Wine Country Out West

Grape harvests in Delta County occur between Mid-August to Mid October with most of the harvests occurring in September. Harvest is followed immediately by the crush. Many wineries will allow you to come and observe. Don't expect to see women stomping grapes in big barrels as in the popular scene from an "I Love Lucy" episode, but you will be able to observe this unique part of the winemaking business. Call your favorite winery to see when would be a good time watch or even join in!

Wine Events in August

Third Annual West Elks Wine Trail - August 4 - 7th, 2011

Follow the West Elks Wine Trail  
Pairing the Best of Colorado Wine with the Best of Colorado Cuisine

The trend to eat and drink locally has become a national obsession.  Here in Colorado on the Western slope we invite you to an adventure of closeness to the land, experiencing wine and foods grown right here in western Colorado.  The winemakers of the West Elks Viticultural Area invite you to join them on August 4th, 6th and 7th for a tour of the wineries, vineyards, orchards, and gardens surrounding the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Paonia and Hotchkiss, Colorado.

The Wineries of the West Elks AVA announces the third annual West Elks Wine Trail event.  Wineries participating are Alfred Eames Cellars, Azura Winery and Gallery, Black Bridge Winery, Delicious Orchards, Leroux Creek Winery, Liliputian Winery, S. Rhodes Vineyards, Stone Cottage Cellars and Terror Creek Winery.

To start your West Elks Wine Trail tour, stop by any of the nine West Elk Wineries to pick up your trail map for the weekend.  Each winery will feature food and wine pairings, with a focus on local foods. Each winemaker will enhance your tastings with two favorite selected recipes to complement their wines.  The nine wine tasting rooms will offer a wide variety of activities from vineyard tours, art displays, tastings, optional dinners, food pairings, mountain views and more.  A complimentary wine glass will be given to those who travel along the wine trail and collect recipes from at least five wineries.

 

You are invited and encouraged to purchase wines from the winemakers, as many of the vintages from this region are only available at the wineries. There are several events and dinners associated with the West Elks Wine Trail Event.  Please contact wineries and event providers directly:

Dinner in the Vineyard at Stone Cottage Cellars

4th Annual Dinner in the Vineyard Saturday, August 13th 2011

You are invited to join us for a relaxing evening of great food and wine in the vineyard at the foot of the West Elk mountain range. The afternoon starts with barrel tastings with the winemaker, in-depth tours of the vineyard and
demonstrations of the winemaking process. As the day cools, an extraordinary five-course dinner, including hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, three entree courses and dessert, carefully selected by Chef Jardon, begins.
The menu highlights ingredients from local producers, emphasizes the art of food and wine pairing, and features the Stone Cottage Cellars 2009 vintages of Dry Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Syrah, and 2008 vintages of Merlot and Pinot Noir.
Following dinner, relax as the stars come out during our Concert at the Cellar. The 2010 Alpine Dessert Wine is paired with Chef Jardon's Dessert. $150 per person. Credit card confirmation and 2 week cancellation notice is required.
Seating limited to 75. Please make lodging reservations early.

Contact us:
Brent & Karen Helleckson
(970) 527-3444, info@stonecottagecellars.com

MENU 2011
Appetizers
Fresh guacamole with smoked foie gras and roasted local green chilies on coriander crisps
Grilled Welsh lamb kielbasa dipped in sweet Thai basil pesto
Roasted fennel and edamame hummus on vineyard stone-oven flat bread
Local organic chorizo sausage stuffed figs with gruyère cheese
Crusted black pepper corn grilled in pineapple wrapped in Italian prosciutto
Roasted garlic marinaded French green beans wrapped in grilled scallions and lemon zest
Cellar Appetizers
Belgium endive with Roquefort blue cheese and caramelized walnuts
Organic turkey arugula meat balls in red wine sauce
Main Course Entrees
Fresh water prawns and wild mushroom scampi sauteed in 10 year old French white truffle oil on
local ciabatta crostini with grape leaf and micro green salad
Rosemary roasted duck and local organic peach salad with balsamic vinaigrette
~ Steak Vineyard ~
Local free range tarragon-apple-crusted beef tenderloin with blue lump crab
and pecan-smoked bacon beurre blanc
Vegetarian Entrees
Honey-roasted yam crepes stuffed with local organic vegetable ratatouille drizzled
with rose fresh water crème fraîche
Dessert
Local organic chévre cheese-infused crystallized ginger marmalade wontons
drizzled with vineyard red wine reduction

 

Food, Farm, Film & Wine Festival - Aug. 20-21, 2011

Join Western Slope and Roaring Fork Slow Food Chapters for our 3rd annual Food, Farm, Film and Wine Festival (AKA Flim Flam) taking place in Western Colorado’s Food & Wine Mecca of Paonia, Colorado!

Check out our photos from last year’s event here.

Watch a video of last year’s Festival!!

This event is being brought to you by Fresh & Wyld, Valley Organic Growers Association, Edible Aspen, Edible Front Range, the Paradise Theatre, Delicious Orchards, the Mad Dog Ranch, First State Bank of Hotchkiss and the North Fork Valley Growers!

This year we will be highlighting the wineries and farms throughout the North Fork Valley.  On Saturday you will get your Back Country Coffee’s box lunch and have the opportunity to visit and tour various Valley farms (Holy Terror, The Living Farm and Terra Fata) and wineries.  Then it’s off to enjoy locally-produced movies at the Paradise Theater.  We’ll finish the evening at Fresh & Wyld for a great dinner prepared by Chef Dava Parr and Six89‘s Chef Mark Fischer of Carbondale featuring wonderful local produce.

On Sunday it’s a continental breakfast at the Paradise and then more great local movies.  Afterwards, we’ll have a brunch at Delicious Orchards with music provided by Hard Pressed.

Our 2-day price is $125, Saturday only is priced at $100, Saturday movies only is $25 and Sunday only is priced at $35. (Slow Food members: ask about discounted price at the event.) http://www.slowfoodwesternslope.org/FlimFlam11.html for tickets

 

Please join us for the 7th Annual Mountain Vineyard Wine & Beer
Festival featuring Colorado Wineries
& Micro Breweries!
Wine & Beer tasting, food & entertainment!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
from 3—7 PM Tickets—$50 per person
After the Wine & Beer Festival the Garden Center Bistro is offering
an optional wine dinner from 6:30—9:00 PM.

 

Delta County Wineries & Tasting Rooms

5680
AppleShed Art Complex Tasting Rooms
Alfred Eames Cellars
Azura Cellars

Black Bridge Winery
Blossomwood Cidery
Delicious Orchards Organic Tasting Room & Market
Garden Bistro Tasting Room
Jack Rabbit Hill
Leroux Creek Vineyards
Liliputian Winery
Red Mountain Ranches Tasting Room
S. Rhodes Vineyards
Stone Cottage Cellars
Stoney Mesa Winery
Terror Creek Winery