Mark Oldman Returns to Aspen for 20th Food & Wine Classic

Mark Oldman is back in Aspen for his 20th year at the Food & Wine Classic. He isn’t just attending. He’s doubling down.

The wine expert and author is hosting two sessions a day, June 19 and 20. Both take place in Paepcke Tent 1. The theme is precision. It’s grandeur. It’s what Oldman calls "defensibly legendary" wine.

Oldman’s sessions are sold out. Always have been. This year, he’s focusing on luxury and the details that define it. He’s comparing high-end wines to fashion houses. Think Dior. Think the top tier of luxury goods.

He’s kicking off the festival with “Luxury is in the Details: Tasting the Legends of Wine” from 10 to 11 a.m. Then he’s running “Building the Perfect Wine Cellar: The Eight Bottles Every Wine Lover Needs” from 3 to 4 p.m. on both days.

“I’m a true believer in the details. I’ll include myself in the title,” Oldman said.

The lineup is specific. It’s curated. He’s pouring a 2019 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from a magnum. This honors the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris. That 1976 blind tasting put Napa Valley on the map. It shocked the French wine world. Oldman is using this moment to highlight American wine’s rise.

He’s also pouring Château d’Yquem 2016. He calls it the world’s top dessert wine. It’s a "golden nectar." The bottle is so precious to him that he gave his family special instructions before life-threatening surgery. He wanted to drink it while under anesthesia. He lived to drink it another day.

That’s the level of detail he’s chasing.

Oldman isn’t just selling bottles. He’s selling a narrative. He’s written books on the subject. “How to Drink Like a Billionaire.” “Oldman’s Guide to Outsmarting Wine.” He knows his stuff. He’s been doing this for two decades.

The festival is Aspen’s premier culinary event. It draws crowds. It drives local hospitality revenue. But Oldman’s sessions are the anchor. People line up. They want the magnum pours. They want the stories.

This year’s seminar also features Champagne Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 2015. E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 2023. Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley. Domaine Faiveley Clos des Cortons Faiveley Monopol.

It’s a heavy lineup. High price points. High prestige.

Oldman says he starts with the best wines and the best information. He doesn’t cut corners. He doesn’t do cheap thrills. He does precision.

The 2026 festival is still months away. But the tickets are moving. The sessions are set. Paepcke Tent 1 will be packed.

Oldman is 60-something. He’s been doing this since the early days of Aspen’s food scene. He’s seen trends come and go. He’s seen wine prices skyrocket. He’s seen the festival grow from a niche event to a global destination.

He’s not slowing down. He’s just getting more specific.

The short version: Oldman is hosting two sold-out sessions. He’s pouring legendary wines. He’s honoring history. He’s making sure every sip counts.

That’s what neighbors around here expect from him. Consistency. Quality. No fluff.

Just wine. And the stories that make it matter.