Ode to the Broncos--Colorado Wine

The beautiful state of Colorado is known for many attractions:  the picturesque Rocky Mountains, majestic Pike’s Peak, upscale Aspen, and (most recently) legal marijuana.  However, on days like today, Super Bowl Sunday, there is only one reason for which Colorado should be known…football…and the Denver Broncos!

As an ode to my neighbor state—the city where my daughter lives and the team that my son adores—I am revisiting some of the fabulous wine times I have had in Colorado.  It is a wonderful place, a beautiful place, a fun place…a place everyone should visit.  Go Colorado.  Go Denver. Go Broncos!

Colorado's largest AVA, the Grand Valley, is a booming and budding wine region.  Though barely in its adolescence, the region shows signs of greatness in the years to come.

Colorado Wine--Isn't It Grand, The Grand Valley

An early Grand Valley wine producer, Canyon Wind Cellars set the standard for other Colorado wineries making wine from estate-grown fruit.  Started in the 1990's, this winery shows what all Grand Valley wines can be. 

Patience is a Virtue--Canyon Wind Cellars

Kenneth Dunn at Hermosa Vineyards is a perfect example of what it takes to make wine.  Many winemakers start with their passion and curiosity, and this is true here.  Kenneth is also the quintessential small winemaker who greets his tasting room guests himself, with a huge smile!

Curiosity Makes the Wine--Hermosa Vineyards

Though the Grand Valley grows the majority of the grapes for the state, many wineries call the eastern side of the state home.  Denver gives an amazing backdrop for urban wineries to flourish.  Balistreri Vineyards in the Mile High City is the perfect mix of traditional and modern in a beautiful facility.

My Neighbors to the South--Balistreri Vineyards

  

Infinite Monkey Theorem is one such winery that has embraced the urban winery vibe.  Fun and funky, IMT makes wine from Colorado Grand Valley grapes while being a pioneer in alternative packaging formats.  Such an obvious success has been reached here that a recent expansion to Austin, Texas continues to show the truth of the expression, "Yes, we can." 

To Infinity and Beyond--The Infinite Monkey Theorem

Today, I will forgo the beer and enjoy the Super Bowl game with a Colorado wine in hand.  My Ode to Colorado will continue with a glass of Canyon Wind Cellars high end line Anemoi with an Anemoi Notus, a blend of Colorado Petite Verdot and Syrah.  Cheers to Colorado, its wines, and its football!

Go Denver Broncos! 

Curiosity Makes the Wine--Hermosa Vineyards

I don’t make wine; I just drink it.  And I drink more than most.  I know I spit out way more than the average person!  Yes, sipping, spitting, and swallowing wine teaches a lot about the drink.  However, by talking to multiple winemakers this summer, I learned more about wine than hours of sipping and spitting. I have learned many of the qualities it takes to make good wine, and I have written about the passion and patience that it takes to turn grapes into the nectar of the gods.  However, there is another important element winemakers exhibit:  curiosity!  It didn’t kill the cat; however, it does make great wine…especially when the curious soul is Kenneth Dunn Jr. at Hermosa Vineyards in the Grand Valley of Colorado.

 Vines and equipment at Hermosa Vineyards.



 Dunn's vines growing in Colorado's beautiful Grand Valley.

Driving to Hermosa Vineyards, I was the one who started to feel curious.  The Colorado wine guidebook said to look for the signs, so we twisted and turned to follow the gold arrows leading to this winery. When we pulled into the driveway, we became even more curious as we saw a man opening a garage door to the tasting room as he waved and smiled to greet us.  This was our introduction to Kenneth—winemaker, tasting room associate, bottling assembly line clerk, janitor, and general jack-of-all trades—of Hermosa Vineyards.  We were instantly invited up to the tasting bar and taken into the world of curiosity that leads Kenneth to make unique and intriguing Colorado wines.  We spent almost two hours at Hermosa Vineyards, not only because the wines were so interesting, but because Dunn was so friendly and engaging.  We truly felt at home at the tasting counter, and by the time we left, we had definitely made a new friend!

Hermosa Vineyards tasting room space, don't let the garage door fool you!

Kenneth, an engineer by trade, bought his vineyard in 1993 when it was an apple orchard and by 1994 was growing grapes and cherries.  He grew fruit and made wine for years before opening his official tasting room in 2011.  His sense of fun and inquiring nature were shown as he told us of his future winery plans, which include an underground tasting room and facility.  (He said this with a mischievous smile, so I know that this tasting room will not be an average, run-of-the-mill tasting area.  He has some surprises in store for this space.)  Dunn’s inquisitive nature showed up again and again in his wines; they all see some oak aging, even the whites.  This probably explained why my husband liked these slightly robust and complicated whites more than he usually likes refreshing and acidic ones.  Hermosa Vineyards produces the expected Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc wines, but again, because they both see some oak, the wines were actually very unexpected.  What else was unexpected was the unique Viognier and Viognier-Chenin Blanc blend.  All of these whites were from 2006 and 2007, yet one more surprising trait at Hermosa Vineyards.

Barrels for aging all wines, whites included.

The red wines also did not disappoint.  The Merlot, Malbec, and Syrah all showed earth, smoke, and leather from their time in oak.  The Cabernet Franc, a grape the Grand Valley can grow incredibly well, was filled with pine and berries.  Dunn grows five clones of Cab Franc on young vines and blends all five clones for his Cabernet Franc wine.  Another unique standout was the Cabernet Sauvignon.  This 2008 was in oak an additional year, leaving more smoke on the nose with softer tannins on the palate.  We tasted this in both the bottle and the barrel, and from both sources, this was a special Cabernet.   

The red wines were not the only wines that showed the inquiring nature of Hermosa Vineyard’s winemaker.  The late-harvest Gewurztraminer had wet-stone on the nose, candy on the palate, and melon on the finish.  The final special treat was the ice wine, a one-of-a-kind blend of seventeen grape varieties.  Kenneth decided to put all the “leftover” fruit on his vines to work after the harvest was complete.  He picked the remaining frozen grapes at four in the morning on a frigid December day to make this beautiful, baby-pink dessert wine with a light honey taste.  Dunn’s sense of curiosity created yet another unique wine found no where else. 

Kenneth Dunn Jr.'s bottling line, a product of his own making...and curiosity.

            Though I don’t make wine, I know that wine making requires many special skills, like passion and patience.  But to produce truly unique and exceptional wines, good winemakers also need to have a keen sense of curiosity.  Kenneth Dunn Jr. has an overwhelming amount, and this sense of inquisitiveness is seen in every wine he makes.  Whether it is the surprise of a Viognier grown in Colorado, of white wines that see oak, or of an ice wine from multiple varieties, this winemaker’s curiosity leads to a wine drinker’s pleasure from the beginning of a tasting to the end of the day.  If you want surprising wines from one of the friendliest producers in the area (Dunn not only gave us his card but his personal number in case we needed anything during our stay in Grand Junction), take the time to follow the signs to Hermosa Vineyards in Colorado’s Grand Valley.  Kenneth will become your newest friend, and Colorado wines will become your newest curiosity! 

Kenneth Dunn Jr., friendliest winemaker in the Grand Valley!

Patience is a Virtue--Canyon Wind Cellars

What does it take to make wine?  In June, I learned that passion is a must for leaping into the wine business.  However, often passion alone is not enough for the labor of love that is making wine.  Last month, I learned that patience is the next virtue required to make, what I believe to be, the juice of the gods.  The value of patience has been seen first and foremost in the success of Colorado Grand Valley winery Canyon Wind Cellars. 

Your Sweet Sommelier with Canyon Wind's vines.

            Nestled under the Grand Mesa (the largest flat-topped mountain in the world), Canyon Wind’s location is an example of patience in, and of, itself.  Norman Christianson, original enologist and vintner at Canyon Wind, was a geologist by trade.  He searched the Grand Valley area for what he believed to be the perfect spot for a vineyard:  a place with good soil and good weather for grape growing.  After finding his perfect spot, Norman planted his first vines in 1991…and then waited!  He waited five years, in fact, for the grapes to be of the quality he wanted to make his first vintage of wine.  He could have bought other fruit from other areas, but he wanted his product to be a true expression of his terroir and work.  Now that is patience! 

The vineyards at Canyon Wind Cellars.

 Neslted under the Grand Mesa, Canyon Wind's grapes grow well.

Grapes growing on the vines planted in 1991.

            Another example of how serious Norman was about his final product was he had the patience and practicality to hire a Napa Valley wine consultant, Robert Pepi, to ensure quality wine.  The two produced Canyon Wind’s first vintage in 1996, and CWC has been considered one of the Grand Valley AVA’s most important wineries ever since.  Today, Norman’s son Jay and his wife Jennifer run the the winery.  Wines are made from Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Syrah.  Whites, roses, reds, and dessert wines are produced.  Reds are aged in the underground cellar (the only true underground cellar in the Grand Valley); the cellar and the rest of the facility are open for staff members to take visitors on regular tours.  In addition to the Canyon Wind Cellars line of wines, the winery also produces the 47-Ten series of wines, named for the altitude of the vineyards where the grapes are grown.   The top-shelf line of wines is the Anemoi series, all named for Greek gods.  Canyon Wind also boasts Colorado’s very first wine to be high quality enough to sell for one hundred dollars! The wine IV (Four, as in four of the traditional Bordeaux blend grapes) has consistently been considered Colorado’s best wine.  And yes, I came home with a bottle of IV to cellar. 

 The underground barrel room.

The 2012 vintage of IV, patiently awaiting bottling.

            I patiently tasted through the impressive lineup of wines and purchased my favorites…yes, there were multiple!  The 47-Ten Rose is what a good rose is supposed to be; made from 100 percent Merlot grapes, it is crisp with a grapefruit finish.  The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are both excellent examples of the grapes.  The aforementioned IV is already in my cellar to store for a few years, as well as the Anemoi Notus.  Both of these wines are going to be amazing in the future, when I finally decide to quit testing my patience and drink them. 

            Napoleon Hill stated, “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”  That is exactly what Norman Christianson started with and his son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Jennifer, continue as they make fine wines in the Grand Valley of Colorado.  The patience and painstaking work put into each bottle of wine is evident in every sip of Canyon Wind Cellars vino.  Canyon Wind continues to patiently set the bar high for Colorado wine country wines.

Colorado Wine: Isn’t It Grand? Grand Valley, Colorado Wine

I often talk about the large state of Wyoming like it is a small community all its own…that just happens to be spread out over 97,000 square miles.  (Keep in mind we are like a small city, since there is only about 500,000 people in the entire state!)  I also often talk about how everything is "close" in Wyoming terms because we are so used to driving all over for everything.  I realize most people would think it was crazy to drive eight hours (one way) to visit wineries, but not this Wyoming sommelier!   Last week my hubby and I decided to hop in the car to visit our neighbor state of Colorado for a long weekend in the closest AVA (American Viticultural Area) to Wyoming:  the Grand Valley of western Colorado. 

Vines growing in the valley, surrounded by earthen hills.

The Grand Valley AVA was Colorado’s first of two AVAs (West Elks is the other).  Though the Grand Valley became an official AVA in 1991, grapes have been grown in the area since the 1890s, and the towns of Fruita, Grand Junction, and Palisade have been famous for cherries, peaches, and other produce for decades.  The 32,000 acres of growing area are unique in many ways.  First, the region only averages around ten inches of precipitation a year, and though grape vines grow well under adverse conditions, this just would not be enough water for great vineyards.  However, what the Grand Valley has as its secret weapon is the Colorado River!  The river runs through the entire valley, from the Grand Mesa on the east to the Colorado National Monument on the west, providing wonderful irrigation for grape and produce growers.  The Grand Mesa (the largest flat-topped mountain in the world) provides shelter for the eastern most vines.  The high altitude—4,700 feet in elevation and among the highest elevation of vineyards in the world—allows for cool nights to partner with hot days.  The winters here are much milder than in the mountainous parts of the state, and a longer growing season allows for grapes to reach later stages of ripeness while still retaining good acid structure.  These factors make superb growing conditions for a multitude of vitis vinifera grapes—no need for hybrids here—like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, etc.  In fact, the Grand Valley loves the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot vines; these grapes grow incredibly well here.  Many single varietal wines are made from these two unique grapes usually saved for blending only. 

Beautiful vines in the green valley.

Unique landscape of desert soil and the canyon walls.

The Grand Valley grows a large part of the grapes used to make wines all over the state of Colorado.  It is also home to seventy-five percent of the wineries in the state; there are currently 26 wineries, and I look for that number to keep growing.  On the east end of the valley, near the Grand Mesa, is Canyon Wind Cellars, our first stop.  This well-established and venerable winery has been producing wine since 1996 and has some of the older, modern vines in the area (growing since 1991).  This "grand" first stop set the bar high for the vineyards on the rest of our trip!  In the desert area in the southern part of the valley is Reeder Mesa Vineyards, a smaller, family-owned operation that was recently named the Best Winery at the Mesa County Fair (among other awards, as well).  Here, winemaker Doug tasted with us and took us through his Riesling vines.  In the more central area of the region was another small winery, Hermosa Vineyards.  Again, the winemaker, Kenneth, tasted with us and did a barrel sample for us.  Farthest west was Two Rivers Winery, producing wine since 1999 and one of the larger producers in the Grand Valley, making an average of 15,000 cases a year.  In between these we also stopped at Carlson Vineyards, Colorado Cellars Winery, Maison La Belle Vie, Mesa Park Vineyards, Plum Creek Cellars, and Whitewater Hill Vineyards. 

The Grand Valley--Colorado wine country!

I plan to write specific blogs on several of the ten wineries where we tasted over the course of the two days (Canyon Wind Cellars, Reeder Mesa, and Hermosa Vineyards), so I don’t want to give away too much here.  However, I will say that the Grand Valley and Colorado wines have an incredibly bright future in this “grand” and booming wine industry!  Most of the tasting rooms we spent time at gave us wonderful and exceptional attention, letting the wines sell themselves, but also helping us get to know the wines along the way.  The friendly faces and customer service made for a very special weekend spent visiting our close neighbor, Colorado.  The Grand Valley was worth the "short trip" where we were treated to great wines and even grander hospitality.  Colorado’s first and largest AVA definitely lived up to its name!  Colorado wines…they are "grand"!

Grand vines in the Grand Valley.