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Directory of Colorado wineries

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Herebelow are directions, information and tasting room schedules for wineries in Colorado. If you know of other wineries in Colorado, please present them in the comments.

Colorado vineyard

Aspen Valley Winery

BAHARAV VINEYARD

2370 ROAD 112, cARBONDALE, CO 81623 – (970) 963-9659

CARLSON VINEYARDS

Wines: Reds, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Fruit Wines, Blends

461 24 Road, Palisade, CO 81526 – (970) 464-5554

(East Orchard Mesa: Hwy 6 east from Palisade, turn south on 38 Road, follow yellow centerline 5.5 miles)

Tasting Room Hours: 11-6 daily

Corley Vineyards

COTTONWOOD CELLARS

Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Rielsing, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot…

5482 Highway 348, Box 940, Olathe, CO 81425 – (970) 323-6224

(Hwy 50 to Olathe, west 3.4 miles on Hwy 348)

Tasting Room Hours: May-Sept: 11-6 Wed-Sat, Oct-April: 11-5 Fri-Sat or by appt.; Closed Jan-Mar. except by appt.

Tasting Room (Pagosa Springs) – 970-264-5105

CANYON WIND CELLARS
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay

3907 North river Rd., Palisade, CO 81526 – (970) 464-0888

(Old Hwy 6, north side of river, 1 mi. east of Palisade)

Tasting Room Hours: May 1-Oct. 15, 10-4 daily except Sun; Winter by appt.

COLORADO CELLARS WINERYWines: 20 wines, sparkling, port and mead.

3553 E Road, Palisade, CO 81526 – (800) 848-2812

(I-70 Exit 37, Hwy 141 south to C1/2 Rd, east 5.6 miles)

Tasting Room Hours: 9-4, Mon-Fri; Noon-4 Sat

Also produces the Colorado Mountain Vineyards, Rocky Mountain Vineyards & Orchard Mesa Wine Company brands.

CONFRE CELLARS AND ROCKY MTN. MEADERY

Wines: Honey Wine (Mead), Fruit-blended Honey Wines

3701 G Road, Palisade, CO 81526 – (970) 464-7899

(I-70 exit 42, south to Hwy 6, west 1/2 mile)

Tasting Room Hours: 10-5, daily

GRANDE RIVER VINEYARDS

MINTURN CELLARS

Wines: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, cabernet Franc, Chardonnay

107 Williams Street, Minturn, CO 81645 – (970) 827-4065

(I-70 exit 171, between Vail and Beaver Kreek, Hwy 24 south 2 miles.

Next to Chilli-Willy’s and the Minturn Country Club)

Tasting room Hours: June-Aug Noon-6 daily – light lunches served;

Sept-Oct Noon-6 Thurs-Sat; Dec-April Noon-6 Wed-Sat;

Closed Nov & May

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT WINERY, LTD.

Wines: Merlot, Chardonnay, Fruit Wines, Blends

15750 County Road 220 Salida, CO 81201 – (719) 539-1175

Winery tours by appt

Tasting room: 134 F Street, Historic Downtown Salida

Tasting Room Hours: 10-5, Mon-Sat, art gallery & gifts

PIKES PEAK VINEYARDS WINERY

Wines: Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

3901 Janitell Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 576-0075

(I-25 exit 138, east on Circle Drive to Janitell, turn right, 1 mile south)

Tasting Room Hours: Noon-5 daily, gourmet dining by reservation

PLUM CREEK CELLARS

Wines: Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Souvignon, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Riesling Ice wine

3708 G Road, Palisade, CO 81526 – (970) 464-7586

(I-70 exit 42, south to Hwy 6, west 1/2 mile)

Tasting Room Hours: May-Oct, 9:30-6, daily; Nov-Apr, 10-5

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEADERY

Wines: Honey Wine (Mead), Fruit-blended Honey wines, Fortified Wines.

3701 G Road, Palisade, CO 81526 – (970) 464-7899

(I-70 exit 42, south to Hwy 6, west 1/2 mile, on left)

Tasting Room Hours: 10-5, daily

ROCKY HILL WINERY

Wines: Red Mountain Merlot, Chardonnay, Black Canyon Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Cherry, San Juan Gold, Merlot, Ski Bunny Blush, Muscat Canelli

18380 Hwy 550, Montrose, CO 81401 – (970) 249-3765

(2 miles south of Montrose on Hwy 550, on east side of Hwy 550)

Tasting Room Hours: Summer, 10-6, daily; Winter, noon-6, Noon-Sat; noon-4, Sun

ST. KATHRYN CELLARS

Wines: Merlot, Chardonnay, Blends, Fruit wines

888 Elberta Ave, Palisade, CO 81526 – (970)-464-9288 (I-70 at exit 42)

Tasting room Hours: Summer, 9-7, daily; Spring/Fall, 10-6; Winter, 10-5

STONEY MESA WINERY

Wines: Merlot, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mead

1619 2125 Dr, Cedaredge, CO 81413 – (970) 856-7572

(North on Hwy 65 to 11th Ave, west 1 mile to 2125 Dr, south one block)

Tasting room Hours: Mar-Oct, 11-5, daily; Nov-Feb, 12-4, Fri-Sun; or by appt.

SHADOW MOUNTAIN CELLARS

Wines: Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Reserve Chardonnay, Merlot

1708 East Lincoln Avenue, #1, Fort Collins, CO 80524 – (970) 493-7345

(From I-25: west Hwy 14 to Link Lane, north to East Lincoln Ave, right on East
Lincoln Avenue)
Tasting Room Hours: by appt

Surface Creek, Colorado

TRAIL RIDGE WINERY
Wines: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Merlot, Blends, Fruit Wines
4113 West Eisenhower Blvd (US Hwy 34), Loveland, CO 80537 - (970) 635-0949

(7 miles west of I-25, 3 miles west of Loveland)
Tasting Room Hours: Summer, 10-5 daily (closed Tuesday);
Spring/Fall, noon-5 Fri-Sat

TERROR CREEK WINERY

Wines: Gewurztraiminer, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

1750 4175 Dr, Paonia, CO 81428 – (970) 527-3484

(From Paonia: 1 mile east of Hwy 133, north on 4175 Dr. to end)

Tasting Room Hours: 11-5 Fri-Sat or by appt

Another site shows information about the Colorado appellation.

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2007 vintage would be bad in Europe

Saturday, November 10th, 2007

In a nutshell: buy 2007 wines only from reliable producers.

Obviously a vintage is a concept: it cannot taste bad. The point here is to indicate that vine growers have had more problems this year than previous years. The quality of the wines very much depends on the vine growing — every year but this year even more so. This is the year when the serious, talented winemaker makes a big difference.

Vineyards near Gamlitz, Austria, by HalehRThe Austrian wine marketing board have published their official summary of the vintage so far, calling it ‘the winemaker’s year’. In the words of Jancis Robinson this means that ‘there have been quite a few hurdles for them to overcome – in the vineyard perhaps even more than in the winery’.

In France, the cool summer of 2007 affected everyone and the September weather saved some grapes. Micro-climates came into play and the savvy vigneron had to carefully determine the date of harvest. Rot and mildew was widespread. Keeping the grapes on the vines was a gamble many winemakers did not make.

Côte d’Or, Burgundy

Reports Bill Nanson: ‘The vintage will be as heterogeneous as the approaches and the quality of grapes and sorting’. ‘Grapes from Latricières-Chambertin needed quite some work (just like in 2004)’.
Said Louis-Michel Liger-Belair: ‘we made a hard triage’.
Reports Martine Saunier, California importer of some growers in Burgundy and the Rhône Valley: ‘beginning 25 August, the weather warmed up and the sun finally came out. Temperatures rose to 25°-30° C. The grapes started turning red immediately’.

More reports

I have made complementary overviews:

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Wine harvest is over worldwide

Friday, October 26th, 2007

In the Northern Hemisphere most of the last wine grapes were picked by the 20th of October. I already reported on how the harvest started early. So the harvest period is about two months long.

Todd uses a PulseAir system to aerate a two ton fermenter of estate pinot noir, by Anne Amie Vineyards, OregonInside reports on the 2007 harvest season come from:

Go have a look at pictures of the impressive harvesting machine at Château Lacayot (with French captions).

Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac excellently explained how grapes are turned into wine a year ago.

It is a little early to assess the quality of the vintage. Bear in mind that vintage quality is a complex concept. Nevertheless it is possible that the quality will go down for many French wines made in 2007. (I feel this while reading a few French ‘vignerons’ report on their ‘vendanges’.)

We already know that the volumes produced will be low in many places. This is a problem for the revenues of the producers. This is not a question on the quality of the wines. The reports of low volume come from Oregon, California, France (the article is in French), Italy.

Regions which produce as much wine this year as the previous year include Bordeaux.

It is urgent that you consider making your own wine from bought grapes. Or wait for next year!

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Posted in Bordeaux, Burgundy, French wine, US wine, chardonnay, pinot noir, wine making | 1 Comment »

47 white wine varietals

Friday, October 19th, 2007

Here is a list of vine varieties with a description of the white wines made from them.

Variety
Origin
Description
Aligoté French Poor man’s Burgundy. Pale, light, crisp wine. Not for ageing.
Alvarinho Portugal Produces Vinho Verde, very crisp, light with a slight prickle.
Auxerrois French Acidic, very dry and full-bodies, Chablisesque.
Bacchus German Silvaner, Riesling and Müller-Thurgau cross. Flowery, light Muscat bouquet,
low acidity. Used mainly for blending.
Bual Madeira Sweet full-bodies fortified wine, burnt amber colour, fig-like bouquet.
Chardonnay French Ranges from crisp, apple-like flavours in cool climates to caramel, pineapple
and tropical tones in warm areas. Buttery, toasty or clove-like finish.
Ages well, usually in oak.
Chasselas E.
Europe		 Light, crisp wine with delicate bouquet in Switzerland. Rather insipid elsewhere.
Chenin
Blanc		 French Honeyed, high-acid wines in the Loire. Lots of fruit. Ages many years. California
model is much softer and fruitier.
Colombard French (French Colombard) Originally a cognac grape, now grown in California for soft,
flowery wines.
Emerald
Riesling		 California High-yielding Muscadelle, Riesling cross. Aromatic, soft, fruity.
Fumé
Blanc		 Californian name for Sauvignon Blanc or Sauvignon/Sémillon blend. Fruitier and
less grass than Loire model.
Folle
Blanche		 French Once a major grape in Cognac. High acid, not much character.
Furmint Hungary Principal grape of Tokay. Can be dry, off-dry or sweet. Apple or apricot and toffee bouquet, depending on style.
Gewürztraminer Italy (Traminer)
Spicy, exotic, rose petal and lychee bouquet. Can be dry (Alsace) or sweet (Germany, California).
Grüner Veltliner Austria Fresh, lively, fruity, dry wine for drinking young as in the “new” wine, Heurige.
Hárslevelü Hungary Spicy, full-bodied, aromatic. Good for sweet wines.
Jacquère French Light, very dry and brisk wine from Savoie.
Kerner German Red
Trollinger, Riesling cross. Spicy, fruity wines with good acidity.
Malvasia Greek Produces lusciously sweet dessert wines in warm climates and crisp dry ones in northern areas. The grape of the sweet Madeira, Malmsey.
Marsanne French Deep-coloured, high-alcohol wines blended with the more delicate Roussanne in the Rhône.
Morio-Muscat German Silvaner, Pinot Blanc cross. Full-bodied, fruity with spicy bouquet.
Müller-Thurgau German Riesling, Silvaner cross (or two clones of Riesling). Less acidic than Riesling,
soft and fruity. Lacks ageing potential.
Muscadelle French Perfumey grape used to add bouquet to some white Bordeaux (Sauvignon and Sémillon).
Muscadet French (Melon de Bourgogne) Light, pale, racy wines with lively acidity from the Loire.
Muscat Greek Perfumed, raisiny bouquet with a characteristic spiciness in dessert wines. Can also
be made dry as in Alsace and Australia.
Palomino Spanish The grape of sherry. Neutral wine, low acidity.
Pedro Ximenez Spanish A very sweet white wine used in sherry, thought to be Riesling.
Picolit Italian Dessert wine grape of Friuli. Deep coloured, rich, slightly bitter.
Pinot Blanc French (Pinot Bianco/Weissburgunder) Relative of Chardonnay but with less character and ageing potential. Best from Alsace.
Pinot Gris E. Europe (Pinot Grigio, Ruländer) Full-flavoured, elegant wines capable
of ageing.
Riesling German (Johannisberg Riesling, Rhine or White Riesling)
Finest German variety, capable of making a range of wines from steely dry to toffee-sweetness. Floral nose, keen acidity.
Rkatsiteli E. Europe All-purpose grape producing ordinary table wines, dessert wines and fortified wines.
Sacy French The name suggests it all. Frisky, tart wine from Chablis region.
Savagnin French Makes Sherry-style vin jaune in the Jura region.
Sauvignon Blanc French Makes grassy, gooseberry, smoky wines in the Loire and accompanies Sémillon
in dry and sweet wines of Bordeaux. California model is rounder and fruitier and fig-like.
Scheurebe German Silvaner, Riesling cross. Aromatic, fruity with pronounced acidity. Best in dessert style.
Sémillon French Honey and apricot bouquet when affected by Botrytis (see page 22). Blended with Sauvignon Blanc for dry Bordeaux. Lacks acidity.
Sercial Portugal Produces the driest, lightest style of Madeira. Good acidity. Ages well.
Seyval Blanc French Hybrid.
Makes dry wines with a grassy, green plum flavour. Does not age well.
Silvaner Austrian Mild, neutral wine with good body. Useful for blending.
Trebbiano Italian (Ugni Blanc, St. Emilion) Pale colour, high acid, medium-body, shy bouquet.
Verdelho Spain Produces off-dry Madeira and soft, nutty table wines.
Verdicchio Italian Crisp, dry wines with a hint of bitterness.
Vidal French Hybrid.
Good fruit and acidity. Can range in styles from tart Sauvignon Blanc to Late Harvest and Icewine.
Viognier French Rich, elegant, full-bodied, floral-peachy wine especially in the Rhône.
Capable of ageing.
Viura Spanish (Macabeo)
Fruity aromatic wines with high acidity capable of wood ageing.
Welschriesling French (Riesling Italico, Laskiriesling, Olaszriesling)
Floral, zesty, versatile but not as elegant as Johannisberg (White or Rhine) Riesling.

On this website here is a list of red wine varietals.
Here are articles on other quality websites about: white wine varietals.

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