Why You Should Travel To Palisade Even in The Off Season

Palisade isn’t just a sweet spot in the summer when vines are fresh with grapes ready to be crushed into wine. Come for a visit in the late fall or winter and find a quiet town where tasting rooms are intimate with less crowds and more interaction with owners and winemakers. Even in winter months, chances are the sun is shining on in the high desert of Palisade, so bike (or drive windows down) along country roads lined with cottage style homes, trees still shining with fall colors, and local fruit stands on your way to explore some of the 30 plus wineries in Palisade. It’s not just wine but also the outdoors and a brewery and distillery creating a nightlife scene. The scenery, just as beautiful as the Rockies, but much different in landscape, is made of high desert mesas and peaks, showing off a new kind of Colorado ready to explore.

 

Wine:

Head to the family run Mesa Park Vineyards, which is set in acres upon acres of farmland. Same dozens of red wines inside a red barn that serves as the tasting room. Paty, who runs the tasting room bakes fresh bread daily.

Check out the Q&A With Brooke here.

Meadery of the Rockies: Mead, an ancient honey wine, may have been the first alcoholic beverage ever created. Meadery of the Rockies is keeping the tradition on palettes. For a simpler and drier taste, try the King Arthur. Other top picks are the Strawberries ‘n Honey, Peaches ‘n Honey, Apricots ‘n Honey, Blackberries ‘n Honey and Chocolate Cherry Satin. Check out our Q&A with the winemaker, Brian Stevens. 

Sleep:

The Wine Country Inn, the only hotel in Palisade, is set in 21 acres of vineyards and showcases a straight on view of Mount Garfield. Find a welcoming lobby perfectly suited for wine country and bright white rocking chairs throughout the front and back patios. For dining, options run from fancy at Caroline’s to a more casual setting at Tapestry Lounge, which also has a bar serving up Palisade wines and local brews. Made to order omelets and other breakfast items are served come morning and in the evening head back for the wine happy hour for sampling and a complimentary glass. The Victorian style hotel is located right off I-70 and is walking distance from some wineries and biking distance to dozens more.

Grub/Brews/Sprits:

Distilling and brewing are also going big time in Palisade. The Palisade Brewery has everything from the Laid Back Blonde, Dirty Hippie (Dark Wheat) Off Belay (IPA) Porter of Love and a Hula Hoppie (IPA) which pair perfectly with the hula-hoops set on the patio for some added fun. For grub, Joe’s Signature Smoked Bones and the Pulled Pork Sandwich are top sellers. Don’t be surprised if you walk into Peach Street Distillers at any time of day and find half of the customers have a bloody Mary served in a mason jar spewing with celery and other veggies fermented in house.  House made sprits include a cinnamon whiskey, goat vodka and jack elope gin.

Carri’s Catch: For some time outdoors, head 24 miles West to Fruita for some of the best mountain biking in the state. Stop in the local bike shop, Over The Edge, to rent a bike and pick up a map. Riders of all levels will have a hey day on the 18 Road Trail System which covers everything from greens blues and black diamonds. One of the favorites is Kessel Loop, a one-way flowy single track built for speed with high-banked turns. For a steep climb, head up Prime Cut and connect with Front Side to climb to the top of a mesa for high top views, maybe even catch a sunset and race the daylight taking down zippity-do-da to the parking lot. Post riding, find Suds Brothers Brewery on the towns main street for a well-deserved beer.