Viticulture: Colorado Wine

John Sutcliffe became a winemaker by accident, initially planting grapes for aesthetic reasons.

Colorado may seem an unlikely place to grow wine grapes, but Sutcliffe Vineyards now produces serious wines. John Sutcliffe became a winemaker by accident, initially planting grapes for aesthetic reasons. His winery outside of Cortez now has some 36 acres of organic vineyards. I enjoyed the characterful Sauvignon Blanc and the refreshing Riesling, but it was the creamy fruit of the reds that really caught my attention. The Petit Verdot in particular tasted wonderfully rich. Dunton Hot Springs serves some Sutcliffe wines at dinner, but you can also try them at the winery or in the Durango tasting room.