Purgatory Resort will host Mushroom & Wine Dinner Aug. 19 in Durango, Colo. Courtesy/Purgatory Resort

PURGATORY News:

DURANGO, Colo. — Purgatory Resort is hosting the 9th annual Mushroom & Wine Dinner, presented by Vector Bank.

The event is 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at Purgy’s Restaurant. The five-course dinner includes wine pairings inspired by Executive Chef Joe Albright’s favorite wild mushroom dishes and seasonal ingredients sourced locally in the San Juan Mountains. To create the menu, the chef starts with strong wine selections and then shapes the food pairings from there.

“This is one of the most exciting culinary events as it highlights the local ingredients that grow on the mountain and in our region,” Chef Albright said. “With recent rains and warm temperatures, we are looking forward to another banner season for porcinis, chanterelles, hawks wings, and other wild edible mushrooms. We’re also especially excited about the Syrah.”

Each summer Chef Albright and his Chef de Cuisine, John Feely, obtain a commercial harvesting license to locally forage every mushroom served at the dinner, with the exception of the infamous truffles. An avid forager and wild foods connoisseur, Chef Albright enjoys mushroom hunting with his family in his spare time. He has prepared more than 100 wild mushroom culinary experiences at festivals throughout the mountain west over the years.

Following the Mushroom and Wine Dinner, guests can embark on a Wild Mushroom Hunt with Purgatory’s expert guides Sunday, Aug. 21. The San Juan National Forest above Purgatory is “one of the best places in Colorado to find wild mushrooms” as edible fungi like to grow above 10,000’ in elevation. During the hunt, guests will learn about edible vs. non-edible mushrooms and techniques for finding mushrooms, while enjoying complimentary wine and snacks.

Mushroom & Wine Dinner tickets are on sale now at purgatory.ski/events/mushroom-wine-dinner. 

The event is limited to 90 guests and is expected to sell out quickly.

The Mushroom Hunt is sold separately and capped at 75 participants. Book now at  purgatory.ski/events/mushroom-hunt. 

This summer Purgatory is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., through Aug. 14, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 20 – Oct. 2 and Labor Day. Visit Purgatory.ski to learn more.