Denver International Wine Festival

While Colorado may not have the wine world reputation of, say, Napa Valley in California, the state is catching the eyes of wine experts all over the world. The New York Times noted: "In recent years, the vineyards here have produced award-winning varietals and blends, making Colorado a rising star in the wine-making universe."

Along with this rising star status, it makes sense that Denver should host a truly extraordinary wine festival. Enter the Denver International Wine Festival, which is celebrating its fifth year in November. In addition, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has declared Nov. 9-15 "Denver Wine Week."

The premier International Wine Festival in The Rocky Mountains is a two-day international celebration of wine, cuisine and travel. Proprietors and winemakers from around the world will present more than 400 wines for your discerning palate. No matter if you're a dyed-in-the-wool oenophile or a newbie to the world of wine, this is yet another can't-miss Denver event.

One of the most popular events at the festival is the Taste of Elegance Chef's Wine and Food Competition/Auction, taking place Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Hailed by many as Denver's premier wine and food pairing competition, featuring samplings of expertly created cuisine paired with Gold Medal Winning Wines from the 2009 Denver International Wine Competition. Attendees will taste Gold Medal Winning Wines chosen through a blind tasting, from an accredited panel of judges. From those wines, competing chefs will create "Iron Chef" style dishes to pair with them. In addition, a live and silent auction will take place prior to the award ceremony.