4th Annual Copper Uncorked Wine and Wing Challenge

It was the perfect way to spend Valentine’s and President’s Day weekend: sampling pairings of stellar wines and sumptuous variations of chicken wings amidst a flurry of snowflakes that fluffed up Copper’s solid 55” base.
The 4th Annual Copper Uncorked contest playfully pitted chefs from eight of Copper’s favorite eateries against each other in Copper’s Burning Stones Plaza (at the base of the American Eagle lift) for a tasty and fun wine and wing challenge where guests voted for their favorite creation in the You Be the Judge Tasting Tour. Local bluegrass band, The Pine Beatles, added a funky background rhythm to the festivities.
With mouth-watering treats like bacon-wrapped, lobster-stuffed, and Caribbean jerk wings you couldn’t decide on just one winner.  It was a tie, and Jack’s and JJ’s Mountain Grill shared the honors for best wine and wings pairing.
Jack’s Dave Taladay wowed with Chicken Confit, magically mixing mango, orange, habanero and mole to spice up his wings, pairing them with a Bluefeld Reisling you couldn’t resist. 
JJ’s Jeff McGlothin charmed you with Coq au vin en croute: a Redbird all-natural drumstick slow-braised in red wine with mitake mushrooms, candied parsnip, sweet peas and caramelized shallot wrapped in a short dough crust paired with Dreaming Tree Crush (yes, DMB fans, this wine hails from Dave Matthews’ vineyard).
There were really no losers in this competition where chefs from CB Grille, Incline, Jill's, Union Creek, Storm King and Endo's also pampered your taste buds and had you craving more. 
“We had a great turnout, the snow was beautiful, and everyone had a really fun time,” said Mary Gary, Copper’s Conferences and Group Services Coordinator.  Both winners came away with a Big Green Egg Grill, sure to fuel their future creative culinary imaginations.
Gary says that 10% of the proceeds from Copper Uncorked went to the Copper Environmental Fund to suppport youth environmental projects in Summit and Lake Counties. Some visionary Copper employees started CEF back in 2007 with a long-term goal to support and give back to environmental initiatives in Summit County and the surrounding area. Funds from CEF support organizations such as Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, Summit County Pre-School, Summit School District, Keystone Science School, Girl Scouts and High Country Conservation Center. 
Spirited events, amazing snow, delicious food and wine, plus a caring community – the very reasons you keep coming back to Copper, right?

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