EsoTerra Ciderworks to enter grape wine market with ‘The Arboretum' (Durango Herald)
Tyler Brown
August 14, 2024
Cider maker is seeks capital to help build winery infrastructure
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. The company is seeking funding after the cost of its land-use permit created a setback.
There’s no definitive timeline as to when the winery will open. Philbrick said as soon as the winery building is complete, the owners will try to open.
“We spent almost $60,000 just to get land approval,” Philbrick said.
The new winery solves an even bigger dilemma for EsoTerra.
Its building in Dolores was put on the market last year, and EsoTerra was forced to find a new space before its lease came up this November. With a new space southeast of Durango, EsoTerra can build on the customer following it has developed with the company’s Durango tasting room.
The alcohol industry has been struggling in 2024. Breweries across the nation have been downsizing – some even shutting their doors.
In July, Pagosa Springs’ Riff Raff Brewing announced that it will close up shop at its original location in favor of its location further north on the San Juan River. Some brewers have found that Generation Z seems less inclined to drink alcohol as consume marijuana.