Colorado [Wine] Country
Bookcliff Vineyards in Palisade, CO
Yes, it does exist!
I joined a networking group as soon as I moved to Denver and was fortunate to meet an insurance rep named Chris. I was in need of a new professional liability policy after moving to Colorado, so I considered this perfect timing. After a couple meetings and chats about my love of wine, Chris said “you really should meet my wife, Danica.”
Well, it turned out that Danica was a trained sommelier and Sales Manager at Bookcliff Vineyards, a Colorado-based winery with vineyards just 3 1/2 hours out of Denver. Hmm… vineyards in Colorado?? A winery in Boulder? I was skeptical, but excited for a private tasting with Danica and Chris at the winery!
After about ten or twelve different wines and lots of information about the vineyards in Palisade, I promptly signed up for the wine club and bought some bottles to take home. A wine region in Colorado (with good wines no less!) - one more positive to moving to Denver! Since then, I’ve had my eye on a trip out to Palisade to see the vineyards and landscape first-hand.
Realizing our planned summer trips to Alaska and Peru wouldn’t happen this year, Matt and I decided on some long-weekend road trips. First on our list: Palisade.
Quick photo of the four of us (plus our CT transplant friend, Nanci on the right) tailgating at a Broncos game last fall!
Palisade Lodging
Spoke and Vine: concierge desk, king room, local wine amenity, sign out front
I started my search for lodging, looking first at some inns and cute B&Bs. Then I stumbled upon Spoke and Vine, a very affordable little motel just a few blocks from “downtown” Palisade and in the midst of the area’s wineries and orchards. The location was perfect, and during our Covid-19 crisis I particularly loved that they offered keyless entry and no need to walk through a lobby or any enclosed public space to get to the rooms.
Spoke and Vine is owned by Jeff and Jody who bought the formerly rundown property and completely renovated it in 2018. The motel is pet friendly, rents bikes for $30/day, and the rate includes a delicious breakfast of coffee, tea, yogurt, bananas and granola sourced from a local bakery. These days Jeff and Jody bring a tray to your room at a prearranged time (instead of hosting breakfast indoors), and Matt and I delighted in eating at a picnic table on the front lawn. There’s cute artwork on the walls and thoughtful touches like complimentary wine on the nightstand from a local winery. The rooms are very simple but they are spotless, the beds are super comfortable, and they each have a/c units that (thankfully) work wonderfully for the hot climate!
Rates vary based on demand; weekends throughout the summer start around $155/night for a queen. The Queen room is on the small side, but doable for a couple nights. I suggest booking the King room or larger for more space (and only around $20-$40 per night more).
Palisade Dining
Instead of jumping into the area’s wineries I want to start with dining, specifically because of one standout: Pêche.
Pêche Restaurant in Palisade, CO
I know we’ve been locked up in quarantine for months, and this was my first real dining experience since early March, but… the food at Pêche would be outstanding under any circumstances.
Although the restaurant has multiple outdoor patios, once we entered the restaurant and encountered the amazing smell of their signature sourdough bread baking, we opted for indoor dining. Tables were spaced out and waiters wore masks; it felt very comfortable.
Top: Chicken egg with pork belly and mixed greens with herbs
Bottom: Burrata with tomato jam and boule
Pêche opened just last fall and is co-owned by chef Matt Chasseur and his wife Ashley who serves as GM. The word “pêche” in French means “peach,” referencing this iconic fruit grown in Palisade. Although the name is French, the food is American and the menu consists of just five appetizers and five entrées, plus dessert options.
The dishes in the above photos are considered appetizers, but could easily become entrées. While the wine list includes selections from all over the world, Pêche strives to feature food sourced from local farms, gardens and suppliers. The locality definitely shines through; each bite bursts with flavor. No question; I’ll be dining again here on my next trip!
Pêche entrées range from $29 to $39. Reservations required until restrictions are lifted.
Palisade Wineries
Palisade is located in the Grand Valley and has a history of farming going back well over a century. Historically known for its peaches, the area is increasingly becoming known as Colorado Wine Country for its many vineyards and tasting rooms.
Red Fox Vineyards in Palisade, CO
There are over 25 wineries and tasting rooms in the region. You’ll also find beer, cider, mead and other liquors. Peach Street Distillery produces pretty much every type of liquor from vodka to gin to whiskey to grappa to brandy.
During our quick trip, we focused our time at two wineries, Bookcliff, which we knew from Boulder and our time with Chris and Danica, and one called Red Fox Cellars.
Red Fox Cellars
Red Fox produces both wine and English style cider. Matt and I both decided on wine tastings, but I’m sure we’ll be back to try the ciders one day soon. While I tried the “traditional” tasting, Matt went for the “Italian” tasting. There were many standouts, but the Dolcetto and Cab were among our favorites. The building has plenty of outdoor space to sit and relax; we chose one of two umbrellas to sit under and enjoy our wines. We then walked away with several bottles!
I was excited to then head over to Bookcliff Vineyards, which we’d been told had a very unique view of the land from their tasting room. The tasting room is set up on a hill so you can look down into the vineyards, and with the cliffs as a backdrop, it’s pretty spectacular.
View from the tasting room at Bookcliff Vineyards in Palisade, CO
The photos on this page (taken by my phone) don’t come close to capturing the sweeping views of the vineyards and the majesty of the cliffs. You really need to see this for yourself! But what a spectacular setting to try some of their wines. We were already familiar with many of them, but the ‘17 Malbec Reserve was an absolute standout. And we always love the Viognier, so we grabbed that to take with us as well!
The tasting room staff was incredibly friendly, bringing us an extra taste of their regular Malbec to compare against the Reserve. If you can’t get out to Palisade, you can visit the tasting room in Boulder which also hosts amazing wine dinners with local chefs in the barrel room!
Matt and me at a 2019 wine dinner at Bookcliff’s tasting room in Boulder. Co-owner, John Garlich serves wine in the background
You’re likely to see an update to this post before the end of the summer, as we’re already making plans to go back and try some other wineries, farms and the brewery. This is a perfect road trip from Aspen (2 hours), Denver, (3.5 hours), Boulder (4 hours), Fort Collins or Colorado Springs (both under 5 hours). Grand Junction is just a 20-minute drive and has Amtrak service from Denver which takes about 8 hours, but I bet the views through the Rockies are extraordinary!
