COLORADO’S GARDEN OF EDEN
By Corinne J. Brown
Editor's Note: To the Readers: It is not premature to start thinking of Spring, Summer and Fall. Space is this valley is at a premium. Plan ahead.
Ann Terry Hill
If you’re thinking about summer travel (and who isn’t), consider the pleasures of of agri-tourism, especially in Colorado’s lush fruit-growers’ paradise, Palisades. Located in Grand Valley in southwestern Colorado, Palisades is known world-wide for its wineries and orchards, especially peaches, the epitome of summer; rosy, fragrant and bursting with flavor. The very thought of that first juicy bite sets most mouths watering.
Here in this Rocky Mountain version of the Garden of Eden, warm days and cool nights produce spectacular varieties of peaches and other fruits like cherries, apricots, plums, pears, and grapes, all with superlative taste. Colorado’s wine industry is evident by the several vineyards and distilleries that dot the valley, celebrated each September by a two-day wine festival each September that draws vintners and wine lovers from around the world. ( www.coloradowinefest.com)
In particular, Grande River Vineyards proved memorable—from the dazzling rows of specialized grapes to the fragrant vats and barrels, we learned everything you need to know about the vintner’s art. A highlight is their extraordinary “ice wine” made from grapes left on the vine until the first frost, resulting in an incomparable flavor. Owner Naomi Shepherd Smith and her husband Stephen are long-time residents with a love for the land and a passion for the art of wine making. They’ll make you feel like family. (www.granderiverwines.com,970-464-5867)
August comes to life with the Palisade Peach Festival, a legendary bacchanal in its 43rd year. For family members of all ages, entertainment abounds, but food is celebrated at it creative best. (August 16-19th, 2012.) Local restaurants focus on peach cuisine, vying to outdo one another for original and tasty innovation. For something truly memorable, consider “Feasts In The Fields,” dinners actually served in local orchards, combining the art of cuisine with those heady Palisade peaches and other local produce. Each course, naturally, is paired with Palisade wines.
Kids will love the Peach Festival parade, the annual Lions Club Pancake breakfast (with peach toppings, of course), a recipe contest, and Peach Cuisine with Colorado Chefs, a grand tradition started five years ago where local chefs are invited to make food presentations.The spirited Peach Pit Pitching and Peach Eating Contest are just some of the other events in the line-up. Hiking, bike tours, river floats, picnicking in scenic Riverbend Park, and self-guided or guided tours of the area offer additional recreation. Slather on the sunscreen and come armed with an appetite.
According to Dixie Burmeister, a Palisade journalist, “the Peach Festival is one of the town’s most loved events. The peach recipe contest has been drawing generations of families. Often, the youngest members are taught to carry on the cherished tradition.”
Numerous types of peaches are available throughout the season, from the early varieties that peak from mid-July through mid August, to the late summer crop. There’s even a late fall bumper crop available through October 15th. Keep in mind, all varieties can be stored for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator, but many are grown and marketed only in Palisade, reason enough to make the trip.
If you go:
By car, Palisades is a straight shot west on I-70 approximately four hours from Denver, or 65 miles west of Glenwood Springs. It nestles at the mouth of DeBeque Canyon on the Colorado River, with the famed 6600 foot high Book Cliffs and 10,000 foot Grand Mesa rising to either side. Or, you might take the California Zephyr railway from Denver straight to Grand Junction. Above all, do not miss the majestic Colorado Monument in Fruita, majestic plateau and canyon country offering unparalleled views. Founded as a national park in 1911, its 32 square miles make for great hiking and photographic opportunities.
Palisades itself is homegrown warmth and attitude. Its historic downtown area is a perfect base to capitalize on local agricultural tours any time through the summer. Each orchard, (numbering 75 in all) or winery (19), provides a unique sensory and learning experience, including exposure to organic farming, community supported agriculture, and the glory of locally stocked fruit stands, to name a few.
Tours of no less than 15 wineries, distillery, and brewery operations illustrate the fundamentals of craftsmanship and the basics of beverage making. Suncrest Orchard also raises alpacas, a unique kind of livestock whose wool is also woven on the premises. Orchard, farm, and vineyard tours are an ideal way to explore the great outdoors and appreciate nature. Advance reservations recommended.
Accommodations vary from elegant bed and breakfasts (seven in all) to the new 80-room Wine Country Inn built right into the vineyards. Campground and RV parks also are an option. Additional lodging is available in either Clifton, 7 miles away, or, for the best availability at affordable pricing, Grand Junction, 12 miles from Palisade. For more information call Palisade Chamber 970-464-7458 or go to www.visitgrandjunction.com, 970-256-4060.
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