Grand Junction is the Gateway to Colorado Wine Nation and Upbeat Tastings in Palisades
Thought of the fruit bowl of Colorado, that is the place underrated wines of character grown at excessive altitudes are discovered. Bizarre Fellow is essentially the most colourful.
Like many histories of grape rising all through the U.S., Colorado winemaking begins with immigrants discovering the appropriate soils and rising situations. Colorado winemaking flourished, hitting over a tens of millions kilos of grapes from over 250,000 vines from 1034 Colorado farms. Prohibition worn out the whole trade.
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 received the 1976 Judgement of Paris pink 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 grow to be 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 faculty within the state to supply a level in viticulture and enology. The legendary winemaker firmly believes within the wine trade in Colorado and places his cash towards coaching and analysis, attracting extra individuals to think about wine rising and winemaking as careers.
Initially from Kent, England, Ben Parsons began on the gross sales facet of the wine trade till an epiphany had him chasing down a job in manufacturing and he landed in New Zealand at Nobilo WInes, then obtained a rotary scholarship that despatched him to high school for enology. Upon commencement in 2001 and in search of a winemaking job, he was provided a put up 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 save lots of on packaging and ease of service, beginning a pattern 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 actually colourful tasting room within the previous peach co-op within the heart of Palisades. The identify, The Bizarre Fellow, was taken from a pub in England the place younger Ben Parsons frolicked, The identify is tongue in cheek and Parsons factors out in his advertising and marketing that …
Bizarre Fellows preserve 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 isn’t a motive for that wine to be “extraordinary.”
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 created from Colorado grapes, there isn’t a doubt that wine – and good wine – might be made in Colorado.
Right here is only a sampling of the Bizarre 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 “Bizarre Fellow’s” head. Laborious to elucidate however, get the bottle and you will notice why that is no extraordinary murals. The proper present.
2021 Riesling, Colorado $24
I’m not the one one who loves this wine. Decanter Journal awarded it 90 factors which isn’t solely an excellent 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 incredible. 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 vivid 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 provides the wine spice. Grippy tannins are a bit chalky and may 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 high to backside, these grapes keep cool – and revel in a tremendous vista. Parsons has made the primary glowing wine created from Colorado grapes. With no dosage, this glowing wine is recent with vivid acid, but the almond, strawberry and crushed cherry aromas give the wine depth. Love the trace of brioche on the palate.
