Things to do / Travel Guide
“Mountain wine” arouses the following idealistic images: lofty sloping vineyards, rocky and pebbly soil rich with minerals, mountain streams as cold and clear as the Chardonnays, ebullient and nectarous Rieslings, and blackberry-courant Merlots. You can experience all this, and more, at the wineries of the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies. They've been making wine in the region for over 100 years. The four major winery areas in the region are in the Denver area, as well as in the areas west, north, and south of Denver.
Balistreri Vineyards - Denver Area
For a family-owned winery experience, in which the vineyard is located right near the premises, try Balistreri Vineyards. The winery is located within Denver, just a few miles north of the city center. While some of the vineyards aren't located nearby, the one producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Muscat is. The winery offers tours and tastings on weekend afternoons, and they will also give you a tour if you call in advance to schedule for any other day of the week.
The sandy loam soil at the vineyard, which used to be a vegetable garden, produces well-balanced and full-colored fruits. The winery, in turn, has produced some award-winning wines, such as a 2004 Sangiovese and a 2003 Colorado Syrah, both of which earned gold medals in major nationwide competitions. An interesting pick among the white wines might be the winery's 2004 Colorado Chardonnay, which is fermented on the skins, stems like a red, and releases to the palate complex fruit flavors. Otherwise you can try the 2004 Colorado Merlot, a spicy and complex red with hints of dried cherry and chocolate.
Boulder Creek Winery - West of Denver, Colorado
Boulder Creek Winery is a relatively new winery, having released its maiden wine in 2003. This state-of-the art winery is the materialized dream of a family of wine-lovers. After years of amateur home winemaking and supplemental classes at the eminent UC Davis in California, Jackie Thompson, along with her husband and son, set out to help put Boulder on the winemaking map. The winery offers self-guided tours and tastings. You just have to show up, and they're there to greet you, glass in hand. The winery is located outside of downtown Boulder off Diagonal Highway.
At the winery, you can ask to taste whatever's available, as wines always emit a really special taste directly from the barrels. If available, try their 2005 Chardonnay. Aged in French- and Hungarian-oak barrels, this rich and buttery varietal offers a hint of butterscotch, and a soft vanilla finish. Or enjoy a glass of the 2003 Colorado Claret, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine will improve with age; expect the dark berry flavor to turn even more concentrated, and the tannins to mellow slightly.
Valley of the Wind - North of Denver, Colorado
The Valley of the Wind winery is located in Loveland's historic train station. Be aware that exact opening hours vary with the day, so it's a good idea to call before you pay a visit. The winery can also arrange tasting parties upon prior coordination. When you're there you can taste the winery's Merlot, with young cherry and berry taste, aged in medium-toast French oak. A unique dry wine is the Joie de Vivre, made from Blaufrankisch grapes originating in Slovenia. The palate is fruity, with low tannins.
Holy Cross Abbey Winery - South of Denver, Colorado
The premises of the Holy Cross Abbey Winery are a fully-functioning monastery, in Canon City. Less than a decade old, the labor-loving monks offer apple- and caramel-scented Chardonnays and full-bodied and rich Merlots. In the summertime, you can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the fragrant garden overlooking their vineyard and the mountains; in the wintertime you can have a glass around a warm bright fireplace.
Wineries in Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Cheyenne Wyoming and the Eastern Rockies
Wineries
J. A. Balistreri Vineyards
Valley of the Wind Winery
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