Colorado Mountain Wine Festival

Last weekend I attended the Colorado Mountain Wine Festival and it was awesome. It may become a Camping Fantastic tradition to attend this wine festival each year. This was the 24th year that this wine festival has been held and it is the largest wine festival in Colorado. The weather was perfect in Palisade, CO and most of the wine I tasted was excellent.

I really enjoyed the wine festival. This would be my 4th wine festival that I have attended. I have attended two wine festivals in California and two in Colorado. I have attended the Ojai Valley Wine Festival at Lake Casitas in Ventura, CA, Wine in the Pines in Pine Mountain Club, CA, Bootstraps Western Wine Festival in Evergreen Colorado and now the Colorado Mountain Wine Festival in Palisade, CO.

So how does the Colorado Mountain Wine Festival compare to the other festivals? Check out my full review of all four festivals here.

In addition to the wine tastings I observed a cooking demonstration and also a ice carving demonstration. Watch my short video of the ice carving below:

One activity I tried at the wine festival was a blind tasting at the Colorado State University booth. The blind tasting consists of four wines that you try and rate them at the end. Then you judge them based on how much you would pay for them and finally you roll the dice and depending on where the dice lands you will have to purchase the wine. In my case I did not have to purchase a bottle of wine. Learn more about the blind tasting below:

There are a few things I did not like about the festival. The lines to get in the festival were very long and the lines for food were quite long, although this can be attributed to the popularity of the festival which can be viewed as a good thing.

The other element that was inconvenient was the lack of lodging near the wine festival. For me the ideal situation is camping or affordable lodging near the festival (within walking distance) and sadly this is difficult to find. However there is a shuttle that picks up and drops you off at downtown Grand Junction for only $15. This option is very convenient if you are staying at a hotel in Grand Junction, however it is an added expense in addition to your wine festival admission .

I stayed at the Grand Junction KOA in one of the cabins. They have one and two room cabins available that average $60-$70 per night. The KOA is only 4 miles from downtown and an easy cab ride or Uber ride that you can take you to the shuttle pick up point. I took Uber and the cost was $8-$10 one way (KOA to Grand Junction). The KOA is still about 14 miles from the festival so this option seems more frugal as a cab ride would be $40 each way. The cabins are nice and even include a small fridge and air conditioning.

Another option is to camp at the Island acres campground (part of the James M Robb Park) located about 7 miles from the festival. This might be the cheapest option but you would still need to arrange safe transportation to and from the festival.

Now back to the wine.

Overall I really enjoyed the festival and I will definitively be back. There were a few wineries that really stood out and I would like to mention them. Keep in mind that your palate may vary. It was impossible to try every wine at the festival, but I think I did a good job of trying.

Below are are my favorites in no particular order from The Colorado Mountain Wine Festival:

Garrett Estate Cellars www.garrettestatecellars.com

Chardonnay (non oak)
Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Pheasant Run Red

Colorado Cellars www.coloradocellars.com/

Blackberry Wine
Cherry Wine
Peach Wine

Maison LaBelle Vie Winery www.maisonlabellevie.com

Syrah

Bookcliff Vineyards bookcliffvineyards.com

Friday's Folly

Ten Bears Winery tenbearswinery.com

American Symphony
Nutty Laporte

Varaison Vineyards http://varaisonvineyards.com/

Viogner
Forbidden Fruit Hard Apple Cider

Spero Winery http://sperowinery.biz/

Malbec
Sangiovese

Boulder Creek Winery (closing)
www.bouldercreekwine.com

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-business/ci_27795654/boulder-creek-winery-plans-close

Syrah
Cabernet Franc

Greystone Vineyards https://graystonewines.com/

Port IV

Stone Cottage Cellars http://www.stonecottagecellars.com/

Gewurztraminer

Hermosa Vineyards http://www.hermosavineyards.com/
(not at wine festival this year but one of my favorites)

Dessert Wine
Syrah (sold out at time of visit)
Cabernet Sauvignon (sold out at time of visit)