WineInk: Ride + Dine

While the fall harvest season in the Napa Valley has already begun for early-ripening fruit, the late summer sun continues to linger into the evenings here in the Roaring Fork Valley. And that sun sets the stage for one of The Little Nell hotel’s great, late summer traditions: The Ride + Dine Series.

Over the last few years, the Nell’s culinary and wine teams have brought cyclists and diners together for al fresco dinners following two-wheeled summer rides down the trails of the valley. This year, the Nell invites folks who want an “only in Aspen experience” to join them on a bicycle ride from the hotel, along the Roaring Fork River to the Rock Bottom Ranch — one of the most unique destinations in the entire valley. Once at the ranch, riders will feast upon a menu curated by the Nell’s culinary team accompanied by outstanding wines from featured producers. Oh, and if you just want to sample the wines and dine, you can do that, too, by driving instead of riding.

“For me, Ride & Dine is one of those pinch-me moments where I say to myself, ‘Is this really my job?’ Such an incredible experience getting a chance to view our beautiful valley through the lens of the ride down Rio Grande and having the chance to be received and enjoy the natural beauty of Rock Bottom at the end of the ride is truly special,” said Chris Dunaway, wine director at The Little Nell.

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There are two events left in this summer’s Ride + Dine Series, and they are coming up fast.

On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the series will welcome acclaimed Napa producer, The Mascot, for an epic opportunity to taste newly-released Cabernet Sauvignon wines from this classic Napa Valley estate. The Mascot began life as the wine that the Harlan family (producers of Harlan Estate, Bond and Promontory) made for themselves in small quantities. Originally a blend made from younger vines grown on the family’s three estates, friends and family so enjoyed the wines that the Harlans decided to produce and release it as a less expensive adjunct to their portfolio with the 2008 vintage. While still expensive, The Mascot sells for beyond $175 a bottle, the wines allowing Cabernet lovers a chance to experience the essence of some of the great vineyards of Napa. Winery Director Mollie Maisch will be attending the event on the 16^th  at the ranch.

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Then on Tuesday, Sept. 10, riders and diners will be treated to a collection of wines from the 2023 Colorado Winery of the Year (as decreed by the Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology or CAVE) The Storm Cellar. In just a few short years, The Storm Cellar — based in Hotchkiss, Colorado, in the West Elks AVA — has garnered national press for producing outstanding white wines from unique and interesting grape varieties. Husband and wife team Jayme Henderson and Steve Steese, who own The Storm Cellar, met in Denver where both worked as sommeliers. They had a passion for wines and decided to try their hands at producing the kind they love. Aromatic, dry white wines with high acidity and balance that work well with food. These are amongst the best wines produced in the state, and The Storm Cellar is one of America’s most interesting new winery projects.

This year, the Nell has partnered with the beloved Aspen nonprofit Aspen Center For Environmental Studies, which owns and manages the magnificent Rock Bottom Ranch in the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley to host the dinners at the Ranch. The 113-acre wildlife preserve and educational center sits between the Roaring Fork River and the Crown of Mount Sopris,  midway between Basalt and Carbondale on the Rio Grande Trail. The ranch annually presents farm to table dinners in the summertime that rapidly sell out and make memories for attendees who dine on foods grown and harvested locally.

For the uninitiated, the Ride + Dine Series events begin when a “peloton” of hungry riders gather below The Little Nell in the Lower Gondola Plaza at 3:00 p.m. the day of the ride for registration, introductions, and a safety talk. Everyone is encouraged to be “ready to ride” with a bike, helmet, and a bottle of water. If you need to rent a bike, you can find rentals of road bikes and e-bikes at ASPENX, and cruiser bikes are available to rent from Four Mountain Sports.

For experienced riders, your own bike will be perfect, but an e-bike will make the cruise that much easier and is strongly suggested for those non-avid cyclists. It is also recommended that guests bring a change of clothes for when they arrive at the ranch and include something a bit warmer, as the dinners will take place outside. Your clothes will be waiting for you at the ranch.

Riders will commence the 23-mile, slightly downhill, ride to the Rock Bottom Ranch at 3:30 p.m. The ride, which takes between 1.5 and two hours to complete, is generally leisurely. Once the Tour de Roaring Fork winds its way to the conclusion at the ranch, riders will be treated to a glass of sparkling wine and hors d’oeuvres, a property tour presented by ACES, and dinner at 7 p.m. prepared by The Little Nell’s culinary team, featuring fresh ingredients from local and regional purveyors. Following the dinner, at around 8:30 p.m., guests and their bikes will be transported to Aspen where they will be dropped back at the Nell or, if they are rentals, returned to the shops. Easy peasy.

Naturally, the Ride + Dine events have proven extremely popular for those who like a little exercise before dining and wining. But the revelation for many is the setting and the local history provided by the Rock Bottom Ranch, which has roots dating back to the early 1900s when the Glassier Family founded it.   

These Ride + Dine events are a magical combination of exercise, fine food, and great wines coupled with a historic Aspen experience in one of the most beautiful settings in the Rockies.

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