I’m embracing a Colorado wine encore, cultivating grapevines, and crafting wine.
I’m sharing my wine encore journey from city life winemaking to country vineyard grower, hoping to inspire those with similar dreams or offer a vicarious escape for others.
I am now on Substack
I’m using Substack as a medium to write a book about my wine encore journey. To receive chapters as they are published, follow this link to sign up for a free subscription.
Marshall's Wine Encore is Multi-Faceted
Marshall’s Wine Encore is geared toward wine-growing, winemaking, and the world of wine.
While the content is written for casual wine enthusiasts, it dives deep into details on multiple subjects.
For example, the site’s Vineyard and Winemaker pages detail growing wine grapes and winemaking. After the topic summaries and highlights, there is a series of curated topic blocks by subject matter experts who make it happen.
If you’d like to learn “with a side of humor” from my personal experiences, immerse yourself in my blogs, which cover rural valley living, planting and maintaining a vineyard, and my musings on current events in the world of wine.
You can also keep up-to-date on the Colorado wine scene, and news.
I've Enjoyed this Journey—So Can You!
2025 – A Midsummers Night Dream – Moisture
My apologies to the bard. The North Fork Valley is badly in need of moisture. The 2025 grape growing season in the North Fork Valley is trending hot and dry. Understandably, the “dry” part of that equation might be difficult for eastern flatland lubbers to grasp, especially with the wet start to the season along Colorado’s Front Range.
Recommending a New Approach to Retail Wine
Meininger’s International posted a thought-provoking article recommending a new approach to retail wine. Based on a German Wine Producers report, they suggest that retailers can better position themselves with their customers by organizing wine by color and sweetness rather than country or type. I’ll take it one step further.
What are the Biggest Restaurant Wine Service Red Flags?
Nine sommeliers are asked what their biggest restaurant wine service red flags were in a recent VinePair article. Several common-sense red flags include unclean glasses, talking down to customers, incorrect glassware, and wines served too warm. There were also less known red flags, several of which I expand upon.
What Temperatures are too Cold for Grape Vines?
What temperatures are too cold for grape vines? When I planned my vineyard in the North Fork Valley four years ago, I didn’t hesitate choosing Pinot Noir and Riesling. The climate tends toward a moderately warm growing season with cool nights. The bane of the Valley is the temperature extremes.
New Year’s Resolutions Anyone?
Are you committing to making New Year Resolutions? Feel free to bypass the urge. For the moment. Though it could be said that setting goals and resolutions is vital for personal growth and mental health.
Three Years of Vineyard Weather Data on Sunshine Mesa
As of the end of this year, I have three years of vineyard weather data. Enough data to consider trends. Not enough for making gross pronouncements! Paying attention to daily weather informs human actions. What to wear, your activity for the day, preparations for an upcoming weather event—and in my case, when to engage in specific agricultural pursuits, whether tilling, planting, pruning, spraying, or harvesting.
Cañon City’s Historic Abbey Winery Wins Three International Awards (CPR-KRCC)
The Abbey Winery in Cañon City has won three international awards from the U.K.-based Decanter World Wine Awards. The Abbey, which was originally founded by Catholic monks in 2001, is the first in the state to win a silver award
The View from Colorado Wine Country (Thirst Colorado)
Team Thirst took a whirlwind trip through Colorado Wine Country last week, visiting old friends and making new friends in Palisade, Grand Junction, Hotchkiss and Paonia.
The New Locals’ Brag: I Haven’t Been to Food & Wine in Years! (Aspen Daily Times)
I remember the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen before it was a classic. It was more of a social gathering. It was started by longtime local, Gary Plumley of Grape & Grain local fame, whom I didn’t know at
Snow Capped Cider Makes History At 2025 Glintcap (WIN)
Snow Capped Cider, led by owner and head cidermaker Kari Williams, continues its streak of excellence by being named Midsize Cidermaker of the Year for the second consecutive year at the 2025 GLINTCAP. In an unprecedented achievement, Snow Capped Cider
Wine’s Economic Impact in Colorado and Beyond (WIN)
WineAmerica, the National Organization of American Wineries, has released its 2025 Economic Impact Study of the American Wine Industry, which estimates the economic contributions made by the wine industry in each state. The Study concluded that the production, distribution, sales,
Gulp! How Trump’s Threatened Tariffs Could Affect Denver Wine Businesses (Westword)
“This isn’t an attack on the countries that it’s coming from, it’s a tariff attack on U.S. small businesses that are working very, very hard to make America a great country,” says Bobby Stuckey, Master Sommelier and co-founder of Frasca