebre-Michael from The Ethiopian Food Truck; Charles Mani from the brand-new Mile High Tikka Express; Julia Rivera and her family with Mukja; and two-time-return-champ Christina Richardson with Chile con Quesadilla.
Grand Tasting – September 7, 12-4pm for VIP & First Taste Ticketholders and 1-4pm for General Admission
Eat, drink, then do it some more, in a walk-around format under two massive tasting tents, with bites from more than 40 local restaurants and hundreds of drink options from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio. Three ticket levels give you various ways to partake, from the special VIP lounge with exclusive food, reserve wines, and tasting seminars, to getting in an hour early to taste it all before the crowds arrive. Learn more about that below. Note: VIP Grand Tasting has first-come, first-served, limited seating spirits tasting seminars with high-end spirits and Il Porcellino charcuterie.
Just a few of the participating chefs and restaurants at the Grand Tasting include Darrel Truett of Barolo Grill; Erasmo Casiano of Lucina Eatery & Bar; Linda Hampsten Fox of The Bindery; and Tracy Todd of Toro Denver. You can see the full list on the DFWF website.
Top Chef Activation:
Colorado ProStart® students are recruited every year to pitch in throughout the festival, gaining valuable experience helping participating restaurant teams prepare the thousands of bites they’ll serve at the Grand Tasting and other festival events. This year, we’re excited to pair five Colorado ProStart® classes from area high schools with five of the state’s Top Chef alumni, to cook and serve together at the event, including: Manny Barella, who starred in 2024’s Season 21; Hosea Rosenberg, winner of Season 5; Carrie Baird, a finalist from Season 15, which was set in Colorado; Byron Gomez, from Season 18; and Brother Luck, who also starred in Season 15.
The chefs will teach each class how to make the dish they’ll serve at the Grand Tasting, the students will prep the bites needed for the event, and then they’ll serve the dish alongside their chef on September 7.
“It’s going to be a fantastic learning experience for these ProStart students, and the chefs are excited to mentor our next generation of culinary leaders,” says Laura Shunk, CRF President.
New in 2024: Dine Out Auction Series –September 6 and future dates
New this year, the festival now includes an online auction of culinary experiences, many of which take place on Friday, September 6. The highest bidder takes the prize, with experiences ranging from a chef-counter dinner at Hop Alley to a four-course meal with wine pairings at Tavernetta. The auction opens on August 1 and closes on August 27. Most of the experiences will take place on September 6. Auction proceeds support the Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s mission of helping restaurant workers advance and thrive.
Is there a purpose behind the event – besides having an awesome time and celebrating some of Colorado’s best food and drink?
Definitely! Proceeds from the Denver Food + Wine Festival benefit the Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s mission to support worker education, training and Colorado ProStart®, their high school culinary and entrepreneurship program. In addition, proceeds help with mental health and wellness resources. Lastly, it benefits the Angel Relief Fund, which provides emergency grants for Colorado hospitality employees who are experiencing hardship. See? You can feel really good about having so much fun.
Are there tips for making the most of it?
You bet! We asked the organizers for their tips from their years of experience with the DFWF and here’s what they told us:
What should I wear? In years past, the weather has ranged from very hot to cold and drizzly (i.e. Colorado in September) so watch the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Because the festival takes place on grass, wear flats so your fab heels don’t get ruined. Be sure to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if sun is in the forecast.
Is there a certain strategy to have for experiencing the events? Get in line for the most popular food trucks first because the lines will likely stay long all night.
There’ll be a lot of food and drink. How should I pace myself? Come hungry and stay hydrated. VIP ticket holders should explore the VIP lounge and all that it has to offer and then head to the General Admission tents. First Taste and GA ticketholders should go slowly and choose what really looks good to you. Also, during the Shake + Brake Showdown, when you vote for your favorite cocktails (via a poker chip in buckets), you’ll receive a full pour so allow for that! Otherwise, cocktails are in tasting portions.
There’s so much food and drink, you don’t want to tire yourself out too quickly. Go slow. Take breaks. And have fun!
Great! Now, how do I get tickets?
Riedel Wine Glass Seminar, September 4: $95
Shake + Brake Showdown, September 5: $70. Price will go up to $80 on the day of the event if it is not sold out.
Dine Out Culinary Auction, September 6 (and other dates): Tickets aren’t required to participate. Bidding begins August 1.
Grand Tasting, September 7: Here are the prices for each Grand Tasting ticket level. There are a limited number of tickets at each so, as they sell out, the prices go up. As of our update on July 27, here is the current pricing until each ticket type sells out:
GA tickets: $150 reduced price, $175 full price
First Taste: $175 reduced price, $225 full price
VIP tickets: $275 reduced price, $300 full price
VIP Party Platter Package (Grand Tasting VIP ticket plus Shake + Brake Showdown ticket): $275
Party Platter Package (Grand Tasting GA ticket plus Shake + Brake Showdown ticket): $200
For more information, visit the Denver Food + Wine Festival website.
-By Courtney Drake-McDonough, publisher and managing editor of In Good Taste Denver.
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