Along the Connoisseur’s Trail
Experience an eclectic art walk through the galleries of Vail Village while enjoying wine tastings and enticing gourmet delights from a variety of Vail Valley’s finest restaurants.
The Connoisseur’s Trail, a fundraiser for local charities, will present its third edition this Labor Day Weekend. Like last summer’s event, The Connoisseur’s Trail is being held in conjunction with Gourmet on the Gore.
This free-admission festival in Vail Village is an annual three-day celebration that pairs world-class wines and spirits with the best fare from top chefs throughout the Vail Valley.
Against a backdrop of the peaks of the Gore Range, winemakers and sommeliers will be on hand to discuss the wine, which is paired with taste-size portions of specialty dishes from each restaurant.
The festival also features jazz and salsa performances free of cost.The Connoisseur’s Trail, held the first day of Gourmet on the Gore, provides an exciting art component to the holiday weekend.
So successful was last summer’s inaugural edition, The Connoisseur’s Trail has been called the best new art, food and wine event in Vail.
Strolling their way through Vail Village’s finest art galleries while sampling enticing tastings from the valley’s finest restaurants, hundreds of art, wine and food enthusiasts enjoyed the sumptuous saunter and many said they were eagerly awaiting the second edition this summer.
As it turned out, they didn’t have to wait that long. By popular demand, the Connoisseur’s Trail launched a winter edition March 5th, 2009, which attracted hundreds as well.
At press time, this summer’s participating galleries include Claggett-Rey Gallery, Masters Gallery, Pismo Gallery, Vail Village Arts and Worth Home. Participating restaurants, carefully paired with the galleries, include Vail’s finest, such as Alpenrose, La Tour, Larkspur and Sapphire Restaurant & Oyster Bar.
A final list of this summer’s galleries and restaurants will be published before the event and all are guaranteed to be of the exceptionally high caliber as previous Connoisseur’s Trails. 
Highlighting the event, sponsored by Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine, will be an exceptional art auction benefiting Small Champions, a grass roots charitable foundation providing a variety of athletic and recreational programs for young children with such diverse disabilities as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, blindness and autism.
Renowned Colorado artist Carrie Fell, noted worldwide for her dynamically innovative depictions of the American West, has donated an original painting to The Connoisseur’s Trail.
The painting, entitled Gentle Leaders, is a 50” X 40” original acrylic/Oil on Canvas and will be on display at Masters Gallery at 100 East Meadow Drive in Vail Village (970-477-0600), and the artist will be on hand to autograph posters of the original painting.
“I was honored to be asked to participate in this summer’s Connoisseur’s Trail to benefit Small Champions,” the artist explains.
“The title of my piece is Gentle Leader and this painting is inspired by the willful instinct of the animal. If we wait sometimes for the leader, choosing not to lead may encourage the absence of ever finding what I like to call our “true west” or purpose.”
She admires the works of Small Champions, noting that, “Even though children are small, they can be a grown-up’s greatest teacher. They lead us toward the possibility of magic and miracles in spite of what we think we already know.”
“It is with a full heart and great desire that Gentle Leaders inspires many to lead on to aid the efforts of the Small Champions program so that it may continue to lead children to believe in all they can achieve.”
(For more information about the artist and her art see the feature article on pages p6-p7. of Panache).
Needless to say, The Connoisseur’s Trail is an event that further enhances the Vail Valley as an art aficionado’s destination resort.
The pairing of The Connoisseur’s Trail and its Carrie Fell auction with Gourmet on the Gore promises to make Labor Day Weekend memorable for art lovers, epicureans, and everyone who enjoys the finer things of life.
Come experience an art walk through five Vail Village art galleries and enjoy a wine tasting with gourmet delights from some of the Vail Valley’s finest restaurants.
Sponsored by Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine, all proceeds benefit Small Champions, a local non-profit organization for children who are physically and cognitively challenged.
Tickets are $30 and are available at participating galleries. They will also be available the day of the event at the Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine information tent by the covered bridge in Vail Village.
Space is limited, so plan to purchase your tickets in advance. Pre-sale tickets are available by calling 970-476-6600.
Among the galleries participating in this summer’s Connoisseur’s Trail are:
Claggett-Rey Gallery
100 East Meadow Drive # 10,
Vail Village
476-9350
Traditional American painting and sculpture by outstanding living American artists, featuring the Robert Lougheed Studio and other members of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America and the National Sculpture Society, distinguishes the Claggettt-Rey Gallery.
Masters Gallery
100 East Meadow Drive,
Vail Village
477-0600
Masters Gallery offers fine art for the serious collector as well as the first-time buyer. View an eclectic collection of international, traditional, western and contemporary art in all media, including works by emerging artists.
Pismo Gallery
122 East Meadow Drive,
Vail Village
970-476-2400
With galleries in Vail Village, Beaver Creek and Denver, Pismo offers Colorado’s largest selection of contemporary glass art in all price ranges and styles by world renowned and emerging artists. The galleries also features unique glass jewelry.
Vail Village Arts
122 East Meadow Drive, E-2,
Vail Village
476-7150
Vail Village Arts features a selection of fine paintings, bronze statues and wind sculptures. As part of its collection, its 20 artists create a unique and varied collection of art that will enhance your lifestyle. The Vickers Collection also has galleries in Beaver Creek, Sedona and Sun Valley.
Worth Home
100 E Meadow Drive #4
Vail Village
476-3224
Worth Home, with offices in the Vail Valley and Denver, has been internationally recognized for their immense creativity. Whether furnishing your new home or revitalizing an existing one, Worth Home is the foremost resource for Vail Valley homeowners. Top brands, good taste and unmatched fresh aesthetics – call about complimentary In Home Design Consultation today.
Don Berger is editor of Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine, Colorado Summit Magazine and Rocky Mountain Golf Magazine.
