Saturday in the Park on September 17, 2011, at the 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, had something for everyone who loves wine and food, including rain and sunshine. Aside from an abundance of great wine and food, there was live music, the opportunity to stomp grapes, sample olive oil, buy wine-themed t-shirts, jewelry, and pottery, and marvel at Miss D’Vine, a walking grapevine on stilts. The people-watching was superb, including those who made their own pretzel necklaces so a carbohydrate was always available to help clear the palate between tastes of wine.
Upon arriving at Riverbend Park via yellow school buses (driven by real school bus drivers!), the day’s intrepid wine-tasters were given a 6-pack tote bag designed to carry a half-dozen bottles purchased onsite (free wine storage was available at the festival). Other essentials included sunglasses, an umbrella, and a wineglass-holding lanyard to offer a convenient place to put your wine glass, leaving hands free to taste food and try on jewelry.
One way to enjoy the many good choices in wine and food was to travel from tent to tent, sampling only the award-winning wines. This year, 6 Double Gold, 23 Gold, 27 Silver, 38 Bronze, and 22 Honorable Mention medals were awarded in the 2011 Colorado Winefest Best of Fest Competition. The “Best of Show” winner, which also won “Best Red Wine” and was named a “Double-Gold Winner,” was the 2009 Kahil Winery Mesa County Malbec, made by 26-year-old winemaker Tyrel Lawson, who was on hand to pour his wonderfully smoky, dense wine. The 2010 Kahil Mountain Winery Snipes Mountain Pinot Gris won a Gold Medal.
Boulder Creek Winery’s 2010 Chardonnay won “Best White Wine,” and Colorado Cellars Winery Blackberry won “Best Fruit Wine.” In addition to the Kahil Winery Malbec and Boulder Creek Winery Chardonnay, the other Double Gold Winners were: 2006 Spero Winery Vino e Buono Cabernet Franc, 2008 Spero Winery Vino e Buono Syrah, 2009 Two Rivers Winery Mesa County Syrah, and 2009 Stone Cottage Cellars Syrah.
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