2008 Toast of Taos is coming!

Welcome to the 2008 Toast of Taos blog!!

Planning for 2008 is well underway. Here are the 2008 event highlights:

1. Southwest Wine Competition on June 25 and 26, featuring wines from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Last year 197 wines were entered, and we expect even more this year.

I toured some great Arizona wineries in late 2007: Callaghan, Canelo Hills, Dos Cabeza, Granite Creek, Keeling-Schaefer, Kokopelli, Rancho Rossa, Sonoita, and Village of Elgin, to name a few. What a wonderful group of people and a diverse, fascinating group of wines. Everything from the immense reds of Callaghan to the delicate lovely organic wines of Granite Creek, to the multitudinus wines of Sonoita. I hope to see several of these wines in the competition, and several of the winemakers at Toast of Taos.

2. Wonderful wine dinners:

July 5: Bravo! Restaurant

July 9: Joseph's Table Restaurant

July 10: Stakeout Grill and Bar

July 12: El Monte Sagrado Resort and Spa

Joseph's Table is the new addition this year. Owner and chef Joseph Wrede is renowned for his fascinating, exquisite food, and for his excellent wine pairings. Also, the restaurant is located in the La Fonda de Taos Hotel, a beautiful old historical hotel in the heart of Taos.

3. Art D'Vine Gallery Tour on July 11. This tour will feature over 20 galleries, restaurants, and wineries. Several galleries are new to the tour, and restaurants and wineries sign up every day. Keep an eye on http://www.toastoftaos.com/ to see who comes on board each day.

4. Kick off Wine Tasting of the Southwest on July 4. This is our biggest wine tasting. We anticipate over 20 wineries will offer tastings of their wines and will show off their medals. In addition, we will provide some terrific munchies (included in the ticket price) and lots of great music. Last year we heard everything from traditional New Mexican folk songs to powerful rock music to harp pieces to soft rock ballads. There's something for everyone at this great event.

2008 Toast of Taos will be loads of fun. Plus, all profits raised will go to help purchase new digital fluoroscopic and x-ray equipment for Holy Cross Hospital in Taos.

Come join us and enjoy the best the Southwest has to offer!!! Tickets will soon be available on our web site, and if you want to purchase some early, send me an email at strigg@taoshospital.org or call 575 751-5811.

Keep an eye on this blog as I pass on the latest developments as we get ready for 2008 Toast of Taos!!!!