Frequently Asked Questions

17. Wine from Colorado?

1. Many people are surprised and delighted to discover that Colorado is wine country and the industry has been steadily growing for twenty years. The mistaken belief is that Colorado is too cold for growing grapes. In parts of Colorado that is true--can you imagine growing grapes in Vail or Aspen? However, the geographic area of the Grand Valley is unique.

   Protected by the Bookcliffs, including beautiful Mount Garfield, on one side and the Grand Mesa on another, grapes thrive in the cool winter and hot summer climate. Merlot, Chardonnay and many French hybrids do well and the calcaceous soil imparts a special regional flavor to the wines. Taste to believe!

17. Why do I get a headache when I drink wine?

1. There are multiple answers to this question and any one of them may be the cause of your headache. The first and most simple is over-indulgence in wine which leads to dehydration and then to headaches. Other reasons include physical reaction to tannins (which are the mouth-drying bitter flavors in wine, tea and other foods) from the grape skins or oak barrels, an allergic reaction to the sulfite or histamines in wine, or a reaction to residual pesticides used on the grapes. If wine gives you headaches try well-made high-quality wines that are lighter bodied and have little or no oak contact.

17. How should I store wine at home?

1. This depends on how long you intend to store the wine. For short periods of time the major concerns are temperature and light. Store the bottles away from strong light (out of the sun) and in an area that has fairly constant temperature (not to exceed 75ºF). Drastic temperature swings are more dangerous than a higher but constant temperature. Long term storage of wine presents similar concerns including keeping a near constant temperature (ideally between 55-60ºF), relatively high humidity ( near 75%), and protection from light and isolation from vibration.

17. Should I chill red wine?

1. If you want to! Most red wines in the US are served too warm. 60-65ºF is ideal for all red wine, that's "cellar temperature". If you like it colder than that, select lighter bodied wines like Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, simple Rhones, Cabernet Franc and Loire Valley Reds for chilling. The best way to chill a wine is to put it in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes. Please don't put ice cubes in the class, unless of course your drinking a Sangria.

17. How long can I keep wine once I have opened the bottle?

1. The easiest thing to do is simply re-cork the bottle, put it in the fridge and drink it within a day or two. It takes a week or so for wine to really start going bad. Letting a bottle sit out for a few days will not ruin it. However, after a few days a wine will lose its flavor and begin to go flat. The best, and most difficult, way to maintain a bottle after it's been opened is to use an inert gas that puts a protective layer between the wine and oxygen. A more practical way to keep your better wines for a few days is to use a pump (that we sell in our gift shop) that removes the oxygen from the bottle.