It's Summer Time - It's the Vail Farmers Market

Starting on Father's Day in June head to the hills and visit us at the Vail Farmers Market. We have a beautiful spot on East Meadow Drive, across from the Alpenrose restaurant and near three galleries with fabulous art. I also like the bronze sculptures that you can find near the live music performance. We are so lucky that for the past five or six years we have had the same neighbors at the market - Avon Bakery with the best bread in the valley and bagels and croissants as well. Mountain Man nuts and candy on the other side with pasta and flavored olive oils nearby. The market is open from 10:00am through 3:30pm. We are tasting 12 different wines every Sunday.

Exploring hybrid grapes

Rist Canyon Vineyards

In recent years Colorado wineries experimented with growing hybrid grapes and making wine from them. Merlot and Chardonnay, grape varieties you may be familiar with, are called vinefera grapes, traditionally used for making wine. Vinefera grapes grow well in areas where fruit trees, such as peaches and cherries, grow. In many parts of Colorado the growing season is too short and the temperatures dip too low in the winter. There are French and American Hybrids, such as Foch (red grape) and Chambourcin or Norton the premier American hybrid grape grown in Missouri. Along the Front Range some people have been busy planting vineyards and educating others to do the same. North of here there is Rist Canyon Vineyards, who recommends Foch at the elevation of 7,300 feet. Stonebridge Farms in Lyons grows Esprit, a white grape, amongst others. And Leistikow Farms in East Boulder County grows hybrid grapes and sells them to local wineries.

Try the new release of "A Touch of Red"

Two weeks ago we bottled the new release of the Touch of Red or (TOR) for insiders. I really enjoy this release, as it has a crisp finish and a very fruity nose. Just great for this hot weather we have been having. John calls it Kool-Aid with a kick when people ask what it is like. Maybe a fruit punch with a kick. The reason the TOR tastes so fruity is that 25% are held back as grape juice and 75% are fermented dry  and then both parts are blended together. I enjoy the TOR with dark chocolate or Mexican food. Make sure to chill it before you treat yourself to a glass while sitting on the porch. Enjoy!!

Jazz with your Ensemble - Saturday 6/16/12

Enjoy a five course dinner prepared by Guillermo Cassarubias from Trattoria on Pearl while listening to light jazz and drinking some fabulous wines from BookCliff Vineyards.
Date: Saturday June 16th, 2012
Time: 6:30pm
Cost: $65.00/dinner
Location: BookCliff Vineyards winery and tasting room, 1501 Lee Hill Road #17, Boulder, CO 80304
Reservations: [Click Here for Reservations] 
 Menu
1. Assortment of imported and domestic cheeses and Italian thinly sliced meats served with focaccia toast, berries and apples – Viognier 2011
2. Cioppino – Italian fisherman stew with monk fish, clams, mussels and calamari in pernod-saffron broth – Ensemble 20043. Venison stuffed home-made ravioli, seasoned with herbs de Provence, ricotta cheese and spinach in sage butter-Parmesan sauce – Ensemble 2008
4. Filet Mignon – Baked, wrapped in Italian pacetta, served with basil-mashed potatoes, asparagus and black pepper-cognac sauce – Ensemble 2010
5. Chocolate lover’s dream! rich creamy chocolate cake and Chianti raspberry sauce – Finali

Wine and Food Specials @ East Meets West on Thursday 6/7/12

Here is the fabulous menu.
Each food special is $10.00 and includes a fabulous dish from the Heirloom Food Truck and a glass of wine. The regular menu will also be available and you can buy your choice of a glass of wine for $6.00.
RSVP: [Click Here]

GRIDDLED LAMB SLIDER, MUENSTER CHEESE, RED ONION JAM

SWEET POTATO threads  $5 or 2 for

BookCliff Vineyards Reserve Syrah 2010

Spring market salad, mixed baby greens, haystack goat cheese, carrots, radish, balsamic vinaigrette

Whitewater Hill Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2009

Banh mi sandwich, braised pork belly, cucumber, pickled daikon-carrots, sweet chili mayo

BookCliff Vineyards Muscat Blanc 2010

Sautéed mushrooms, leeks, spinach, arugula,  baby red Russian kale, haystack goat cheese, pasta

Whitewater Hill Vineyards Merlot 2008