January is the heart of winter here in the Grand Valley of Colorado.  Although we got a nice blanket of snow from the wave of storms around Christmas, much of it is already gone.  With lows in the teens and highs in the 40’s, afternoons are muddy in the vineyards!  Right now the snowpack is better than 100% in most areas of the Colorado Mountains.  This is important for a lot of reasons including that local fruit growers shouldn’t have any trouble watering their crops again this year.  Folks forget that we wouldn’t have much of civilization here without snowpack and the mighty Colorado River.  Anyone for a glass of wine and a snow dance?

Enclosed are your Wine Club bottles.  This month’s wines for the Dry Colorado Wine Club are:

2006 Syrah, Reeder Mesa Vineyards

Tucked up under Lands End on the Grand Mesa is Reeder Mesa Vineyards. If you have not visited this winery, it is worth the trip. Eight miles off Highway 50 in Whitewater, you can taste the wines from Doug and Kris Vogel.  Enjoy a glass of wine while sitting on the patio and view the vineyards and the wildlife.  This syrah is a hit for Reeder Mesa with rich coffee in the nose, dark chocolate and cherries, with flair of blackberries on the finish.  It is very smooth and will improve with age. 

2007 Tempranillo, Canyon Wind Cellars

Tempranillo is a variety of black grape widely grown in Spain to make full-bodied red wines.  Its name in Spanish means “early”, which refers to the fact that it ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes.  This grape has now found a home in Colorado.  Canyon Wind Cellars has used this grape to make a lighter red wine, with a nose of bright cherry, and smoke and spice on the palette.

As always, enjoy the wines in good health!

Truly,

Glenn & Natalie Foster