Ciatano’s Winery
by
Kathy and Terry Sullivan
Summary: Ciatano’s Winery is located on one of the routes to Rocky Mountain National Park. This is an ideal location and many visitors take the opportunity to stop. The winery sells all of its wine from the tasting room.
Ciatano’s Winery is a delightful winery to visit. The tasting room is warm and friendly. The outside of the tasting room is serene with an immense landscaped area. Enjoy a glass of wine while viewing the area from a comfortable deck with tables and chairs. You’ll see a large pond with a bridge, water wheel, landscaped gardens and a waterfall. Perhaps you can savor a glass of Ciatano wine as you slowly walk the grounds taking in the serenity.
The first vintage for Ciatano’s Winery was 2005 and produced by Tim Merrick, winemaker at Trail Ridge Winery. Tim produced 1000 cases during 2007 and the expectation for 2008 is 3000 cases. All wines are sold out of the tasting room.
Originally, the site for Ciatano’s Winery was a Bed and Breakfast and the current tasting room was the breakfast room. Wanting to use the breakfast room for multiple purposes, Mary Lou Gibson decided to offer wine tastings. Eventually she decided to enter the wine business. After all, Mary Lou came from a winemaking family that traces back winemaking to a village in Italy. The tastings became popular and the decision was made to close the bed and breakfast and open a winery. Mary Lou is very pleased with the wines that Tim produces and she obviously enjoys the visitors coming into the tasting room. We observed a steady stream of visitors stopping in for a tasting. Below the tasting room is the winery. The rooms in the original bed and breakfast are now used for storage and aging wines.
We tasted several wines while sitting at a table in the tasting room. We talked to many of the visitors who all commented that they enjoyed the wines.
White Wines
Viognier 2007, a yellow golden color, had a fresh, floral aroma. The fruit taste lingered and the finish was dry.
Pinot Grigio 2007 was light and refreshing. It offered a citrus aroma and grapefruit taste. The wine finished crisp and refreshing.
Red Wines
Cabernet Franc 2005 offered an aroma of pepper, blackberry and earthiness. The taste had nuances of pepper and blackberry. The finish was long with pepper.
Rosato White Merlot had a translucent red color. The nose was light with red fruit. The taste was strawberry and the finish was sweet and fruity. It was very sweet but well balanced.
Sangiovese 2006 offered a cherry aroma and taste. The finish was crisp with mild tannins.
Syrah 2005 offered a first nose of earthiness and forest floor. A dark red fruit nose followed this. The taste was smooth with dark cherries and spices. The finish was drying with tannins.
Vino Rosso Cambiani 2006 was a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The nose was very fruity of blackberries, cherries and raspberries. The taste was silky with blackberries, cherries and raspberries. The finish had bold tannins giving way to fruit.
We believe you will enjoy stopping at Ciatano’s Winery. The tasting room is warm and inviting. The Italian-styled wines will leave you asking for more.
Ciatano Winery
16858 N Saint Vrain Dr.
Lyons, Colorado 80540
GPS N 40° 14.906’ W 105° 18.448’
Visit this Colorado lodging facility that partners with Wine Trail Traveler.
 |
 |
||
Spero Winery |
Wine Country Inn |
||
