Savoring the Slope: Mark Condon’s Passion for Local Wines & Beyond (Grand Mesa Business Guild)

Savoring the Slope: Mark Condon’s Passion for Local Wines & Beyond
(Grand mesa Business Guild)

Magdalena Alvarez

August 25, 2024

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. With more than 300 sunny days per year, and a dry climate ,mountain grapes develop excellent flavor and complexion. The fruits also retain acid more readily in the cool nighttime temperatures.

As wine makers are offering more and more award-winning products, local restaurateurs and wine bars are reaching out to expert sommelier Mark Condon to assist them in curating a more elevated cultural experience for their guests.

Colorado wines continue to rack up the awards, beating out wines even from California and Argentina, and judges are starting to say they need to get out to Colorado and see what’s going on in the vineyards. Mark is delighted to see the shifting tides, and he’s committed to being a part of bringing fascinating wines to the palettes of anyone who is willing to try something new.

As a hospitality manager in the early 2000s, Mark focused on sourcing the best wines he could find for his guests, and his research led him to really appreciate the quality and history of Colorado wines. “Why would you want to buy a wine from Colorado that tastes like a California wine, when you could have a true Colorado Cabernet Franc?”

And it’s true that nothing could lend itself more perfectly to barbecue and blue jeans than a full-bodied wine with wonderful acidity and both black and red fruit notes. It’s making these unlikely introductions that Mark is passionate about.

Becoming a wine sommelier was a natural progression for Mark. His mother’s family made wine in Italy, and they carried their love for extraordinary hospitality with them to the United States. Mark remembers fondly the lavish parties they would throw. He would taste the beverages being served and soak in all the comments about them. His knowledge grew as he pursued a hospitality career after graduating from the University of Denver.

Following his long career years in the Denver area, Mark was drawn to the beauty and climate of the Western Slope, where he has forged some rewarding friendships. Bret Neal of Stoney Mesa has provided Mark with an education in viticulture. “He’s a talented communicator with an impeccable palette, and I have learned a lot from him,” says Mark. “In return, I help him with some international varieties that may be new to him.”

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