As part of my Looking Back blog series, today I’m sharing my last-minute vacation visiting Colorado Wine Country in Grand Junction and Palisade, Colorado. My husband and I took an extended weekend trip this week four years ago – and while some may question the timing given how hot it tends to be at this time of year, we found it to be a great time to enjoy the wine (and other beverages) this area of Colorado has to offer.
When you think of wine, Colorado is probably not a locale that would come to mind. But thanks to some strategic advertising on Hulu, we learned about this area and made it a point to add it to our “potential nearby vacation spots” list.
Grand Junction
We started our weekend in Grand Junction, meeting up for coffee with a friend downtown before heading out into the country side to a smattering of wineries nearby. Since the vineyards here are spread out and we were driving, we didn’t visit all of the ones open, but rather took a scenic route out and back that would take us to a few close by.
Palisade
The next day we started at our hotel, The Wine Country Inn – a lovely hotel and winery close to the heart of downtown Palisade. Our goal for the day was to do a walking tour of the wineries, brewery & meadery nearby so that we could fully enjoy our tasting experience responsibly.
Pro-tips when visiting Colorado Wine Country on foot:
If you’re going during the summer as we did, pack lots of water. And no matter what time of year, consider carrying one sturdy backpack per person so that you can bring back a bottle from all of you favorite locations, too!
Our recommended walking tour order, leaving the Inn:
- Varaison Vineyards and Winery
- Palisade Brewing Company
- Peach Street Distillery (try the Bloody Mary with the jalapeno-infused vodka!)
- De Beque Canyon Winery
- Meadery of the Rockies
- Plum Creek Cellars
- Talon Winery / St. Kathryn Cellars
- Grand River Vineyards
- and finally, returning to The Wine Country Inn for dinner, wine and a swim in the outdoor pool!
Enjoying my “Looking Back” series? Over the past few years, my love for both hiking and travelling has increased almost exponentially, and I’ve been fortunate to have had so many opportunities to travel recently. With the current health crisis, our travel plans for 2020 were scuttled; so I decided I’d take some time over the next few months to write this “Looking Back” series, where I dive into a recap of some of my favorite trips over the last few years. Click the navigation below to read more.