Grapes and Grass: Pairing wine with bluegrass in Boulder, CO
At Grapes and Grass Festival, pairing wine with bluegrass was a refreshing change.
And simply throwing a day-fest at the Highland City Club made bluegrass seem a little more classy!
Imagine sipping on rosé while strolling through the gardens at Boulder’s premier social club. Doesn’t sound like the typical setting for a bluegrass festival, does it? Well, that’s exactly what happened at the inaugural Grapes and Grass in downtown Boulder, Colorado.
The Grapes
Grapes and Grass was the perfect pairing of wine and bluegrass music. Held at the Highland City Club, guests were gifted a free wine glass used to sample a large variety of wines from over eight local vendors.
We arrived in the early afternoon and headed straight for the champagne. A little bubbly was the perfect way to start our Saturday festivities. Many vendors brought a variety of wines for everyone to try. So, we were able to start with some lighter rosés during the heat of the day and move down the line to some earthier reds as the sunset. Guests could also choose to purchase a punch-card for 8 full glasses of wine ($40).
With 8 wine tents to choose from, it was noted that this festival offered something that many do not: effortless drinking!
Not a fan of wine? No worries, they have you covered! Wibby Brewing, hailing from Longmont, Colorado, had more than a few kegs of craft beer to satisfy your thirst. Mighty Swell provided naturally-sweetened sparkling canned cocktails as well.
The Grub
Rock ‘N Lobster Roll‘s food truck served up some tasty lobster treats. We thoroughly enjoyed the lobster tacos served with a side of UTZ crab chips (a treat rarely spotted West of the Mississippi River). Travis Lawson (bass player, Timber!) made a bold statement that the lobster rolls were the best $16.50 he spent all day!
Cured, from downtown Boulder, offered European-style sandwiches and gourmet cheese and fruit trays. Both paired nicely with the wines and the classy garden setting.
Late-night Cosmo’s pizza was brought in near the end of the evening – a game-changer for those who had been drinking copious amounts of wine all day long.
The Grass
The wine samples continued to pour throughout the day, as we wandered between the wine garden and the music. The venue may have been small, but it was able to comfortably showcase two stages. This meant the music continued on for 10-hours straight between the Main Stage and the tweener sets on the River Stage.
Festival attendees were encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to spread on the lawn by the main stage. Guests were able to relax during the day while enjoying the bluegrass tunes from Thunder & Rain, RapidGrass, Pat Fiddle‘s Electric Hartford, and Whitewater Ramble on the Main Stage.
Between those sets, we wandered a few yards away to the River Stage nestled by a small waterfall with amphitheater style seating. Chunky Whiskey and Kevin Watson started off the afternoon, followed up by the sweet folk melodies of Silas Herman and Mackenzie Page from Gipsy Moon. The acoustic duo Musk ’N Boots closed out the River Stage with their delightful duets.
As the day cooled off and the sun began to set, the crowd livened up for the final musical acts on the Main Stage. The soulful country sounds of Bonnie & the Clydes brought festival-goers to their feet, while The Grant Farm kept us all dancing into the evening with their high-energy bluegrass tunes.
As the night came to an end, the stage was filled to the brim with talent as the “Grapeful Grass Allstars” came together for a final performance. For our final festival moment, the crowd embraced and sang along with the Allstars closing song, “And I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight.”
