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If you love wine, this program was designed for you! And if you don't love wine, this program may very well have inspired you to plan some weekend getaways! You might get lucky and find a new wine to add to your wine cellar or you may find you do actually like wine!
Welcome Paula Mitchell who has authored Exploring Colorado Wineries. Paula has combined her interest in wine and her passion for Colorado into a guidebook that tells us where all the great wineries are in the state along with other things to see and do. Before writing the first edition of the book, Paula wanted learn more about her own state's wine industry. Since then, she has traveled all around Colorado, conducted 'wine exploring' presentations, attended numerous wine festivals and has earned her Level 2 Sommelier certification. Paula has just completed an updated and revised 2nd edition of the book.
Paula shared more of her story. She recalls the first wine she ever drank - she was 12 and her dad made some dandelion wine - Paula thought it was the worst thing she has ever tried! About 8 years ago, she really started her exploration of wine and most specifically, wine in Colorado. Paula explained that Colorado is a 'boutique winery state.' In 2002, there were just 35 wineries in Colorado. There are now 135!
A bit of wine history: as early as the 1860's, grapes were being grown in Colorado and wine was being made. Italian immigrants were moving into Colorado to work the coal mines and brought with them their rich wine history and experience. During the period of Prohibition, grapevines were literally ripped from the ground and orchards replaced them. The 1960's saw the 1st Colorado winery using grapes from California and in 1978 the Colorado Mountain Vineyards was established using Colorado grown grapes. The cabernet franc grape is considered the signature grape in Colorado. Paula shared that Colorado produces a great variety of wines, including fruit wines, late harvest wines and ice wines. The ice wines are produced when the grapes are allowed to freeze on the vine before harvesting. In addition to wines, Colorado is now producing some meads which are made with honey, yeast and water as well as ciders. The ciders are made with apples and brewed quickly like beer.
Trivia: The word 'honeymoon' is connected to mead - made from honey - and it was common for newlyweds to be given enough mead to get them through the first moon of marriage.
Paula also talked about Amphora's which are ancient Greek jars or vases used as a container for wine. An amphora changes the style and taste of the wine. Purgatory Wines in Parker is one of the few wineries using this method of storing wine.
Colorado is divided into 6 wine regions: Grand Valley, West Elks, Four Corners, Front Range, Pikes Peak and Mountain. If you know your state, you can probably guess what communities fall into each region! Paula broke them down a bit more for us and shared some of the wineries she feels are the highlights in each region.
Grand Valley: This is one of the greatest concentration of wineries in the state and there are 27 different wineries in this area. DeBeque Canyone Windery is a favorite with Paula as the owner knows more about wine than almost anyone she knows! Plum Creek Cellars is also notable as being the first winery to bottle the Cabernet Franc wines. St. Kathryn Cellars is known for their fruit wines. You'll find the Meadery of the Rockies in the Grand Valley making meads only. Colorado Cellars Winery has been in operation since 1978. The Colterris Winery includes an incredible country store, grows lots of peaches and has a very large corkscrew collections!
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