CAVE Board of Directors
VinCO is the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology's annual conference that brings experts from across the state and around the country to talk about pertinent issues of the wine industry. I learned about a wide variety of topics including recent legislative and policy issues that affect the industry, the challenges of purchasing grapes, and research on developing grape hybrid varietals that are better suited to fluctuations in climate.
Sparkling Wine Tasting
Each day we got the opportunity to taste wines for different reasons. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it! The first day we tasted Rieslings and Cabernet Francs from Colorado and other winemaking regions in order to benchmark Colorado wines to those areas that historically are known for these varietals. We were led through a very detailed chemical analysis of each of the wines and evaluated each based on how they were made and the climate of each region. Colorado's wines were definitely on par with the wines from the other regions.
We also had a panel discussion and tasted sparkling wines and still wines made from cold-hearty hybrid varietals. Sparkling wine is in high demand here in Colorado and across the country and several wineries are making excellent wines. I particularly liked Sauvage Spectrum's Sparklet; this sparkling rose exhibited strawberry on the nose and palette, along with hints of lime and lychee. This wine would pair very well with a charcuterie board or lighter fare. Carboy Winery's Petite Pearl had an herbaceous nose, bright cherry and blackberry flavors, and smooth, well-balanced tannins. This wine would pair well with a wide variety of foods due to its versatility.
Winery of the Year Award Presentation to Sauvage Spectrum
My favorite part of VinCO was getting to meet winemakers, winery owners, grape growers, educators, and other movers and shakers in the industry. I got to reconnect with old friends, and meet new ones. It was inspirational to hear stories about how people started their businesses, how they have adapted through challenging times, and their plans for the future. I look forward to sharing these stories with you.
Cheers,
Sarah
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