Balistreri Vineyards: Denver, Colorado

Background:

Balistreri Vineyards is located in Denver Colorado.  It is a family owned vineyard, which has been operating 15 years (since 1998).  The wine maker and owner is John Balistreri.  Some of his family members also participated in the vineyards operations.  Mr. Balistreri’s wife and grandson both hosted and gave guests tours of the winery.  Tours of the winery were provided to interested guests for free.  During the tour, Mrs. Balistreri provided a detailed review of their wine making process from start to finish.  The winery also serves food and there are nice accommodations at the winery for events, such as weddings.


From the road looking at the tasting room of Balistreri

Vines along the road at Balistreri

Highlights:
Balistreri is the only winery in Denver with a vineyard.  They have 2 acres, located about 2 miles down the road from the winery dedicated to vine.  While the vineyard has turned grapes in the past, it is not currently doing so.    To attain grapes for wine production, the Balistreri purchases from other vineyards, which are located in the Grand Valley AVA.    This is pretty much common among Colorado winery’s and vineyards from what I was able to learn from the host. 


In the cellar at Balistreri

Wine Notes:
If you are deciding on what year to commit to, according to the host, 2012 was a good year for Colorado wines.

Because the vineyard is not producing their own grapes, there are not estate wines at this winery.  However, this winery has a unique practice for making wines.  Their wines are all natural.  This means they are not using additives, like sulfites.  Mrs. Balistreri continued to communicate that they were making wine according to the old ways.  Their idea was to create a wine true to the taste of the grape and vineyard, from which it was picked.   You would also notice that all of their wines on their venue are of a single varietal, with the exception of the Port.  The winery uses all American Oak barrels, which they prefer to purchase from Missouri.   They do not seem to have an active plan for retiring barrels.  Instead they reuse the same barrels over and over again.  Some of the same barrels have been in operation since they opened 15 years ago.

 

Tasting Venue:

The following wines were available at the time of my tasting.

Because of the unique method of producing “all natural wines” I felt the wines on this list were all unique.  A Cabernet Sauvignon produced at this winery may differ greatly from a Cabernet Sauvignon elsewhere, due to their processing methods.  There was even a dramatic difference on the vertical tasting of some of their wines, such as the 2008 Late Harvest Merlot.  Some wines that appealed to me were the 2011 Colorado Little Feet Merlot, the 2011 Colorado Syrah and the Balistreri Port.  The Colorado Cherry was also very popular among the crowd.
As you look over the list of wines I tasted, it is important to make note of the following:

• All wines with “Colorado” in the name mean that they were produced from grapes grown 100% in Colorado.
• Balistreri lists the vineyard of origin on the label.  At least my host was knowledgeable about the terroir of the vineyard of origin and could talk about it when cued.
• Wines with “American” in the name mean that the grapes could be purchased from outside of Colorado.  It seemed like California was the next place of choice.
• If you are interested in vertical tastings from their library, the host told me that Balistreri was committed to the Colorado vineyards. So the labels do has consistency between vineyards from year to year.
• Their wines ferment for about a year before bottling. 
• The winery prefers making reds over whites, so you will see a red heavy venue.

Whites:

• 2012 Colorado Orange Muscat (Barrel #2044) (Talbott Vineyard)
• 2011 Colorado Riesling (Barrel #231) (Talbott Vineyard)

Reds:

• 2012 Colorado Sangiovesse (Barrel #170)
• 2011 Colorado Little Feet Merlot (Barrell # 107) (Talbot Vineyard)

                      Key Note: This is called “Little Feet” because the grapes are stomped by children at  
                      Balistreri’s Annual Harvest Party.

• 2011 Colorado Little Feet Merlot (Barrel # 9928) (Bennett Vineyard)
• 2011 Colorado Syrah (Barrel #117) (Talbot Vineyard)
• 2010 American Cabernet Sauvignon (Barrel #129)

                Key Note: Aged for 24 months in American Oak barrels.

• 2011 Colorado Cabernet Sauvignon (Barrel #172) (Whitewater Hill)
• 2008 Colorado Cabernet Franc (Barrel #2055) (Avant Vineyard)
• 2009 American Petite Sirah (Barrel #140)

Dessert:
















 

• Balistreri Port (Barrel #966)

            Key Note: This port is produced with three Portuguese grape varietals: 35% Touriga, 35% 
            Tinto Cao, 30% Alvarelhoa.  These grapes were grown in Amador County, CA and crushed in
            Denver.  Balistreri fortifies with 190 proof grape spirits.

• 2008 Colorado Late Harvest Merlot (Barrel #2297)
• 2010 Late Harvest Zinfandel (Barrel #6-011)

• Colorado Cherry (Barrel #36-10)

A photo of 2012 Colorado Sangiovesse in the glass: 

 

Colorado Cherry in the fermentation process: 

 

Awards:

About Colorado wines:Colorado’s wines will taste much different than wines from Napa Valley or Carneros in California, Bordeaux in France, the Mosel Valley in Germany or the Barossa Valley in Australia. Because Colorado’s vineyards are the highest in North America (4500 to over 7000 feet above sea level) and only slightly lower than some of the vineyards in Argentina, because our humidity is very low and our soils quite alkaline, our wines are unique. [source: http://www.coloradowine.com/]

About the Grand Valley AVA: 

 

The Grand Valley AVA, along the Colorado River, once called the Grand River, forty miles east of the Utah border—begins where the mouth of DeBeque Canyon opens onto the lush green oasis along the valley floor at Palisade, sheltered by the largest flattop mountain in the world, Grand Mesa, the AVA then spills up onto East Orchard Mesa and Orchard Mesa along the south bank of the river, and stretches right to the foot of the Colorado National Monument west of Grand Junction. Elevations range here from just over 4000 feet above sea level to over 4500. DeBeque Canyon and the Colorado River provide constant breezes to cool this area in summer and warm it up during the sometimes harsh winters. The chalky, south-facing Bookcliff Mountains reflect solar energy onto the valley floor, making for some great conditions for Syrah, Viognier and other Rhone varietals, as well as the Bordeaux grapes, especially Cabernet Franc, that flourish on the slightly higher and cooler Orchard Mesa. This was the site of Colorado’s first grape industry that began in earnest in the 1880-1890s. The Grand Valley gets as many [degree days] as Napa Valley, Tuscany or Bordeaux, but in a shorter period of time. Due to the similarity of climate with the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, Tempranillo also is proving to be well suited to this region.  [source: http://www.coloradowine.com/]
Other Links:
Colorado’s Unique American Viticultural Areas
Colorado Wineries

Tasting at Barboursville Vineyard

As many times as my wife and I have tasted at Barboursville Vineyard or purchased a bottle of Phileo, one of our favorite wines, I have never posted my review of the experience.  Luca Paschina's wine is what started my passion for wine and more particularly, Virginia wine.  Barboursville was the place of my first wine tasting.  We stumbled upon the idea of wine tasting one Autumn afternoon, while I was out "sick" from work.  Sick of work, may have been more of the ailing problem than anything.  With the kids at school, my wife and I decided to explore the area and landed at Barboursville vineyard.  To complete the memory, we followed up with the Barb-Q Exchange (I believe bacon brownies were the treat) and ended with a tasting at Horton Vineyards.

Barboursville Vineyards is also the site of Governor James Barbour's mansion.  The mansion's Octagon shaped Great Room, was created by Thomas Jefferson.  Octagon is also the name of Barboursville's flagship wine, which won the 2013 Virginia Governor's Cup. The tasting experience is great at Barboursville.  The hosts are knowledgeable, professional and fun.  Ask all the questions you want.  This has become one of my go to wineries where I take friends and family, because I know that they will have a great time and walk away with an exceptional wine. I remember Barboursville for their reds and their Vintage Rose.  For some reason I Barboursville makes me a little tipsy every time.  We normally walk out with some bottles of Phileo for storage.  Phileo is a little sweet and seems to go with lazy afternoons.  They also carry a Brut, but it has never been in stock for me to try.   This is usually a good sign.

I originally followed Barboursville with Horton Vineyards, but found that the two tastes didn't mix well.  If you are trying to hit more than one winery in a day, I would recommend Barboursville first and then Burnley Vineyards.  Burnley is sweeter than Barboursville, so you can carry forward off the Malvaxia and end at Burnley with their Rubix.  I am craving both wineries just thinking about it.  Maybe a visit is due soon.

To learn more about Barboursville Vineyard spend some time reading this recent article posted by NY Times: Virginia Wines: In the Old Dominion, a New Terroir.

Blenheim Vineyards

On the deck at Blenheim

Blenheim is owned by Dave Matthews.  There were five wines available to taste during out tour: White Table Wine, Chardonnay 2012, Painted White 2011, Red Table Wine, Painted Red (Wine Shop).  The Painted White is a unique wine, because Dave Matthews designs the label for it.  Another cool feature about Blenheim is that if you keep the glass, you can come back and get free drinks during future tastings.  So you only need to pay ONCE!

The wine maker at this vineyard is Kristy Harmond.  I was informed that she mentors with  Gabriele Rausse.  The vineyard has 10 acres that are producing a variety of grapes, according to the host.  These include Viognier, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

To note the Chardonnay is aged in French, Hungarian and American Oak (this is also what the Painted White 2011 is aged in).

A view in the tasting Room

Blenheim Vineyards