Grand Junction is the Gateway to Colorado Wine Nation and Upbeat Tastings in Palisades
Thought-about the fruit bowl of Colorado, that is the place underrated wines of character grown at excessive altitudes are discovered. Strange Fellow is probably the most colourful.
Like many histories of grape rising all through the U.S., Colorado winemaking begins with immigrants discovering the best soils and rising circumstances. Colorado winemaking flourished, hitting over a hundreds of thousands kilos of grapes from over 250,000 vines from 1034 Colorado farms. Prohibition worn out your complete business.
Quick ahead to 1968 when Dr. Gerald Ivancie began Ivancie Vineyard and employed Warren WIniarski away from Mondavi, a significant coup. Winiarski turned world well-known when, as winemaker, he gained the 1976 Judgement of Paris crimson wine portion of the competitors for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley.
Ivancie and Winiarski inspired experimental plantings of grape varieties across the fertile Grand Valley of Southern Colorado which might later develop into the primary Colorado AVA. Winiarski continued to imagine in Colorado’s potential and, in 2020, offered a grant of $150,000 to Western Colorado Group School in Grand Junction, the primary school within the state to supply a level in viticulture and enology. The legendary winemaker firmly believes within the wine business in Colorado and places his cash towards coaching and analysis, attracting extra individuals to contemplate wine rising and winemaking as careers.
Initially from Kent, England, Ben Parsons began on the gross sales aspect of the wine business till an epiphany had him chasing down a task in manufacturing and he landed in New Zealand at Nobilo WInes, then acquired a rotary scholarship that despatched him to highschool for enology. Upon commencement in 2001 and in search of a winemaking job, he was provided a publish in Colorado, a state Parsons had no thought may produce wine.
Coming to work at Canyon Wind Vineyard, Parsons labored with Bob Pepi, Jr. and began a winemaking consulting enterprise. In 2007, the demise of his father prompted him to place collectively a marketing strategy and begin buying used winemaking tools. Putting in it in a quonset hut in downtown Denver’s Santa Fe artwork district, Parsons sourced grapes from the Palisades in southern Colorado as nicely from Washington State and, as an innovator, put wine in kegs to avoid wasting on packaging and ease of service, beginning a development for kegged wine throughout the state and U.S.
Lastly deciding to personal his personal winery, Parsons planted Field Bar Winery at 6300 toes, one of many highest within the nation, and opened an eclectic and really colourful tasting room within the outdated peach co-op within the middle of Palisades. The title, The Strange Fellow, was taken from a pub in England the place younger Ben Parsons frolicked, The title is tongue in cheek and Parsons factors out in his advertising and marketing that …
Strange Fellows hold their pinkies down, drink drip espresso, don’t care the way you say tomato, choose faucet water and can drink wine out of any glass. However, there is no such thing as a motive for that wine to be “peculiar.”
At Field Bar, Parsons has planted 12 acres of Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay which he farms by hand organically and sustainably. For different wines, Parsons sources fruit from vineyards in Washington State that farm with the regenerative strategies he utilized in Colorado. And, tasting these wines produced from Colorado grapes, there is no such thing as a doubt that wine – and good wine – could be made in Colorado.
Right here is only a sampling of the Strange Fellow line which, with their colourful labels that may be
turned 360 levels across the bottle in order that an array of colourful photos seem in “Strange Fellow’s” head. Laborious to elucidate however, get the bottle and you will note why that is no peculiar murals. The right reward.
2021 Riesling, Colorado $24
I’m not the one one who loves this wine. Decanter Journal awarded it 90 factors which isn’t solely a great rating, however the wine is from Colorado and prices lower than $25! Shiny acid with mineral notes and aromas of citrus and apply with a contact of anise. Beautiful end and ideal meals pairing wine.
2021 Chardonnay, Colorado $35
Chardonnay, when made nicely, is simply improbable. Naysayers who drink “something however” simply haven’t had nicely made wines. Grown on one of many highest winery websites in Colorado, the coolness permits the grapes to slowly mature. White peach and stone fruit aromas with hints of Meyer lemon. Mineral within the mouth and lean with vibrant acidity and lingering citrus notes.
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorado $39
Though younger this Cabernet ought to age nicely given its balanced acid. Crimson cherry pops within the nostril with tanned leather-based and clove offers the wine spice. Grippy tannins are a bit chalky and will soften over time.
2022 Blanc de Noirs of Pinot Noir, Colorado $48
At 6800 toes in elevation, Hawk’s Nest winery, with its 100 foot drop in elevation from prime to backside, these grapes keep cool – and revel in an incredible vista. Parsons has made the primary glowing wine produced from Colorado grapes. With no dosage, this glowing wine is recent with vibrant acid, but the almond, strawberry and crushed cherry aromas give the wine depth. Love the trace of brioche on the palate.
