Fifteen different wineries serving with over five hours of jazz: This year’s event will feature Wellington Bullings Duo, Sarah Mount and the Rushmores, and Bill Kopper with Mitchell Long. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KELLEY[/caption]

Last year’s inaugural Ned Jazz & Wine Festival was quite a success that saw over 450 guests perusing more than 15 vendors of wine, liquor, and mead while some eclectic musicians provided the perfect backdrop as the skies poured rain.

The second annual festival plans to be even bigger and better than before, with 25 beverage booths planned, including: 15 wineries, from Augustina’s Winery to Settembre Cellars; five distilleries, including Gold Dirt Distillery and Uncle Tim’s Cocktails; two breweries, such as local favorites Busey Brews; and even five non-alcoholic vendors, including Gruvi, Boulder Juicery, and 3rd Bird Kombucha.

“The biggest difference that you’re going to see as a return attendee is way more booths to try, sample, and buy from,” Stephanie Andelman, organizer of the Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival told The Mountain-Ear. “And also to just learn about the vendors and talk to them; they come from all over Colorado!”

The festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Chipeta Park, will also feature six hours of live music, including two sets from the Wellington Bullings Duo, Sarah Mount and the Rushmores, and Bill Kopper with Mitchell Long.

Wellington grew up on Sugarloaf; she’s a local and she’s taking over the Denver jazz scene,” Andelman explained. “People just love her as a soloist and with a big band, she was an artist in residence at the Dazzle jazz club. She’s a known entity but her homebase is here, which is just a neat connection.”

“Sarah Mount is a saxophone player and Otis Lande is going to be her piano player. She tends to be more funk jazz, with some neo soul, and she’s front and center with a big ol’ sax. It’s going to be the ‘get down and dance’ kind of jazz.”

“Bill Kopper and Mitchell Long have both played the Nederland acid jazz nights in the 90s and early 2000s. Bill can plug into a tour and play any kind of guitar, but his favorite is Brazilian. He’s been a band leader throughout Denver and Boulder and has been the featured artist for several years at Brazil Fest in Boulder,” Andelman said.

There will be several craft and food vendors this year to provide the perfect pairing of savory snacks and sweet delectables to the offered variety of wines. Corduroy’s will provide a special pairing menu, and Kaleidoscope Kitchen will offer their own creative assortment of deliciousness. MouCo Cheeses will supply wine’s other best friend, apart from jazz, and Burning Bridges will provide amazing hot sauces, mustards, and pepper jelly to bring a little spice to one’s palate. Aspen Sage & Botanicals will be serving herbal chocolates, Havenly Baked Goods will provide gluten and dairy-free goodies, and Peace Love and Cake will be whipping up something special for all jazz and wine lovers to indulge in.

Also, the second Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival will feature several specialty craft booths, from Dusty Roads Mountain Boutique, Kaleidoscope Fine Arts Gallery, Wabi-Sabi Metals Studio, and Laurence Delaunay ART @ Lolo’s Atelier, who will be offering a wide variety of intricate, handmade artwork.

“There are other things that are new this year,” Andelman noted. “We’ll be selling commemorative posters by Jessica Bernstein. She is going to sign them and they’ll be limited edition, which is really cool because it will start a trend for every year.”

“We’ll also have merch, including a long sleeve hooded jersey that’s going to be very classy. We’ll have a limited amount of those as well.”

This year VIP tickets were sold which will supply such attendees with commemorative wine tasting glasses, two custom tote bags, unlimited tasting from the beverage booths, two raffle tickets for the chance to win one or ten prizes, a personal wine valet, and access to a reserved tent area where catered food will be served and an official Colorado sommelier will provide his services.

“The VIP experience includes way more than the value of the ticket price. We have from Postino, who opened in Boulder recently, their Sommelier, Brent Karlicek, who is the founder and conceptualizer of Postino,” Andelman continued.

“A half hour guided tasting tour will be held at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. and VIPs are going to sign up for one or the other tasting times. We have an open tent, which is shaded, catered food by Tonimon, you get a keepsake lanyard, and two tote bags because you’re going to get a lot of wine.”

A percentage of the proceeds from the VIP and regular ticket sales, as well as 100% of the proceeds from the raffle tickets, go to support the Nederland Area Seniors.

“VIPs also get two raffle tickets. Each raffle item, and there are 10 of them, is worth at least $100 and up to $400. We’re raffling off two sets of day passes from Eldora; a night out with Postino and membership to their Wine Cult; a night out at Dazzle including a bottle of wine; wine books and event tickets package from the Nederland Community Library, and two VIP tickets for next year’s festival.”

Andelman gave a personal shout out to her Vendor Manager Sarah Baker, who is helping make the festival a reality for the second year in a row. Andelman also thanked the sponsors of the event, Postino, Homes by Jackie Jones, and Eldora.

“My objectives are to give people a really fun thing to do during the day, allow them to learn more about our wine culture in this state, because it’s really deep and it’s come a long way, and to give the community something to do that’s sophisticated and inclusive and brings people from out of town,” Andelman said before adding, “and if you’ve never been here before, go spend some money in our town and be sure to come back!”

The Second Annual Ned Jazz & Wine Festival will instill good vibes across Chipeta Park on Saturday, August 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets check out: https:// nedjazzwine.com.