Photo by Claire Lichtwardt
An Exploration of Food and Drink
The skies had been grey on and off all day, foreboding the oncoming rain. Disparate raindrops gave way to a steady sprinkle. Then heavy rain quickly began to fall. A clap of thunder erupted in the distance. People ran from all directions toward the cover of a large, centrally located canvas tent.
Within moments we had gone from sharing casual conversation with comrades to rubbing shoulders with strangers. People laughed as they shook drops of water from hats, jackets, and pants. Another thunderclap quickly followed a flash of lightning. This elicited a cheer from the tightly bunched crowd.
We were all huddled beneath a tent set up as part of Savor Big Sky Food, Wine + Spirits, an annual celebration held in Big Sky, Montana. Beneath the canvas, we were surrounded by some of the area’s best beer, wine, and specialty foods. Italian prosecco sloshed, beers were shared, locally distilled spirits joined in toasts all around. We gathered around platters of delicious, plentiful appetizers. With every new bolt from the skies, the crowd laughed, toasted, and cheered some more. Savor Big Sky, formerly known as the annual Vine & Dine Festival at Big Sky Resort, was back in action indeed, following a short hiatus. And boy, were we all glad the event had returned.
“The best thing about the 2023 event was that a storm blew through,” says Bryan Salminen, a chiropractor and part-time resident of Big Sky who was among our colleagues beneath the big top that day. “We all gathered under the safety of the tents and got to know one another. It was magic. My wife and I can’t wait to go back this year.”
Savor Big Sky, to be held June 27–30, 2024, brings together events that explore food, wine, beer, distilled spirits, and additional varied beverages from near and far. The program builds on the success of last year’s event to focus on a summer weekend packed with curated offerings by the resort’s food and beverage experts. Many of the attendees hail from southwest Montana, with others visiting from as far away as South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and more. Together, locals and visitors can learn about and share in the bounty of Montana.
At the core of the event is the Savor Big Sky Grand Tasting, scheduled for Saturday, June 29, from 2:30–5:30 p.m. at the Mountain Village Plaza. It’s an afternoon celebrating local, regional, and international farm-to-table fare. Experience a curated selection of domestic and international wine, plus locally crafted beer and spirits. Live music and small bites add to the lively atmosphere beneath the fresh air and mountain skies.
Last year word traveled fast about many of the crowd’s favorite dishes. Ours included bison-stuffed ravioli, several sashimi offerings, and delicious ceviche. The kitchens do run out of some items—after all, they are serving fresh, delicious food under ski lifts! So be sure to arrive on time. You can even beat the rush with a First Sip ticket that provides early access.
Tickets to several additional events are offered à la carte. At last year’s event, we started with the Better Off Red Farm-to-Table Dinner. The evening saw several courses from private chef Scott Myers of Backcountry Dining. Many of his ingredients are hand-foraged from the woods and streams surrounding Bozeman. Wine pairings for the evening were provided by Reynolds Family Winery located on the famed Silverado Trail in Napa, California. Winemaker Steve Reynolds, the ringleader and entertainer for the evening, walked us through each course and wine pairing with the level of knowledge and expertise that comes from decades of hands-on experience. We finished the evening with one of his passion projects: his handmade tequila blended from plants produced in all five of Mexico’s agave-growing regions.
Myers was very excited to be a part of the inaugural event. “I really enjoyed being a part of a wine dinner,” he says. “Wine pairings really capture and highlight the unique flavors that I’m bringing to the table.”
The next day, we enjoyed a challenging late-morning hike up the side of Andesite Mountain to Everett’s 8800, the rustic Big Sky Resort restaurant atop the ridge where we enjoyed 360-degree views of the Gallatin and Madison ranges, followed by an expert-led pairing of wines from Argentina with a sumptuous post-hike lunch of several courses, each one paired with wine. The views from the main dining room and outdoor patio at Everett’s are spectacular, and as Salminen notes, “It’s always nice burning calories before you indulge.”
The event also included educational lectures and workshops, one of which explored wines of the Northwest, specifically those from American Viticultural Areas along the 46th parallel like Walla Walla, Washington, Alto Adige in the Italian Alps, and Burgundy, France.
The 2024 Savor Big Sky event will kick off with Music in the Mountains, a free public concert from 6–9 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, at Len Hill Park in Big Sky Town Center. While the concert plays out down the hill at Town Center, this year’s Better Off Red Farm-to-Table Dinner will feature a five-course meal at Peaks Chophouse & Wine Lounge inside Big Sky Resort’s Summit Hotel. Private chef Daniel Cox will lead the efforts in the kitchen and wine pairings will be hosted by DAOU Vineyards of Paso Robles, California, known for their Bordeaux- like blends, which promise to be opulent and complex.
Cox says he’s very excited to participate. “The whole Savor Big Sky event is flawless,” he says. “This past winter, I also cooked a five-course dinner for the Savor Big Sky Winter Wine Dinner series. And this summer I plan to elevate my menu and pairings to a new level. I can’t wait to work with the Savor Big Sky team again.”
The Savor Big Sky Welcome Party is Friday, June 28, from 6–9 p.m. at the Vista Hall food court located at The Exchange at the top of the resort, just below Swift Current 6 chairlift. Other events include a hike up to Andesites + Sip on Friday, June 28, starting at 10 a.m. Later that day is Rosé All Day, a seminar exploring the various styles and offerings of rosé from 1–2:30 p.m. at Peaks Chophouse & Wine Lounge at Summit Hotel.
This year will see even more mountainside activities, to include experiences like Trailhead Tastings, a guided hike exploring the terrain and vast beauty of Big Sky, followed by a three-course, wine-paired lunch at Peaks Chophouse featuring high-altitude wines led by chef Emily Hahn of Mountain Provisions. After lunch, make your way back from Summit Hotel down to the main event area at Mountain Village Plaza to enjoy the Savor Big Sky Grand Tasting.
“We have a lot of talent on our food and beverage teams here at the resort and the ability to showcase that through a series of events like Savor Big Sky is rewarding,” says Trevor Holland, Everett’s 8800 general manager and certified sommelier. “Bringing in renowned talent to Big Sky and working alongside these notable chefs, winemakers, and vendors is a recipe for growth and development for the whole community. Of the 14 events throughout last year’s first Savor Big Sky weekend, 11 were sold out. We learned a lot from that successful experience and are very excited to apply all that knowledge to Savor Big Sky 2024.”
- Visit bigskyresort.com/savor to learn more.
