Press Room

Press for the Colorado Mountain Winefest

Art Chosen to Represent Colorado Winefest Events – January 23, 2012 - The public voted, and the art representing the 2012 Winefest events is chosen. "Red, White and Fruit" by Gary Hauschulz of Palisade, Colo., will represent the Colorado Urban Winefest in Denver, June 9, 2012, and the Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Sept. 13-16, 2012. Read the press release...

Colorado Wine Industry Aims High – October 10, 2011 - www.palatepress.com

From the Denver/Boulder area, the Grand Valley AVA of Colorado is past the Continental Divide on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The trip westward on Interstate 70, which winds through canyons that the word "pcturesque" struggles to describe... Read the press release...

Colorado Mountain Winefest: Grand tasting in Palisade's Riverbend Park – September 26, 2011 - www.examiner.com

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. Read the press release...

Enstrom Chocolates and Palisade Wines: the quintessential Colorado pairing – September 24, 2011 - www.examiner.com

Chocolate and wine: what's not to love? There was a lot to love last Friday night, September 16, at the Enstrom's Chocolate & Wine Tasting at the 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest. Read the press release...

"What grows together goes together": Boulder's SALT at Winefest – September 23, 2011 - www.examiner.com

While "Kevin and Evan" may sound like a vaudeville act, they are in fact two talented wine and food professionals whose true art lies in their ability to create xceptional farm-to-table meals using locally grown ingredients. Read the press release...

Colorado Mountain Winefest: Lunch with the state enologist at Wine Country Inn – September 20, 2011 - www.examiner.com

There's something almost magical about sitting in the shadow of Mt. Garfield and the Book Cliffs in Colorado Wine Country, surrounded by Merlot grapes on the vine, having lunch with a few fellow wine-lovers, and learning about food and wine pairings from the Colorado State Enologist Steve Menke. Read the press release...

Winefest uncorks bubbly crowd – September 18, 2011 - The Daily Sentinel

Early-morning rain and threatening skies didn't stop throngs of wine lovers from spending Saturday in the park during the 2011 Colorado Mountain Winefest. Read the press release...

Recreation and Education Surround the 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest – September 6, 2011

The 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest is nearly here with festivities beginning Sept. 15 and wrapping up Sept. 18. The highlight of the four-day event is Saturday's (Sept. 17) Festival in the Park in Palisade's Riverbend Park, which features Colorado wines and winemakers, live jazz, grape stomping, chef demonstrations and more. Read the press release...

Resaurant News Rockies (page 3) – September 2011, Restaurant News Rockies

Destination: Palisade, Colorado – September 2011, Salt Lake City Magazine

Unusual Weather Impacts Colorado Vineyards – August 8, 2011

The Colorado wine industry is growing, but the weather has a major impact on the vineyards' crop. This spring's late freezes in Western Colorado (April 27-May 1) resulted in some crop reduction, and a more humid and rainy summer creates more challenges in the vineyard. Read the press release...

Wine Festival Etiquette - How to get the most out of this season's wine festivals – June 2, 2011

Wine festivals are a sure sign of summer and fall. Wine festivals aren't stuffy wine tastings, but fun-filled festivals with tents of wine, grape stomping and music. So, what's the etiquette when attending wine festivals full of wine and activities? Read the press release...

Boulder, Colo., Executive Chef and Beverage Manager to Headline 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest – April 6, 2011

Executive Chef Kevin Kidd and Beverage Manager Evan Faber of SALT in Boulder, Colorado, will headline the chef demonstrations at the 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Colorado. Read the press release...

Artwork Chosen for 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Colo. – March 15, 2011

The artwork commemorating the 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Colo., (Sept. 15-18, 2011) has been chosen. Artist Patricia Carroll of Woodland Park, Colo., won the contest with her oil on canvas piece “Colorado Nectar.” Read the press release...

20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest September 15-18, 2011 – (Vocus/PRWEB) March 15, 2011

Thousands of wine lovers make the annual pilgrimage to Palisade, Colorado, to sample a growing array of Colorado wines and participate in a variety of events, including winery tours, chef demonstrations, V.I.P. events and more. Read the press release...

Visit Grand Junction wine country, stop in Glenwood Springs on way – September 21, 2010

For once I wasn’t biking up the hill en route to the vineyards and orchards in Palisade in the 90-degree heat, and that was OK by me. See the article...

Among Winefest’s most valuable contributions: knowledge – September 21, 2010

Hundreds of people lined up Saturday morning for Colroado Mountain Winefest events. The festival at Riverbend Park is the most popular event of the Winefest weekend lineup.

Wineries from across the valley poured sample glasses and chefs were on hand to teach people how to cook with wine. See the article...

Risks pay off for amateur winemakers – September 20, 2010

The first batch of wine Rocky Hutson ever made was not his finest.

“You could’ve peeled paint with it,” he said.

Five years after picking up the hobby of amateur winemaking, Hutson took home a gold medal for his 2009 Peach Port... See the article...

Hundreds Attend Colorado Mountain Winefest
Saturday in the Park Draws Big Crowds Saturday – September 18, 2010

The 2010 Colorado Mountain Winefest might just be memories to the thousands of wine lovers who flocked to seminars, winemakers dinners and the ever-popular Saturday Festival in the Park, but it’s more than that. See the article...

Thousands Pour Into Colorado Winefest – September 18, 2010

Thousands pour in to the Grand Valley for the 19th annual Colorado Mountain winefest.

Fifty-six booths featured wines from throughout the state; almost half of them medal winners making it one of the most successful winefests yet. See the article...

Getting ‘winey' in Palisade – September 17, 2010

This weekend, Palisade hosts the 19th annual Colorado Mountain Winefest, Colorado's oldest and largest wine festival. See the article...

Winefest makes a strong start – September 16, 2010

Hotels and restaurants quickly filled up with travelers from all across the country who are coming to Colorado's 19th annual Winefest this weekend. Thousands of wine lovers make the trip every year to the western slope to sample a growing array of Colorado wines. See the article...

Colorado Homes & Lifestyles: A Wine Lover's Pilgrimage – September/October 2010

WARM DAYS AND COOL NIGHTS ON THE WESTERN SLOPE - plus elevations that don't exceed 5,000 feet - make an ideal setting for growing grapes. To celebrate the harvest, ead to Palisade September 16-19 for the Colorado Mountain Winefest. See the article...

Taste-Trotting: Palisade – Denver Magazine, September 2010
A Gourmand’s guide to road-tripping in the Rockies.

Everyone knows the pint-sized town of Palisade for its peaches, but the town of just 2,500 people is also home to cherries, apricots, pears, and grapes. With the abundance of fruit, it’s fitting that this fertile region plays host to the Colorado Mountain Winefest. Every September, winemakers from around the state descend on Riverbend Park to pour their latest releases for thousands of attendees. More...

Better Homes & Gardens: 5 to-try fall wine festivals – September 2010

Colorado Mountain Winefest (September 16-19) Kelly Liken of Vail (you saw her on Iron Chef America and Top Chef D.C.) will be the headline chef for this festival, high in the Rocky Mountain town of Palisade. She'll participate in demonstrations, seminars, and V.I.P. events throughout the weekend. See the article...

New wine ferments for festival - Daily Sentinel, September 15, 2010

High Country Orchards co-owner Theresa High will introduce her first wine this weekend at Colorado Mountain Winefest.

High has been in the peach and cherry business on East Orchard Mesa for years, but she said she always dreamed of having a vineyard and a line of wines. More...

Fall Food & Wine Festivals Around the Country - September 13, 2010

It's harvest season and that means it's time to eat, drink and celebrate. We rounded up five destinations with a bounty of food and drink festivals you don't want to miss. More...

Colorado Mountain Winefest receives accolades from national magazine - September 7, 2010

PALISADE, Colo. (KKCO) - In the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, the Colorado Mountain Winefest is named one of the "5–to–try Fall Wine Festivals" in the country. More...

Celebrate the State: Colorado Mountain Winefest - September 2, 2010

Over the years, I’ve attended many high-end wine and food festivals, including the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Taste of Vail, Auction Napa Valley, and the Oregon International Pinot Noir Celebration. Last year, I had the pleasure of attending the Colorado Mountain Winefest for the first time and can say, unequivocally, that our state’s wine festival beats all the others in terms of friendliness, accessibility, and homegrown fun. More...

Wine Events for all Tastes Surround the 19th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest – September 1, 2010

PALISADE, Colo. (Sept. 1, 2010) – The 19th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Colo., is best known for its sea of Colorado wineries during the Festival in the Park (Sept. 18). ). But the Colorado Mountain Winefest has something for everyone’s tastes, from cooking demonstrations and seminars to bicycle tours and golf. See the article...

Luxe: Colorado Mountain Winefest – Summer 2010

9.16 COLORADO MOUNTAIN WINEFEST - This four-day event invites oenophiles to sample an array of Colorado wines while participating in a variety of actiivities, including a Reidel wine tasting with Maximilian Riedel. See the article...

Colorado Mountain Winefest Boasts 56 Wineries to Attend: Most wineries at Festival in the Park celebration in 19-year history – August 16, 2010

PALISADE, Colo. – As the name suggests, the Colorado Mountain Winefest is full of wonderful Colorado wines from wineries across the state. This year is no exception with 56 Colorado wineries attending the Saturday, Sept. 18, Festival in the Park. More...

Desert Living Today: Wanna Getaway? – August 11, 2010

Planning a trip to Colorado this fall? If so, why not head up on Saturday, September 18 and attend a famed wine festival on us? Yes, we’ve got four tix to the Colorado Mountain Winefest’s Saturday Wine Festival in the Park and we know you’re dying to go! Read more...

Chefs to cook up presentations at upcoming Winefest - July 29, 2010

Four chefs will demonstrate cooking techniques during various events scheduled for the upcoming Colorado Mountain Winefest in the Grand Valley. more...

Colorado Mountain Winefest Announces Celebrity Chef Events and Demonstrations – July 20, 2010

PALISADE, Colo. – The 19th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest has an afternoon full of chef demonstrations presented by Viking during Saturday’s Festival in the Park (Sept. 18 – Riverbend Park, Palisade, Colo.). More...

Colorado Mountain Winefest Announces Headlining Chef – June 15, 2010
Kelly Liken of Restaurant Kelly Liken, Vail, Colo., headlines 19th annual event

PALISADE, Colo. – Colorado Mountain Winefest is proud to announce its celebrity chef as Kelly Liken of Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail, Colo. Liken will participate in chef demonstrations, seminars and V.I.P. events during the Sept. 16-19 festivities. More...

Mesa County Bounty – March 24, 2010

By Dale McDonald - From alfalfa to zucchini, this high western valley produces an astonishing array of goods. More...

Winefest is making most of popularity of social networking – March 24, 2010

The Colorado Mountain Winefest is making the most of the surging popularity of social media by updating its Web site and increasing its public outreach through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

The new Web site, said Elaine Matthews with the marketing firm Ryan, Sawyer & Whitney of Grand Junction, not only is more user-friendly but it also allows guests to purchase Winefest tickets, find updated schedules and explore the many events planned for the Sept. 16–19 event. More...

Aurora couple's wines have locals buzzing – March 21, 2010

AURORA, Colo. (AP) - It was two years ago when Ron Scovil's neighbor offered him a glass of homemade mead, the ancient honey-based brew popular with Vikings. From that moment on, Scovil was hooked. "It was one of the best drinks I have had in my life, it was like 100-year-old Scotch kind of quality," he said.

Scovil and his wife, Monique, brewed their first batch of wine in their Aurora home later that summer -- a raspberry concoction they dubbed "the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde wine" because the tasty berry quickly gave way to overpowering and foul-tasting yeast.

Easily Connect to Colorado Mountain Winefest with New Website and Social Media – March 9, 2010

The Colorado Mountain Winefest gets a new look with a more user-friendly website. In addition, Winefest organizers now communicate directly with fans through a new Facebook Fan Page and Twitter account.

The Colorado Mountain Winefest updates its look with a more user-friendly website at www.ColoradoWinefest.com. Patrons are able to purchase tickets for the September 16-19, 2010 event, find updated schedules and learn more about the events planned for the Winefest. More...

Business Beats: Grape and Wine Association Names New Board Members and Officers – GV Business Times, January 28-February 10, 2010

The Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE) has announced its new board members and officers. They are: Neil Jaquet, Ambelos Vineyard, president; Marilyn Jensen, former Winefest director, vice president; Rainer Thoma, Vendage Vineyard & Winery Management, secretary; and Theresa High, High Country Orchards and Vineyards, treasurer. All four are from Palisade. More...

Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology Announces New Board Members – January 19, 2010

Grand Junction, CO – The Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (C.A.V.E.) announces its newest Board members and officers for 2010. More...

2009 Colorado Mountain Winefest Proves Successful – Revenue and Attendance Up in Down Market – October 29, 2009

Palisade, CO – The 18th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest held in September at Riverbend Park in Palisade, Colo., was a great success with attendance up and its gross revenue growing 6.5 percent over 2008’s festivities. Participants were able to taste wines from 53 wineries. With 84 wineries in the state, the degree of participation is substantial. More...

Director Bolstering Colorado Wine Recognition – May, 2009

Palisade, CO – As the new director of Colorado Mountain Winefest, Sarah Catlin already is orchestrating major changes in the organization that will hold its 18th annual namesake event Sept. 17-20. More...

Colorado Mountain Winefest’s Winning Art: A “Labor of Love” – 2009

Palisade, CO – The Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE) and title sponsor First National Bank of the Rockies are proud to announce the winner of the second annual Winefest Art Contest, “Labor of Love” by artist, Mary Ellen Andrews of Grand Junction. More...

Wine of the times: 'Even in a weak economy, alcohol consumption stays ... strong' – 2008

PALISADE - Even with the economic woes of the Great Depression plaguing Americans in 1933, the country still found time to repeal the prohibition of alcohol. More...

Wine Industry Group Earmarks $75,000 to Support New State Researcher – The Business Times, April 3-16, 2008

The Rocky Mountain Association of Vintners & Viticulturists has donated $75,000 over the next two years to support Steve Menke as resident state wine researcher. More...

First National Sponsors of Colorado Winefest - Rio Blanco Herald Times, March 13, 2008

First National Bank of the Rockies is proud to announce its second year as presenting sponsor of the Colorado Mountain Winefest. The Winefest is celebrating its 17th year providing thousands of wine lovers a sample of the variety of Colorado wines as well as an array of events and activities. More...

Local artist’s work corked for Winefest - Free Press, February 22, 2008

These boots are made for winos. That may or may not be thinking behind Grand Junction artist Kimmer Jepson’s winning entry for Colorado Mountain Winefest’s inaugural art contest. “It’s something different and will catch people’s eye,” said Marilyn Jensen, director of Colorado Mountain Winefest. More...

Enjoy the whole show - Daily Sentinel, 2007
If you’ve only experienced the Festival in the Park, plan to try one of these other Winefest activities next year.

Everyone knows that the party in the park on Saturday is a great time to enjoy Colorado’s wine and sunshine. In addition to the main event on Saturday, Winefest has inspired a number of other activities to enjoy all weekend at all ends of the valley. Unfortunately, some of these activities have a limited number of seats and may already be full for 2007, so if they appeal to you, there’s just one thing to remember: Save the date for 2008. Next year’s Winefest will be Sept. 18–21. Read More...

Be responsible: Are you safe to drive? - Daily Sentinel, 2007

RMAVV, a non-profit corporation, is dedicated to education of winemakers, grape growers, and introducing Colorado wines to the world. As Colorado wines gain recognition, they play an increasingly important role in the economies of both the Grand Valley and the State. The enjoyment of high quality wines is one of life’s great pleasures. The Town of Palisade and RMAVV invite you to experience this remarkable event in beautiful Riverbend Park, but we ask that you participate responsibly. Read More...

Better with age - Daily Sentinel, 2007

Sweet 16 and never been missed. It’s hard to say how many people have attended all 15 of the previous Colorado Mountain Winefests. Bet if you asked around during this year’s 16th-annual celebration, particularly during the latter stages of the rollicking Festival in the Park at Palisade’s Riverbend Park, you’d and scads of folks who’ll assure you that, “Oh, yes, I was there” for that first intimate gathering in the Palisade Town Park. Read More...

‘Kick Up Your Heels’ with the finest wines! - Daily Sentinel, 2007

Come celebrate the 16th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest, presented by First National Bank of the Rockies, September 13-16. Toast the grape harvest and raise your glass to Colorado’s finest vintages at the state’s oldest, largest and best wine festival, and the only festival held in the heart of Colorado’s wine country. Read More...