Colorado Wines in Greenwood Village

The address has already been sent out to the guest list. If you get moved from the waitlist to the guest list, please email me (Brenda) and I will send you the address to Barb's house.

Vinifera wine grapes have been cultivated on the Western Slope of Colorado from about the time the Gold Rush happened here. Like California, prohibition choked off the industry. Colorado was slow to return to winemaking once the 18th Amendment was repealed, because fruit trees seemed to be a good crop in the Grand Valley. It takes vines a few years to begin producing complex wines. Growers began to plant vines again in the late 1970s, early 1980s. Colorado's current wine industry is just coming into its own when it comes to quality.

Riesling has found a home here in Colorado. There are a few impressive rieslings being produced in Grand Valley. This grape does well with our colder winters and can handle the our hot summer days. (So well that I've even planted some riesling at my home.) Chardonnay is also another grape that has adapted to our hot, dry climate. Some Colorado producers choose to produce an unoaked chardonnay, which can be a very bright expression of this opulent grape variety. You can also find delicious examples of sauvignon blanc, viognier, pinot grigio and other whites as well. White varieties are not as suited to hot weather, but on the other hand are more hearty and overwinter better than red varieties.

Merlot and cabernet sauvignon can be found in significant quantities as well. Examples of each can easily rival their California counterparts. There is some zinfandel to be found as well and some of these are very good. The two most notable red grapes growing in Grand Valley are syrah and cabernet franc. Syrah seems to be a likely candidate for success here because of its ability to handle hot days. Syrahs from Colorado are very good and there are plenty to choose from. Cabernet franc on the other hand is an unlikely wine grape for our weather, but has proven to be a gem in the vineyards of the Western Slope. Look for cabernet franc to be blended with cabernet sauvignon and merlot as well. There are other red grapes as well, sangiovese, tempranillo, grenache, mourvedre, and more in smaller quantities.

Pinot noir does not do well here. This grape likes cold nights and steadily warm, not hot days. I've not ever seen a sparkling wine from Colorado, but if one of you run into one, consider bringing it along.

You will find other fruit wines as well. These tend to be sweeter and often make a nice dessert wine. There are a few true grape dessert wines coming from our state, which seems very appropriate because of our ample sunshine and warm summer night.

If you encounter a store that does not carry many Colorado wines, you might have to head to the next store to get a better selection. Do not be discouraged; there are many retailers on the Front Range who support these wines. The quality has improved immensely in the last decade and some retailers are quite savvy about our homegrown vino, with the upscale polish.

Every bottle of wine brought to the party will be an adventure. Enjoy perusing the Colorado sections of your favorite wine store. You will not find many under $15 and probably none under $12, but each one is a very good example of success in our own viticulture.

The landscape of Colorado wines is improving every vintage. The older the vines the better the juice. Growers are figuring out what flourishes in our hot summers and cold winters. The potential many have forseen for our state is starting to become a reality.

I'll be sending out the address tomorrow, after the final reminder goes out (the RSVPs will change significantly at that time). If you absolutely need the address before tomorrow afternoon, feel free to email me.

Please remember to bring a wine glass, bottle of wine from Colorado, and a pot luck dish to share. Barb has a nice covered patio, so if the weather is a little cool, you might consider bringing a light jacket along, to enjoy the crisp April night. Of course there will be plenty of room inside as well.

See you Saturday
Brenda