Liquor Sales Steady in Spite of Economy

We didn't want this holiday article to slip by unnoticed. Back in December, the Denver Post reported that Colorado liquor sales remain steady, although consumers are steering towards box wine and well drinks over high-end vintage vino and top shelf liquors. Oh yeah, there are mentions of Western slope establishments like Peach Street Distillers and Crossroads Wine & Liquors in Grand Junction.

Under the headline, "Alcohol Sales Have Survived Despite a Slow Economy, But Tastes Are Shifting: Quantity Over Quality," Post Reporter Nancy Lofholm writes:

"Customer numbers at Colorado liquor stores aren't down and liquor excise taxes are up 7 percent this year, lending credence to the old saw that people continue to imbibe in tough times. But liquor store owners and liquor industry officials say drinkers are avoiding high- end spirits in favor of more moderately priced goods."

"Or if they can't stand to give up their ultra anejo tequila and single-malt scotch, they may buy it in smaller quantities."

"I've never seen an environment like this," said Jim Smith, president of Republic National Distributing Co., who predicts that by the time the tinsel comes down, liquor retailers will have had a decent overall season."

"But their revenues just might come more from $20 premium boxed wines. Sales of the penny-wise cartons have jumped 40 percent in the past month, according to a survey by A.E. Nielsen. Or from economy vodka, which the survey showed has jumped 7 percent while sales of luxury vodkas have declined."

"There are people out there that this downturn hasn't even bothered, but then there is the guy who would buy the $25 bottle of wine and is now buying the $10 bottle," said Daveco Liquors manager Ted Sutton."

"No one has plunked down $13,000 for the store's priciest bottle of 55-year-old scotch. The last five-figure bottle of booze to sell there went out the door this summer before the economy really tanked."

Check out the rest of this article here.

2008 Palisade, Colorado, Year In Review

O.K. --we know these sorts of year end retrospectives hit more around December 31st or Jan 1. But we've had no shortage of things to report about the Palisade area. It's been busy around here! We're blogging about Colorado wine and wine industry trends, but we don't want to forget what's been happening in our hometown. In the last 12 months, Palisade took major steps to revamp its tourism industry as well as give Main Street a face lift.

Palisade Tribune Editor in Chief Bob Dougherty said it best in his article, "A Year of Exciting Changes for the Town of Palisade." Uncle Bob wrote:

"It was a very good year for the Town of Palisade, 2008. It saw the town take on an exciting and vibrant pace of growth unlike any year in the modern era."

You said it, Uncle Bob. Highlights from the past year include:

A new look for downtown: "The town formulated a plan to turn the dirt area between Main Street and Kluge Avenue adjacent to the railroad tracks into a modern parking lot.... In the meantime, a new Town Center Plaza is being constructed at 3rd and Main where the old parking lot had been. Landscaping and other work will be completed in the spring."

This includes some donated sculpture; namely Harley the Chrome Motorcycle Fish by local artist Lyle Nichols. The fish is made out of mufflers and other shiny parts from old Harley Davidsons. The Blue Pig Gallery raised the funding to donate this civic minded arts project. (Trust us, it's dazzling).

On the tourist front: "A new Tourism Advisory Board was created early in the year and went right to work. In time for the 2008 tourist season, two brochures were readied and distributed. In 2009, the TAB will advise the town on how to spend the revenue generated by the new lodging occupation tax. The tax is paid by the owners of lodging establishments based on $2 per occupied room per night."

"The Palisade Peach Festival drew 29,000 people over its four days, its best year ever. Similarly, the Colorado Mountain Winefest set and attendance record, particularly for out-of-state visitors."

"Along the way, a new festival decided to call Palisade home. The Palisades Bluegrass and Roots Festival is set for June 11-13 in Riverbend Park."

We had tons of publicity: Over a dozen travel writers traipsed through Colorado's Wine Country in 2008, ranging from Eugenia Bone of Sunset Magazine to Stefani Jackenthal of the New York Times.

Unfortunately, some tourist efforts belly flopped: Palisade's plans for a whitewater slalom course on the Colorado River fell apart. "2008 was not all good news, however. The Palisade Whitewater Park eventually crashed and burned due to an implacable federal bureaucracy. The Town jumped through countless hoops, and provided everything that was asked for; but then the rules changed. Countless hoops were followed by countless hoops until the town said, "enough."

We lost some Colorado wine pioneers: Longtime teacher and farmer Curtis Talley died. He was age 85. Talley was one of the first growers in the valley to plant wine grapes after Prohibition. He was an instrumental force in turning Palisade into Colorado's Wine Country.

Also leaving us too soon was Doug Phillips. "Wine industry pioneer Doug Phillips of Plum Creek Cellars died of cancer July 15th. He was fine, and participated in Barrel Tastings in mid-May, and his passing was a shock to the industry and community here and in Denver, where he maintained a law practice with his wife, Sue Phillips."

Both Talley and Phillips will be missed.

And last but not least, the Wine Country Inn opened its doors: "Richard, Jean, Greg and Anne Tally opened their 80-room luxury hotel, the Wine Country Inn August 1, just in time for the 40th Palisade Peach Festival. The inn quickly became a source of great pride for Palisade; and in Decmber; it was named one of the five best hotels in the nation for an outdoor vineyard wedding."

A busy year for Palisade, with even bigger and better projects to come in 2009, for both the town and the Wine Country Inn.

Food Trends for the New Year

What will 2009 bring for food trends? According to the South Carolina News and Observer, the New Year will emphasize budget meals and bargain wines. Under the headline, "Food Trends 2009," Quick Bites Correspondent Greg Cox writes an informative roundup of various gourmet magazines:

"Once again, it's that time of year when pundits and prognosticators of all stripes hazard wild guesses -- er, make informed predictions about trends for the coming year. In the food world, everyone from magazine editors to marketing consultants gets in on the act. OK, restaurant critics, too."

"It should come as no surprise that the economy is the dominant factor influencing predictions for 2009. The January issue of Bon Appétit magazine proclaims that the guiding philosophy for its annual Best of the Year forecast is "Eat Better for Less." The editors single out ricotta -- that's right, humble ricotta cheese -- as the ingredient of the year for 2009."

"And if their forecast for next year's dessert trend is accurate, we'll be singing sticky-mouthed praises of peanut butter desserts. The next big wine trend? If you guessed "great bargain bottles," then you're getting the picture."

You can read the rest of the article here.

Palisade, Colorado 2009 Calendar of Events

Plan your 2009 visit to Palisade today. This year will be chock full of activities to enjoy in Colorado's Wine Country. The moderate temperatures, fruit orchards, vineyards and a quaint town make for activities galore. Whether you come in spring, summer, fall or winter, Palisade, Colorado, will have something to offer you. Here is the 2009 Calendar of Events, courtesy of PalisadeTourism.com :

April
April 15-19

29th Annual Peach Blossom Art Show

The Palisade Art Lovers Peach Blossom Art Show is one of the largest judged art shows in the Grand Valley, boasting nearly 125 artists and exhibiting more than 400 works of art each year. This fine art show exhibits everything from oil paintings to watercolors, pastels, batik, photography, and more. The show draws artists from throughout western Colorado and is the perfect gallery to showcase the quality, talent and variety of work this valley produces. Many awards are given by a notable judge, carefully selected each year. The show is set up in an inviting, gallery type setting with soft music, live greenery and refreshments for visitors. The admission is free. Entry forms and a prospectus is available on this website.

Contact Lise MacGregor, Show Chairman, for questions and information at 970-255-1553.

April -May
April 25-26, May 16-17

Barrel Into Spring Barrel Tastings

A couple of weekends of self-guided tours, wine tasting and delicious food brought to you by the members of the Grand Valley Winery Association. This is your chance to discover wines in the making and see how your favorites are made.

This self-guided tour includes several participating wineries. Each winery will pair delicious foods with their wines.

May
May 9

Palisade Bike Festival

The Bike Festival combines the Palisade Classic Mountain Bike Race and the Fruit Loop Cycling Tour for a day of bikes, bikes and more bikes!

The Palisade Classic Mountain Bike Race is an off-road competition and the Fruit Loop Cycling Tour offers three routes ranging from easy to challenging. You can also choose to ride in both events.

There is also a Grand Valley Bike Swap. Bring your bike, gear and wallet and buy, sell or swap gear. There is no charge to sell. For details, call Rapid Creek Cycles at (970) 464-9266 or Palisade Chamber of Commerce at (970) 464-7458.

May 30-31

3rd Annual Palisade Parade of Roses

Pavilion.Roses and Black Muscat champagne are on the brunch menu at Varaison Vineyards and Winery . The winery is releasing its inaugural champagne this weekend in conjunction with a rose “parade” competition amongst Palisade rose gardeners..

The Grand Junction chapter of the American Rose Society will judge the roses. Rose categories include two different classes: rose gardens that are five years or older, and those less than five years old. The varieties include hybrid tea roses, the best floribunda, best grandislora and best climbing or hedge roses.

June - September
June 21-Sept 20

Palisade Farmer's Market

The Town of Palisade is excited to announce the return of the Palisade Sunday Market. The market will feature local artisans, crafters, musicians, non-profit organizations, wineries and, of course, our wonderful Palisade produce! It will be located in downtown Palisade near the intersection of 3rd and Main. The market will be organized and sponsored by the Town of Palisade.

June
June, 12, 13, 14

Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival

Bluegrass, Folk, Acoustic Blues, Old-Time, Celtic, Singer/Songwriter & More!
The festival formerly known as the North Fork Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival in Hotchkiss, CO.

This is an acoustic music event made in the shade. --Right on the banks of the Colorado River in the west side of Riverbend Park. Festival features on-site camping, jam sessions and kids activities. Local wines, micro-brew, food and area artisans. Workshops for guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, vocals, songwriting. Artisan demonstrations for adults and children. .
Easy access off Interstate-70.

July
July 4

Annual Independence Day Celebration

Fourth of July Family Celebration with a great parade and fun games and food in Palisade Memorial Park.

July 3-5

Reds, Whites, & Blues Festival, Varaison Vineyards

August
August 13-16

41st Annual Palisade Peach Festival

Ah, peaches – soft, sweet fruit with enough juice to run down your chin when you bite into one. Come and celebrate the peach with the 41st annual Palisade Peach Festival. The festival kicks off four days of fun-filled, entertaining events and features more than 100 food, art and craft vendors, live music, a children’s area and various culinary activities. And of course, lots of Palisade Peaches.

August 21-23

8th Annual Ravenshire Renaissance and Pirate Faire

Western Colorado Renaissance Festival welcomes everyone back for another year of festivities with the 8th annual Ravenshire Renaissance and Pirate Faire. The festival is fun for the whole family blending the Renaissance in the year 1550 and pirates of the 18th century. Dress up in period attire and just come as you are. Experience special activities, performances, vendors and food.

September
September 17-20

Colorado Mountain Winefest

Wine lovers unite! Thousands make the annual pilgrimage to Palisade to sample an array of Colorado wines and participate in a variety of events including workshops, wine and food pairing events, dueling chefs, grape stomps, winery tours, winemaker competitions, chocolate tasting, golfing, jazz concerts and artisan vendors.

Don’t forget the bike tour of the Valley. This 25-mile bike tour of Colorado’s wine country passes through the vineyards of the Western Slope and gives cyclists and opportunity to see the area’s wineries and fruit orchards. Participants can then attend the Winefest.

September 19

16th Annual Tour of the Vineyards

Come join us for a great great way to celebrate the start of fall, by joining in this bicycle tour of Colorado’s Wine Country. This 25-mile ride through the vineyards of the Western Slope (on paved roads with a few hills) gives cyclists an opportunity to pass by the area’s wineries, as well as acres of fruit orchards, located in the Grand Valley prior to the Colorado Mountain Winefest “Festival in the Park”.

December

Olde Fashioned Christmas

Turn back the clock with the nostalgia of Olde Fashioned Christmas in downtown Palisade. Beginning at noon, activities include street carolers, holiday music, wagon rides through downtown Palisade, as well as kids’ activities throughout the day. Tour some of Palisade’s Victorian homes or enter to win the Gingerbread House contest. The Gingerbread House showcase is open to the public.

There will be a parade and Christmas Tree Lighting taking place in downtown Palisade. Make it a Christmas to remember for all ages.

December 31

2nd Annual Varaison Vineyards New Year’s Eve Gala

Century House Restaurant Opens in Palisade

For a sleepy little town, Palisade offers several high quality-restaurants that are patronized by the entire Grand Valley. The list that includes Inari's Bistro, the Red Rose Cafe and the Palisade Brewery just got a little longer as the Century House enters the fray. The eatery is a steak and prime rib joint in an authentic Victorian farm house.

The staff at the Business Times of Western Colorado writes:

"A restaurateur has opened a second operation in Palisade, offering what he bills as a fine dining experience at affordable prices.

"Bruce Jensen has opened the Century House at 349 W. Eighth St. The restaurant is open for dinner from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations are accepted for parties of eight or more by calling 970-464-9202."

"Jensen also operates the Packing Shed Restaurant, located adjacent to the Century House, which he opened in June 2004. The Packing Shed serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday in a diner-style setting."

"From the time I opened the Packing Shed Restaurant, I had a vision of renovating this building into an upscale restaurant," Jensen said. "After four years of planning, hard work and persistence, my vision has now become a reality."

'The Century House originally was constructed in 1905 as a farmhouse. Much of the original wood has been preserved in the flooring, windows and cabinetry. The decor blends turn-of-the century ambiance with warm wood tones and antique finishes."

"Jensen said the menu offers value and variety with such featured entrees as chicken, prime rib, pork, steaks and vegetarian lasagna."

"Dinners are priced at $9.95 to $19 and include a choice of soup or salad. Beers, liquors and wines are available."

"Jensen earned a bachelor's degree from the hotel and restaurant management school at the University of Denver."

Denver Post Mentions Wine Country Inn Honor

In their Business Briefs section, the Denver Post recently mentioned the Wine Country Inn. Under the headline, "Palisade Inn Named a Top Wedding Site," the Post wrote:

"Palisade's Wine Country Inn was named one of the "Top 5 Vineyard Wedding Locations" for 2008 in the U.S. by PerfectOutdoor-Weddings.com."

"The inn was No. 4, ranking alongside wine destinations in the Napa and Sonoma valleys of California and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts."

"This is a tremendous honor for our hotel, Grande River Vineyards and the Palisade area," said Wine Country Inn co-owner Jean Tally."

"The Wine Country Inn sits in its own 21-acre Mount Lincoln Vineyard that surrounds the hotel and is bordered by the Grande River Vineyard."

You can view the Denver Post article here.

Grand Junction Colorado 2009 Calendar of Events

There's so much to do in Grand Junction, Colorado, and the surrounding communities of Fruita and Palisade. A wide variety of festivals and events occur throughout the year. Be sure to reserve your hotel room early; many of these festivals fill up months in advance.

April
April 25-26, May 16-17
Barrel Into Spring Barrel Tastings

A couple of weekends of self-guided tours, wine tasting and delicious food brought to you by the members of the Grand Valley Winery Association. This is your chance to discover wines in the making and see how your favorites are made.

This self-guided tour includes several participating wineries. Each winery will pair delicious foods with their wines.

April 23-26
Fruita Fat Tire Festival

Join the fun at Colorado's "kickoff" to the mountain bike season in the beautiful red rock country! Visit the shop that started it all - Over the Edge Sports - and join the fun at Civic Center Park in downtown Fruita.

May

May 8-10
Downtown Art and Jazz Festival

Main Street comes alive with jazz music performed by local and national artists, artist demonstrations in a variety of mediums and artists selling beautiful, high-quality work. This three-day festival surrounds the re-installation of Art on the Corner sculptures. A celebration of art and music, this outdoor event features street vendors, live music, extended shopping hours with participating merchants and other fun activities.

Spring Barrel Tasting

Junior College World Series (JUCO)

June

June 25-28
Country Jam USA Music Festival

All star lineup of country music's best performers. Four days of fun in the sun and wild partying.

June 11-Sept. 17
Thursday Farmers' Market Festival

Summertime’s signature event in Grand Junction... The American National Bank Farmers' Market Festival features the freshest produce, high-quality handcrafted items, specialty shops and exciting entertainment! A celebration of Grand Valley harvests, the Farmers’ Market Festival is a weekly community event series drawing an estimated 5,000 visitors per event. Comprised of farmers, artisans, vendors, musicians, and Downtown merchants and restaurants, the festival atmosphere attracts local and regional visitors eager to support local entrepreneurs while meeting old and new friends.

July
Thursday Farmers' Market Festival

July 4
Independence Day Parade

The annual Independence Day Parade will be held at 6pm starting at 9th and Main in Downtown Grand Junction. The parade will travel down Main Street and end at 1st Street.

July 21-28
Mesa Country Fair

Annual celebration of the county, its residents, community and history. The Fair creates an environment that promotes the diversity of the area and features family oriented entertainment, educational opportunities and is a showcase of local products.

August

August 13-16
41st Annual Palisade Peach Festival

Ah, peaches – soft, sweet fruit with enough juice to run down your chin when you bite into one. Come and celebrate the peach with the 41st annual Palisade Peach Festival. The festival kicks off four days of fun-filled, entertaining events and features more than 100 food, art and craft vendors, live music, a children’s area and various culinary activities. And of course, lots of Palisade Peaches.

September

Thursday Farmers' Market Festival

September 11-12
Rock Jam Music Concert

Rock your heart out at this two day outdoor music festival.

September 18-19
Pork 'n' Hops

Sample the best barbecue and brews and enjoy a wide variety of events.

September 17-20

Colorado Mountain Winefest

Wine lovers unite! Thousands make the annual pilgrimage to Palisade to sample an array of Colorado wines and participate in a variety of events including workshops, wine and food pairing events, dueling chefs, grape stomps, winery tours, winemaker competitions, chocolate tasting, golfing, jazz concerts and artisan vendors.

Don’t forget the bike tour of the Valley. This 25-mile bike tour of Colorado’s wine country passes through the vineyards of the Western Slope and gives cyclists and opportunity to see the area’s wineries and fruit orchards. Participants can then attend the Winefest.

September 19
16th Annual Tour of the Vineyards

Come join us for a great great way to celebrate the start of fall, by joining in this bicycle tour of Colorado’s Wine Country. This 25-mile ride through the vineyards of the Western Slope (on paved roads with a few hills) gives cyclists an opportunity to pass by the area’s wineries, as well as acres of fruit orchards, located in the Grand Valley prior to the Colorado Mountain Winefest “Festival in the Park”.

September 26
Downtown Car Show

Main Street rumbles with the sound of hundreds of motors as participants pour into Downtown Grand Junction for the 7th Annual Fuoco Motor Company Downtown Car Show. Hundreds of modern and antique vehicle owners attend the show to enjoy a full schedule of activities, entertainment and demonstrations. Both car owners and spectators from all over the Western United States visit with each other, talk cars, and participate in a friendly competition for great prizes.

September 26-27
Air Show! Western Colorado

Barn stormers, stunt pilots and areal flying formation all in the mild fall weather of the Grand Valley.

October

October 31
Downtown Spooktacular Parade

Downtown Grand Junction becomes the place to be in town for Halloween fun. Dressed from head-to-toe in scary, creative or just plain adorable costumes, kids of all ages fill 6th Street for the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including face painting, entertainment, pumpkin and cookie decorating and a costume parade. This is an event for ages 11 and under.

November

November 27
Downtown Wells Fargo Tree Lighting

In the manner of Times Square, the Wells Fargo Christmas Tree and the rest of Main Street light up to officially kick off the holiday season in Downtown Grand Junction. The tree, located in front of Wells Fargo Bank, 359 Main Street, is lit when Santa arrives to welcome the holiday season and shoppers to Downtown Grand Junction.

December

December 5
Winter Festival

Main Street hums with more acitivty and music as holiday shoppers fill specialty stores searching for gifts and local non-profit organizations line the sidewalks ready to sell hot drinks and tasty snacks to weary buyers and those lined up for the best viewing places for that evening’s Parade of Lights. The Winter Festival begins at 1 p.m. and provides local non-profits with an opportunity to raise money with bake-sale type activities.

December 5
Parade Of Lights

The community gathers on Main Street and celebrates the holiday season with colorful floats, marching bands and Christmas lights. The perfect way to experience some holiday cheer.

December 11, 2009, from 5 – 9 p.m
Spirit Of Christmas Walk

An enchanted evening event, the Spirit of Christmas Walk is a wonderful night of old-fashioned caroling, visits with Santa, shopping and snacking. Dine in any of our fine Downtown restaurants and view the beautiful Holiday Downtown lights and festive window displays. Vote for your favorite window in seven Downtown restaurants.

The Spirit of Christmas Walk features live entertainment on Main Street, a strolling Santa Claus and extended shopping hours with participating merchants who traditionally offer holiday cookies and warm beverages.

Happy New Year 2009 From the Wine Country Inn

The old year dies and we face the new year, as though it were an entity, new as a newborn babe...Yet all our yesterdays are summarized in our now, and all the tomorrows are ours to shape... and new years is neither an end or a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. --Hal Borlund.

Good luck and a Happy and Prosperous 2009 from the owners and staff of the Wine Country Inn.

CellarTracker Reviews of Colorado Wine

As the saying goes, "Everyone's a critic," especially in these days of democratic web site reviews. We can all voice our opinions on Amazon, Trip Adviser, Rotten Tomatoes and thousands of other sites. We can bloviate on blogs, fulminate on Facebook and wax episodic on YouTube. (Think "Leave Britney alone!")

So it is no small relief to find an online community dedicated to quality feedback. Such is the case with a great web site called Cellar Tracker, which is chock a block with relevant, member generated critiques of various vintages of wine. Grand Junction and Palisade wines have a healthy presence.

These honest, informed opinions are one of many reasons we'll be returning to Cellar Tracker from time to time to see what others are saying about Colorado wine.

Check it out for yourself here.

2008 Stories We Should Have Covered #1

The Wine Country Inn Covered in the New York Times
Not surprisingly, the Number One Story of 2008 we should have covered was the fooferaw surrounding the New York Times October coverage of Palisade and the Wine Country Inn. We mentioned it in passing, but never posted the article itself. The story was picked up by The Boston Globe, the Denver Post and countless other newspapers, magazines and blogs around the U.S. and the world.

Granted, the Wine Country Inn's mention is a passing one --but hey!-- every little bit of coverage helps. Grand Junction TV station KJCT 8 summarized the phenomenon best.

Under the headline, "New York Times Calls Palisade Rising Star in Wine Industry," KJCT 8 wrote:

"An article published Sunday in The New York Times titled "Biking Colorado's Wine Country", shines a national spotlight at Palisade's wine making industry, calling it a, "...rising star in the wine-making universe."

"The author, Stefeni Jackenthal, wrote she was, "intrigued by the idea of checking out the area," after sampling some the state's wine."

"Jackenthal toured area wineries on her bike and visited some of the peach orchards. The author describes the Grand Valley as having great views and spectacular weather."

"The article gives Palisade and it's growing wine industry national notoriety and may increase tourism in the area."

You can read the rest of the NYT article here. (You may need a free online subscription to view the story. But signing up is pretty easy).