Take a break from Baltimore area’s summer humidity and visit wineries in Palisade, Colorado
Summer is less than a month away and travel plans need to be made soon. It won’t be long before Maryland’s humidity begins to take its toll on people who by July will seek refuge, relaxation and enjoyment elsewhere. For the wine enthusiast, there are many areas in the country that have lower humidity and afford an opportunity to “taste the place.” One area is Palisade, Colorado. Fifteen wineries lay in this agricultural area that has award winning vineyard views with the Bookcliffs, Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument painting the backdrop.
Travel to wine regions broadens your wine tasting experience. You can note how wines made from familiar varieties of grapes differ from what you are use to tasting. Observing wine making regions also extends your knowledge of travel, yet at the same time reinforces the oneness of the winemaking community. My wife, Kathy and I visited wineries in Palisade in June and September of 2008. The weather was as spectacular as the scenery. Low humidity and bright sunshine greeted us almost everyday. There are a variety of wineries to visit from small production, boutique wineries to larger grand tasting rooms. You can taste a variety of wines including dry whites and reds to the sweeter wines and meads. There are certainly wines to discover that you will find and enjoy.
One unique feature of this area of the country for wine growing is its elevation. Grapes are successfully grown on vineyards between 4,000 and 5,000 feet high. Growers have little difficulty in having their grapes reach maturity. As a result, winemakers use superior quality grapes and make excellent wines. If you have particular varietal grapes that you enjoy, you’re likely to find them as you meander through the wine country. The three most widely planted grapes are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. About 800 tons of these grapes are harvested. An additional 350 tons of Syrah, Riesling and Cabernet Franc are harvested. There are smaller plantings of Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.
I enjoy visiting wine country regions where many wineries are close together. In Palisade, three wineries are within a half-mile walk from the new Wine Country Inn, a wonderful lodging site to spend a few days to a week. Another option is to rent a bike to travel between several wineries. You’re going to be out in the country, heavy traffic is not a concern. Of course, if you wish to visit more wineries you can drive. Even more wineries are located on your way to Grand Junction, just twenty miles from Palisade.
The wines were fruity with nice aroma. Finishes are crisp and you’ll notice long fruity aftertastes on some of the wines. Of course we have our favorites, but travelers should taste the wines and discover their favorites. More of the local restaurants in Colorado carry local wines than you may observe in Maryland. The Red Rose Café in downtown, Palisade only has local wines on its menu and uses fresh ingredients in the food they prepare. You can easily get a sense of “taste the place.” How does a Colorado Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon compare to a Maryland Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon? It is interesting to see how the same varietal grapes can be so different depending on where they are grown and winemaking techniques.
Traveling to Palisade, Colorado is easy and you have several options. From the Baltimore area you can hop on Interstate 70 and drive all the way to Palisade on that interstate. The 1900 miles will take about 29 hours to drive. Another option is to fly from BWI to Denver and rent a car to drive to Palisade. It will take about four hours to drive the 250 miles along I-70. You can also fly from BWI to Grand Junction; Palisade is only about fifteen minutes away. While in Palisade, one lodging option is the Wine Country Inn. This eighty-room hotel is surrounded by vineyards and has an afternoon wine tasting of their own wines made from grapes from their vineyards.
Take you camera with you to Palisade. During the summer, many photo opportunities abound from all the wineries. The green foliage from the vineyards provide contrast to the earth tones of the Bookcliffs and bright blue sky. By September a splash of color is added to vineyards as clusters of grapes ripen near harvest. In early autumn the vines change color and blend in with their surroundings. Enjoy a break from the heat and humidity and spend some time in the wonderful wine region Palisade, Colorado.