For 24 years, the Wine Festival of Colorado Springs has been the best weekend of sipping and education about the juice of the grape – and this year will be no exception. Scheduled Feb. 19 to 21, the focus of the three days will be an immersion into wines of Italy, the world’s largest wine producer by volume. Guest winemakers include Paolo Canclini, Tellitalia Imports; Matteo Molino, Azienda Agricola Mauro Molino; Mario Scanu, Winebow Imports; Jeanneth Angel, La Togata Winery; Matteo Toso, Ca’ Viola; and Antonio Zaccheo, Carpineto Grandi Vini di Toscana. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Colorado Springs Conservatory.

Tickets for individual events can be purchased at csconservatory.org or call 577-4556. Here’s a look at the schedule of events:

– Feb. 19

5:30 p.m. – “The Right Wine, But Is It The Right Glass?” seminar at The Mezzanine (alley entrance behind 20 N. Tejon St. Attendees taste wines from Riedel stemware and will receive a complimentary set of four Riedel Vinum XL wine glasses ($138 value). Cost is $95 per person.

– Feb. 20

Noon – “Piccoli Morsi, Grandi Sapori (Small Bites, Big Flavors) of Italy” luncheon at The Mezzanine. Pete Moreno, executive chef at Mackenzie’s Chop House Restaurant, prepares the meal and guest winemakers pair and discuss wines. Cost is $95 per person.

5:30 p.m. – “Vin Italy” seminar at The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave. where you taste and learn about the different wine regions, varietals and styles. Cost is $35 per person.

7 p.m. – Grand Tasting at The Broadmoor, where you can taste more than 300 wines, sample culinary specialties from local restaurants and caterers, enjoy music by the Colorado Springs Conservatoryand bid in the silent wine market. Cost is $75 per person.

-Feb. 21

11 a.m. – “Vino + Formaggio (equals) Amore” at Garden of the Gods Club, 3320 Mesa Road, where you taste wine and cheese from Italy. Cost is $45 per person.

6:30 p.m. – Gourmet Wine Dinner and Live Auction at the Garden of the Gods Club, where you enjoy a multicourse dinner paired with wine. Cost is $125 per person.

Opening

C.B. & Potts Restaurant and Brewery, a Fort Collins-based chain since 1974, will open its first Colorado Springs location at 261 Kaycee Case Place in the Polaris Pointe retail complex Monday. In addition to seasonal beers the extensive menu offers, steaks, ribs, seafood, burgers, salads, sandwiches, pastas and soups. Details: 351-9144, cbpotts.com.

Breakfast hours

Coquette’s Bistro and Bakery, 321 N. Tejon St., is open at 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays for breakfast. Previously, they opened at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. In March the plan is to open at 8 a.m. for breakfast daily. Details: 685-2420, coquettecreperie.com.

Learn from the chef

Chef Andy Darrigan, who with his wife, Heather, owns Food Designers and Motif, has introduced Culinary Experiences, a monthly cooking experience in the Motif kitchen, 2432 W. Cucharras St. Darrigan will show participants how to prepare a three-course meal featuring cuisines from around the world. For $75 per person or $140 per couple you get the recipes, a cocktail and feast on the meal you have help prepare. Call 632-5414 for reservations. Here’s the lineup:

– Feb. 18 – Italian.

– March 10 – French.

– April 15 – Indian.

Bottoms up

Victor Matthews, a chef and certified bourbon master, will teach a bourbon class at Bourbon Brothers Southern Kitchen, 13021 Bass Pro Drive, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28. For $50 per person (plus tax and tip) you taste seven bourbons or whiskeys served with a four-course meal. Details: 219-1830, events@bourbonbrothers.com.

“KVOR Table Talk”

The radio show is benched Saturday for Air Force Academy basketball.

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