Get to Know Colorado's Underrated Wine Country in This Small, Peach-Loving Town

Colorado’s biggest flex may be its ski resorts/14ers/the Rocky Mountains—take your pick—but if you head west, between Mt. Garfield and the sprawling Grand Mesa, the high desert is home to an underrated wine region. Known as both the Peach Capital and the Napa Valley of Colorado, the town of Palisade is overflowing with orchards and vineyards, miles of trails for mountain biking or river rafting, and festivals hosted by the tight-knit community.

Nestled along the Colorado River with the Book Cliff formation casting down, cozy inns, modern motels, and a local brewery make for a laid-back vibe that offsets that of the other bustling mountain towns. It’s the perfect destination for Rocky Mountain wine lovers who don’t want to make the trek to Napa Valley or the Oregon coast, and a relaxing pitstop on a road trip out west.

You’ll want to map out a wine game plan because the town is home to 33 vineyards producing quality blends using uncommon grapes, like the Cabernet Franc, that you won’t find elsewhere. “It’s Colorado’s grape,” explains Juliann Adams, owner of Vines 79, “because it grows especially well in this area, taking on a vegetative taste, which is why so many of the local spots use it to really capitalize on that earthy, true, Coloradian taste.”

Before it earned the reputation of being the Napa Valley of Colorado, Palisade was an agricultural town, and they’ve got the farms to prove it. Peach shacks line the streets selling fruit fresh off the tree, as well as pies, breads, jams, salsas, ice cream, and just about every variation you can imagine. Head into the orchards to pick your own peaches, or if the furry fruit isn’t your thing, you can pet alpacas at Suncrest Orchards and explore the multitude of farms selling other fresh-off-the-tree fruits and vegetables. No matter which way you approach Palisade, just make sure to get out there this summer.

3 hours, 40 minutes from Denver
20 minutes from Grand Junction

Situated in the Grand Valley Viticultural Area, a designated wine grape-growing region, Palisade makes for the perfect playground when it comes to wine tasting. Rent an E-bike so you can check as many of the town’s 33 wineries off your list as possible, or visit during the Colorado Mountain Wine Fest to sample local blends along with the country’s best.

When it comes to soaking up all the vino, reach for a peach instead of cheese. The town is literally overflowing with the furry fruit. You’ll spot Herman Produce’s bright pink storefront as soon as you pull off of I-70 and start browsing the rows of fresh-picked produce and stock up on a few baskets to take home. Snag a basket of number 2 peaches, which sell for less and may be a little banged up but are equally lucious. Once you’ve gotten a taste of the famous Palisade peach, head over to Nana’s Fruit & Jam Shack where you can consume them in every variation possible from syrups and jams, to baked goods, or if you’re feeling spicy, try Nana’s famous Peach BBQ Sauce or Peach Habanero Fruit Conserves.

Sample Cabernet Franc and a few other classics at Vines 79 Wine Barn. The 100-year-old peach-packing barn, located in the Vinelands, plays up a Western flair with their rustic tasting room and outdoor patio.

If you really want to take your tastebuds on a trip, Sauvage Spectrum is a must. Winemaker Patric Matysiewski comes from a brewery background, which shows in the brand’s line of funky sparkling wines. Matysiewski and grapegrower Kaibab Sauvage are juicing pure creativity, challenging the industry on what Colorado wine truly is while staying true to their high desert fruit roots. On their menu you’ll find cold hearty hybrid grapes like Verona and Petite Pearl, but we’d encourage you to try something super unique like the Natural Sparkling Tasting Flight, which features funky hazy natural wines with flavors like orange rind, honeydew, and tart berry and a skin-contact Rosé.

Next, kick it into high gear above the Colorado River at Restoration Vineyards, a chic, car-themed winery with incredible views of the Grand Mesa and Bookcliff Mountains. When the owner was laid off from his job at Mercedes-Benz, he and his wife turned their passion for wine, Palisade, and restoration projects into this retirement project. You have to take home a bottle (or box) of their non-traditional red wine, Barbera—they’re one of only two vineyards to grow it and the only one to bottle it.

Biking is by far the best way to get around town whether you are cruising between wineries, along the Colorado river, or exploring the outskirts of town in the East Orchard Mesa Loop. The Palisade Fruit & Wine Byway is a great place to get a taste of it all. Separated into three different routes you’ll pass various orchards, vineyards, fresh fruit stands, and get a tour of the historic downtown. Head to Rapid Creek Cycles to rent E-bikes, beach cruisers, road bikes, mountain bikes, and for those who are really looking for a thrill, sign up for the shop’s Palisade Plunge shuttle which takes you to an elevation of 10,700 feet on top of the Grand Mesa. The famous 32-mile mountain bike trail weaves you 6,000 feet down into town offering stunning views of Palisade and Mt. Lincoln.

For sunrise hikers (if you’re not a morning person you may want to become one on this trip because the temperatures heat up fast), Mt. Garfield or the 8.8 mile Palisade Rim trail are ideal ways to start your day. And if it’s so hot that gazing at the Colorado River isn’t reprieve enough, then hop in and raft it, join a community float, rent a SUP, or get a taste of it all at their weekly paddleboard yoga sessions.

Now through September is prime time to visit Palisade while the fruit is in season and the festival season is firing away.

Kickoff summer with the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival, this weekend from June 14 to June 16, which takes place along the Colorado River and brings in some of the country’s top bluegrass artists, as well as local emerging stars, for a three-day, blazing fiddle-filled celebration.

Didn’t think Palisade could get any peachier? The annual Palisade Peach Festival (August 16-17) will prove you wrong. As you can imagine, the weekend-long event celebrates farmers and business owners that give Palisade its reputation as The Peach Capital of Colorado. Eat, drink, dance, and don’t miss the annual crowning of the Peach Queen & Peach Court.

To witness the town in all of its glory, go in mid-September for the Colorado Mountain Wine Fest, voted one of the best wine festivals in the country. Aside from the festival’s wine tastings, chef demos, and live music, this is a great time to pop into Palisade since all of the surrounding wineries have their own sets of programming, specials, music lineups, and more to celebrate this yearly event.

And, if you visit now through mid-July you’ll catch lavender season where you can go on guided tours of the farms, pick fresh bundles, and attend the annual Lavender Festival on June 29.

Not a wine lover? Not a problem. Head across the river and up the road to the mecca, Talbott’s Farmstand where you’re sure to find something to fall in love with. Since 1907, the farmstand has managed 350 acres of peaches, pressed fresh apple juice and stocked locally grown fruits, vegetables, preserves, and more in their zero-waste facility. Now operated by sixth-generation Charles Talbott, the farmstand has expanded into a Hard Cider Tap Room with an outdoor music venue and incredible lineup of hard ciders that really tip a glass to Colorado, like the Alpine Start, Rafter IPC (a take on an India Pale Cider), ColoMosa, and the Summer Sunset, canned to perfectly depict the Palisade sun setting over Mt. Garfield.

Downtown, Peach Street Distillers and Palisade Brewing Company are best in class for those seeking a non-wine option. Conveniently located on The Happiest Block in the West, the two institutions are in good company with a dispensary, winery, and tasting room all within a minute walk of each other.

When it comes to food, you can’t go wrong with casual spots like Fidel’s Cocina & Bar (order the spicy cucumber margarita) and the brewery, known for its barbecue. But, if you really want to make your trip to Palisade one to remember, a coveted reservation at Pêche. Restaurant will do just that. The owners wear their Michelin-starred background lightly. With a bustling, exposed kitchen and humble menu that turns simple ingredients into stunning dishes, Pêche. Restaurant is a must-hit for a thick loaf of sourdough bread topped with fresh Palisade heirloom tomatoes… to start.

From quaint local spots, to modern motels, and community campgrounds, there are plenty of options for every budget and traveler to lay their head after a long day of wine tasting.
After pulling off I-70 you’ll be instantly greeted by The Wine Country Inn: Palisade’s most accommodating establishment. Surrounded by vineyards, the Victorian-style hotel makes guests feel as though time has slowed down, with their rocking chair-lined patios, top-of-line-breakfast buffet, and daily complimentary wine tastings.

For a more modern stay try the Spoke and Vine Motel. Built in 1955 and renovated in 2019, the motel wins guests over with its minimalist approach and attention to detail—think locally roasted coffee, a light breakfast delivered to your door, local artists on display, and of course, a beer garden. Or for a group outing, book The Homestead, which keeps things cozy with 5 different units (ranging from a double queen room to a 2-room suite), a firepit, gazebo, and stunning mountain views.
But if you came to Palisade on a mountain biking, river rafting mission then Palisade Basecamp RV Resort or the North Fruita Desert Campground are the top spots for camping, pulling up an RV and kicking back with fellow adrenaline junkies.

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