The 'Epicurean Passport Weekend' in Aspen Is Not To Be Missed

Every year in June the Who's Who of the food & wine world block to Aspen like the Salmon of Capistrano. Okay, I had to throw in a Dumb & Dumber joker there, but kidding aside, Aspen is home to the most epic food and wine festival year after year. Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection —the landmark property that has served as the social hub of Aspen since its opening in 1889—is preparing to host its fourth annual Epicurean Passport Weekend during the 2024 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen this weekend.

There are a handful of unique wine dinners and events featuring world-class and celebrity vintners including DLynn Proctor, Asani Swann & Carmelo Anthony and more. Additionally, they welcome the first ever Epicurean All-Star basketball tournament in partnership with Lexus, benefiting Wine Unify. Enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition, world class wines and incredible bites as four teams of top chefs, sommeliers and vintners play for a great cause on a custom 3x3 half-court with unobstructed views of Aspen Mountain.

Guests don’t need to be staying on property, packaged tickets for the weekend can be purchased here as well as tickets to individual events.

Guests and locals can experience insider access to remarkable culinary programming and one-of-a-kind events held at Hotel Jerome from June 13th-16th, taking attendees on the ultimate epicurean exploration that seamlessly blends culture and style. From intimate lounges hosted by famed vintners and mixologists to curated multi-course dinners showcasing the artistry of award-winning chefs, Hotel Jerome continues to put Aspen, now a Michelin Guide recommended destination, at the forefront of a global culinary discussion, offering guests and locals alike a rare opportunity to indulge in unique and transformative experiences with world renowned industry icons.

“ We are elated to welcome back the Epicurean Passport Weekend at our iconic property, inviting culinary enthusiasts to experience some of the world’s most innovative and relevant chefs, vintners and mixologists ,” says Patrick Davila, general manager of Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection. “ The Epicurean Passport Weekend blends many of the themes we are so passionate about here at Hotel Jerome, from epicurean innovation, high fashion and design, to meaningfully collaborating with our local community. It is an honor to continue representing Aspen as the ultimate destination and an incredible place to reside .”

Culture and style intertwine at Hotel Jerome’s Epicurean Passport Weekend, where culinary excellence, world-class beverages and captivating fashion converge to create an unforgettable experience, and every moment will be a testament to the indelible influence of this historical hotel.

The highly anticipated lineup of Epicurean Passport events and experiences include:

Thursday Events:

• Luminarias Reception Start the evening in the Garden with a reception co-hosted by PATRÓN Tequila and Hotel Jerome. Delectable botanas will be made by Chefs David Castro Hussong from Fauna, Javier Plascencia from Animalon, Jose Luis Hinostroza from Arca, and Erasmo Casiano from Lucina. Joined by Wero Cham from Vinos Boutique presenting the best wines from Mexico's viticultural regions, cocktails by Eunice Figueroa from Arca, and music by DJ Clemente Castillo presented by The LatinX House.
• Luminarias Dinner in Prospect Menu by Chefs David Castro Hussong from Fauna, Javier Plascencia from Animalon, Jose Luis Hinostroza from Arca and Erasmo Casiano from Lucina, paired with reserve wines selected by Wero Cham of Vinos Boutique.
• Luminarias After Party in Bad Harriet Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy elevated cocktails featuring the smooth, incomparable taste of PATRÓN El Alto and PATRÓN El Cielo by bar maven Eunice Figueroa from Arca and music by DJ Clemente Castillo.

Friday Events:

• Staglin Family Vineyards Masterclass and Tasting with Shannon Staglin in The Hub
• “Elevated Hoops” 3x3 Half Court Tournament in partnership with Lexus benefiting Wine Unify, with four teams of chefs, sommeliers and vintners playing on a custom 3x3 half court. Competing chefs include Lexus Culinary Masters – Kwame Onwuachi, Shota Nakajima, Stephanie Izard and Jon Shook – David Castro, and Jose Luis Hinostroza, along with vintners La Fete and Grounded Wine Co.
• Grounded Wine Co + DanceAspen “Take Flight” the worlds of wine and dance will converge, featuring a live performance by the artists of DanceAspen paired with inspired wines curated by Josh Phelps of Grounded Wine Co.
• Black on Black v.III with Chefs JJ Johnson and Ashleigh Shanti, co-hosts DLynn Proctor, Alicia Towns Franken and Gary Obligacion presenting wines by vintners Marvina Robinson, Robin + Andréa McBride John, André Mack, Carmelo Anthony, Asani Swann, Artie Johnson, Donae Burston, E40 and Channing Frye. Following dinner, the After Party continues at Bad Harriet with host Derrick Turner and Aspen Vodka.

Saturday Events:

• Tasting with Ted Glennon in The Solarium
• Fantesca Estate & Winery Tasting with DLynn Proctor in The Hub
• The REUNION Reception & Dinner Menu by chef Alex Espinosa from Napa Valley’s Bottega, former executive chef Dominick Maietta of San Francisco’s Coqueta and former executive chef Dena Marino from Tra Vigne Napa Valley, along with wine pairings by Josh Phelps from Ad ViVum, Rob Harrison’s Fluent Glass Cat, and Giana Chiarello, daughter of Michael Chiarello, from Chiarello Family Vineyards.
• Bar Legends After Party in Bad Harriet with bar icons Julian Cox and Tony Abou-Ganim in collaboration with vintner and DJ Ted Glennon and Aspen Vodka.

Weekend Long Events:

• Sky Terrace - Revel in Aspen's best views while indulging with the world's best caviar and exquisite cocktails in partnership with PATRON Tequila and Petrossian.
• The Hub at the Wheeler Room - An intimate and private space housed in the historic Wheeler Room where our Epicurean Passport holders can take respite from the hustle and bustle and join visiting Chefs, Vintners and Industry Icons to hear their stories and be a part of the conversation.
• The Solarium - The gathering place where great company and great wine come together to toast to the adventures of the day and to welcome an evening of world-class culinary explorations.
• Live Mural Installation with Aspen Artist Jody Guralnick - In the Hotel Jerome Solarium, Aspen-based artist Jody Guralnick will be painting a live mural over the course of the weekend that will stretch 32 feet wide by 6 feet high and serve as a stunning backdrop to welcome guests for three days of epicurean adventure. The live transformation of the space is a rare opportunity to witness the entire creative process from start to finish.

• Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Tasting experience at Felix Roasting Co. - Discover an exquisite tasting experience with La Grande Dame at Hotel Jerome. Select from an exclusive menu featuring Veuve Clicquot’s finest cuvées, either as a tasting flight of four champagnes or a pairing of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015 and Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé 2012 complemented with bites crafted by Hotel Jerome’s culinary team.
• Aspen Vodka’s ‘Garnish Garden’ - Aspen Vodka is taking over the Aspen Times printing house with a two-day Garnish Garden Pop-Up. The exclusive pop-up redefines the traditional garden party by blending the timeless charm of Aspen’s natural landscapes with cutting-edge gastronomy and mixology offerings. Guests are invited to explore the innovative use of botanicals in vodka cocktails, paired with avant-garde culinary creations that emphasize modernism and innovation.

To find more details on the Epicurean Passport and to check availability, please visit: aubergeresorts.com/hoteljerome/experiences/epicurean-passport/ . Please note, this passport is only valid for Hotel Jerome programming and is not affiliated with the Aspen Food & Wine Classic.

Hotel Jerome will also have selected programming available a la carte with event tickets available through Tock. For more details, please visit Hotel Jerome’s website .