Utah is ranked as the 30th most populous state in the United States with a population of approximately 3.33 million as of July 2021.
Its location on the southwestern side of the US does not make it ideal for grape and wine producers.
However, there are 11 wineries registered in Utah offering a wide variety of wines such as Tempranillo, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, and Carignan, all of which are well suited for the region’s natural environment including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.
Due to its limited wineries, wine festivals in Utah are limited and there are only a few on offer that you will want to check out. The wine festivals blend well with the artistry, cultural diversity, and the human spirit of the state.
Although most festivals were canceled during the Covid epidemic, most are back to normal and open for business.
The Top Wine Festivals in Utah
Utah Wine Festival Cedar City, Utah
The most popular and premier wine festival in Utah is held annually around September in Cedar City, Utah. The 2022 festival was held between 2 and 4 September.
The festival is highly regarded for the wine and culinary experiences that it offers.
Not only does it showcase the best wines from the wineries, but also the unique culinary creations of Utah’s best chefs.
Utah Wine Festival offered its first experience in 2019 to enable the incredible wineries and vineyards that Utah to show off their submissions.
It offers a Wine & Popcorn Pairing that is normally held at 6:00 pm on the first day of the festival followed by the most popular Canned Cocktails of Utah at 7:30 pm. Event sizes are kept small to provide a personal touch and a pleasurable experience for everyone attending.
Hosts Jim Santangelo and David McCurdy provide a pleasurable and educational experience on how to pair various popcorn flavors with specific wines.
Furthermore, they present a fun experience on how to pair wines with Utah’s best-canned cocktails.
Tickets are sold online and the 2022 event sold out rapidly at $45 per event.
Cedar City is one of the most populous cities in the state located in the southwestern corner of Utah. Its location is 250 miles south of Salt Lake City and 170 miles north of Las Vegas.
Other interests that the city is well-known for are the home of Southern Utah University, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Summer Games, and the Simon Fest Theatre Co.
Cedar City area’s historic value is borne out by the rock art dating to CE 1000 and 1300.
May through September are the hottest months in Utah with record high temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit being measured. This is the ideal time for the festival to keep your thirst quenched.
Park City Wine Festival
The second largest wine festival in Utah is The Park City Wine Festival where master winemakers and culinary experts offer their best to distinguished guests that have assembled to play, wine, and dine.
More than 100 chefs, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and food aficionados gather to offer a delightful, sensitive, and discriminating experience in food and wine. All products on display are locally made, especially for this festival.
In addition to the food and wine, the festival offers food and wine tastings, seminars, luncheons, to outdoor adventures all related to your interest in food and wine and the influence of gourmet foods on the wine products.
The 2022 Park City wine festival is scheduled for September 29, 2022, and October 01, 2022, at 333 Historic Main Street, Park City.
Park City is located 32 miles southeast of Salt Lake City with a population of just over 8,000 people as of the 2020 census.
As a tourist city, you will often find that there are more tourists in town than permanent residents.
The decline in mining in the area in the 1960s and 1970s caused a big loss in the number of residents. However, the city rebounded and positioned itself as a tourist destination of choice with skiing being a major money-spinner.
Oktoberfest 50th Anniversary
In addition to the wine festivals, Utah also offers an annual Oktoberfest at Snowbird. As per the traditional beer fests, this is a family-friendly affair including activities, food, and, as you would expect from a beer fest, brews that keep flowing for weeks on end.
Utah’s beer festival runs for weeks between mid-August and mid-October. Fortunately, it does not run every day but every Saturday and Sunday including Labor Day.
Thousands of visitors are lured to Snowbird’s annually for the Oktoberfest making it one of the largest festivals in Utah.
No admission is charged and access to the beer fest is between noon and 6 pm on weekends.
