The Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB), part of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, proudly announces the 14 wines selected to represent the Colorado wine industry as the 2024 Governor’s Cup Wine Collection. This year’s competition included 302 wine submissions from 52 Colorado wineries.
The 2024 Colorado Mountain Winefest is coming up. It has become such a major draw that it inspired a signature wine. Talon Wines in Palisade said the Riverbed Red made for the festival is “inspired by the many years of festivals we have attended at Riverbend Park as well as the vibrant community we’re so lucky to be a part of.”
Total alcohol sales volume is down 6 percent through the first six months of this year, compared to the same time period in 2023, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Every major segment of alcohol — beer, wine, hard liquor spirits — are down. Wine, though, has been hit the hardest, with sales volume down 16 percent.
The Western Slope of Colorado is known for its kicked-backed attitude, sprawling farms, rodeos, and good hearty food. Now the area is also becoming known for a surprising new distinction: some of the best wines in the country. Dotted all over the Western Slope, vineyards can be found at some very high elevations–anywhere from 4500 to 6900 feet.
Napa Valley has beautiful vineyards, stunning scenery, award-winning restaurants and hotels, and top-notch wines. But not everyone can afford a Napa wine country getaway. There are 10 affordable wine regions, including Palisade in Colorado.
Qutori Wines at the Root & Vine Market, nestled in the North Fork Valley, has produced award-winning, handcrafted wines since 2017. Visitors are drawn to the valley for the exquisite wines and the breathtaking scenery. Qutori Wines capitalizes on both, offering pristine views of the vineyards and Mount Lamborn from their outdoor patio.
While the fall harvest season in the Napa Valley has already begun for early-ripening fruit, the late summer sun continues to linger into the evenings here in the Roaring Fork Valley. And that sun sets the stage for one of The Little Nell hotel’s great, late summer traditions: The Ride + Dine Series.
A 70-acre estate winery, called The Aboretum, is coming to La Plata County courtesy of EsoTerra Ciderworks owners Elizabeth Philbrick and Jared Scott. The cider maker has begun a crowdfunding campaign to raise $100,000 to build the winery’s infrastructure at 270 County Road 303 on Florida Mesa, southeast of Durango.
Whenever I visit a winery, I sigh deeply and say, “I wish I never had to leave.” The wine’s delightful taste, the vineyards’ scenic beauty, and the warm hospitality make me content. Some Colorado wineries do want you to make yourself right at home — albeit not forever. Many now offer on-site lodging through vacation rentals, guest houses, inns, campsites, and more.
As millennial women of color, Taylor and Mincey would ensure their product appealed to young, diverse populations that the industry, with its pretentious sniff-and-swirl culture, had long ignored. When Taylor finished her spiel, the potential investor didn’t inquire about the company’s profit margins or advertising plan. Instead, he asked, “What about Dad Juice?”
USA Today 10Best is a travel and lifestyle website that provides advice from experts around the world. The Grand Valley was nominated as part of their Reader’s Choice Awards, where USA Today 10Best’s travel experts will select their top 20 nominees in categories ranging from food & lodging to destinations and things to do.
You can’t visit the Western Slope without experiencing the impact of its local agriculture. The North Fork Valley, roughly comprising the towns of Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Crawford, is an especially ripe area for agritourism (i.e., recreational activities on farms and ranches).
