Okay, so we haven’t been back from Colorado for two weeks and I already want to return for this week’s Boulder Food & Wine Festival. I mentioned that to my husband and as you can imagine, he just looked at me. Okay, so I know I won’t be at the Boulder Festival on June 28th, but just in case you can make it, here are some details and you will see why I’d love to be there.
On June 25th from 6 – 8pm there is a Waiters Race. This is a free kick-off event and waiters will compete for prizes.
Boulder Food & Wine Festival, June 28th, 2008, 4 – 8 pm
Tickets: For details, go to www.boulderwinefest.com
The festival is showcasing restaurants, more than 20 wineries, cooking and wine tasting demonstrations and classes.
If you attend the Waiters Race or the Festival, write let me know what it was like.
I just received an ad from a wine store about 10 miles from my home. Out of curiosity, I flipped through looking at some of the prices. How is it that French wines, Australian wines and wines from across the country are less expensive than wines in our own “backyard.” Of course, startup costs are significant, but transportation must be expensive too. Is it important for you to taste wines from the terroir you are visiting or doesn’t it matter? How much are you willing to pay for terroir? Are you willing to support the wineries in your own “backyard?”
Do you have plans for June 2009 yet? Consider this cruise with Chris Pearmund from Pearmund Cellars. There will be an information session at Pearmund Cellars. Here is the information from their website.
On June 17-27, 2009, Pearmund Cellars will host a 10-day Oceania Cruise from Rome to Barcelona. On Saturday, Cruise Holidays of Alexandria can answer all your questions and book your cruise in our barrel room. Receive a special offer with Saturday’s per person deposit of $750. Contact Cruise Holidays at 703-706-0011 orinfo@LuxuryCruiseCounselors.com for details.
Information Session:
| Date: |
Saturday, June 21, 2008
|
| Time: |
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Location: |
Our Barrel Room |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Questions: |
703-706-0011 |
I just looked at the few grapevines we have in the yard. The Niagara grapes which were the size of a pinhead just a few weeks ago are now much bigger and I can hardly wait. Unfortunately due our trip to Colorado, weeds and shrubbery and too much rain has started to take its toll. We’ve removed the dark, shriveled grapes. Also, trimmed and weeded and hopefully air circulation is better now. I can almost taste the luscious grapes now. The two Dornfelder vines we purchase in May are growing and taking off. Hopefully, they will become strong enough to make it through next winter. Are you growing grapes in a home garden? What variety did you plant?
We have been working diligently to catch up on all the articles to write about our trip to Colorado. We have three more posted including Jack Rabbit Hill & Peak Spirits, Two Rivers Winery & Chateau, and Mountain Spirit Winery. You can check them out at http://winetrailtraveler.com/colorado/colorado.php. Just use the sidebar. More articles will be posted later in the week.
Meanwhile many wineries in the United States are dealing with the problems of distribution of their wines. My question is, “In order to be equitable for all consumers in the U.S., is it necessary for the federal government to become involved in the matter?” After all I am a citizen of the U.S., but I am treated differently if I want to order wine online because of the state I live in. Wine is a legal commodity. I’m sure the states want their share of the taxes but I believe a good compromise can be made and it should be the same for all citizens living in the U.S.
We just arrived back from a whirlwind trip to numerous wineries in Colorado. What a great experience! After landing in Denver, we drove to the Manitou Springs Wine Festival where 22 wineries were pouring tastings. The ambience, wineries, food vendors and arts and crafts all added to the atmosphere. We also met Doug Caskey from the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, a definite wine enthusiast. We drove on to Cañon City and took a train through the Royal Gorge which featured wines from the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey. We also visited that winery’s tasting room and then went to Mountain Spirit Winery. After that we drove back to the Denver airport and flew to Grand Junction where we met other wine enthusiasts and tasted many Colorado wines and visited a good number of wineries. If you are visiting Colorado be sure to take note of the wineries and stop by for a tasting. You will be pleasantly surprised with the quality of wines produced from the high altitude vineyards.
The Experiment Station is conducting research that ultimately can help improve the quality of grapes and winemaking in Colorado. The Colorado grape industry has grown since 1985 when there were between 15 and 20 acres of grapes in the state. Now there are over 800 acres of vineyards producing grapes and hundreds more planted that will begin to produce grapes over the next few years.
With this increase in grape acreage, there is a need for research. Current studies at the Experiment Station are looking at crop load, the grapes’ rush to maturity before the skins mature, and a study looking at the vigor of grapes. They are also looking at the grape varieties that perform best in different areas of Colorado. With data generated from the studies, Colorado’s grape and wine industry should continue to expand.
Colorado’s unique climate and elevation makes for some interesting vineyard practices. While we were visiting wineries in the Grand Junction area of the state, we noticed intense winds in the morning. Later in the day the wind would reverse direction. These strong winds are the result of the quickly changing area temperature. Yesterday while visiting Canyon Winds Cellars we discovered that the average rainfall is about 9 inches per year. While flying from Denver to Grand Junction, the rock formations and nearby land looked exceedingly dry. However, upon approaching Grand Junction, the area appeared to be an oasis among the red-brown area. One of the good points for the dry area and viticulture is that, unlike the East Coast which tends to suffer from high humidity, the humidity in Grand Junction is low and this eliminates many additional vineyard sprayings each year. Yes, Colorado does produces good wines.
On Saturday, June 7th Kathy and I attended the Manitou Springs Wine Festival. This was our first trip to Colorado and our first experience with Colorado wines. The festival is held for one day at Soda Springs Park. The park is partially tree covered which offered shade on a bright sunny pleasant day. Those in attendance were very down to earth and interested in trying wines from different wineries in Colorado. This was a day for fun and twenty-two wineries poured tastings to large crowds. While waiting in lines to get to the pouring, much of the talk was about wines and their favorites. Most of the people we talked to were interested in trying different wines. Some were in search for a variety that was new and interesting while others wanted to see if they liked the same varieties of wines they were familiar with and enjoyed. There were several wine accessories vendors as well as food vendors. If visiting Colorado or if you live in Colorado consider attending this wine festival next year. Manitou Springs is about a ninety-minute drive from the Denver area.
I am sorry to hear that Oakencroft Vineyard and Winery is closing its doors. I believe it is a loss to the Virginia wine industry both physically and sentimentally. On a rainy day in April 2007, we had visited the winery and tasting room. Despite the rain, the area was beautiful with lovely landscaping, a pond and a sign for geese crossing. During our tour, we had the privilege of meeting Felicia Rogan, a figure with prominence in the Virginia wine world. Rogan was the first Chairperson of the Virginia Wine Grape Growers Advisory Board. She encouraged and helped create the Monticello AVA. My hat is off to Felicia Rogan and while she will no longer be owner of a winery, she will continue to add her input into the Virginia wine industry. Her plans include continuing her freelance writing. Although I’m sad to see the Oakencroft winery closing and the land has been sold, it is good to know that the land is in conservation easement. The new owners may continue vineyards but are not planning on producing wine.
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