Drink Colorado wine

The first aspect that is noticeable about Garrett Estates Cellars is its size. With just a 2008 and 2009 vintage under its belt, it already is growing grapes on 35 acres. With plans of adding to that total, the Olathe winery has the potential to become the largest estate winery in the state. Whether that comes to fruition, it’s a good bet this will stay a small-time family operation.

The Garretts keep much of the operation in house. Dad David does growing, daughter Michelle, the accounting, and daughter Monique English helps with the winemaking, mom Pam does the billing and serves as resident mastermind, and son Mitch spends his days driving east and west, north and south, getting the wines on as many shelves as possible.

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The estate grows riesling, chardonnay, pinot gris, gurwertzimner, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. The 2008 whites and a merlot rosé have been released, while the reds will come out sometime close to winter.

The plans are even bigger for Garret Estates, which doesn’t have a proper tasting room on the property. The family has scoped land near Montrose, about 30 minutes away, to build a tasting room on highway 50. In the meantime, they have their wines available for tasting at The Garden Center,  a small bistro in Delta. If things go according to plan, there could be another few dozen acres of grapes in the works, which would not only make Garrett Estate potentially the largest estate vineyard, but also one of the biggest growers, period.

To think this all started in Vermont, with maple trees. Yup, David Garrett worked at a Vermont U.S. Forestry Lab in the 1970s, testing and researching maple sugar. Some years later, as with what happens to many northeasterners, the lure of the West pulled them to Colorado in the early 1990s, first to Cortez before settling in Olathe.  Since pine and hardwood landscape trees didn’t grow on the property, the Garretts turned to grapes.

The vineyard was planted in 2003 and the family waited patiently for the vines to mature to a respectable age before starting on harvest No. 1.

Best wine from the winemakers: 2008 Riesling “Our Riesling is an off dry with delightful floral notes and crisp clean flavors … apple and pear,” says Mitch Garrett, who sells the family wine.

Award highlights:

• Bronze, 2008 chardonnay, 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
• Silver, 2008 cabernet franc, 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

Prices: $11-$15

Tasting rooms:

• The Garden Center, 1970 Main St., Delta, 970.9009
• Private tours in Olathe available, call 970.901.5919

Garrett Estates Cellars, 970.901.5919 | Facebook

Review:

• 2008 chardonnay
  
• 2008 pinot gris

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