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Location and Climate
Our vineyard is located in the
Grand Valley of the Western Slopes of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains. While at first this
may seem an odd place to grow grapes, upon
closer inspection the location and climate
actually make this an ideal grape growing area.
The combination of high altitude (4,720 ft),
hot, dry summers and cool nights give us the
excellent growing conditions. At almost a mile
above sea level, Garfield Estates has another
unique advantage. At this elevation, the sun is
very intense, resulting in higher quality
grapes, rich in color and high in acid
content.
Soil
The Soils at Garfield Estates
Vineyard are excellent for cultivating vines and
provide unique qualities to the grapes. The
soils are primarily comprised of a fine sandy
clay loam and are rich in mineral content. Soils
are predominately made from the Mancos shale
formation, which is one of the major formations
forming Mt. Garfield along with the overlying
Mesa Verde sandstones. It is the Mesa Verde that
contributes the sandy quality to the soil. These
soils are ideal for the Grand Valley
grape-growing climate. They are deep and retain
moisture well, which is an advantage in our warm
dry climate.
The Varietals of Garfield
Estates
Upon purchasing the farm that
became Garfield Estates, Jeff and Dave planted
11 acres of grapes, mostly Sauvignon Blanc and
Syrah. Smaller quantities of Viognier, Muscat
Ottonel and Semillon were also planted. The
niche they are carving out is premium
Rhone-style varietal wines. Jeff and Dave have a
strong belief that these varietals are
well-suited to the unique micro-climate and
terroir found in Palisade, Colorado. They
believe their most outstanding wine so far has
been their Fumé Blanc, which combines the
intense tropical and citrus fruit flavors of
Sauvignon Blanc with the rich and creamy
characteristics of many Chardonnays. Great U.S.
wineries such as Robert Mondavi first pioneered
the Fumé Blanc style, which is made from the
Sauvignon Blanc grape. We’re just taking Fumé
Blanc to a higher level, one that shows off the
unique characteristics only possible with
Colorado-grown grapes.
 Currently, Garfield Estates
is making six wines ---- Vin Rosé, Fumé Blanc,
S2 (a white table wine made from a Sauvignon
Blanc/Semillon blend) Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and
a Vin de Glace dessert wine.
Following is a brief
description of the grape varieties planted at
Garfield Estates:
Viognier: Long revered
and one of the most coveted white grape
varietals in the Rhone Valley in France,
Viognier is quickly being discovered in the U.S.
Viognier grapes are deep yellow with beautiful
floral aromas of apricot, peaches and
blossom.
Muscat-Ottonel: This is
an experiment for Garfield Estates. Jeff and
Dave want to see how well Muscat does in
Colorado’s climate. They will blend it with
their Sauvignon Blanc so that the fruity
character of the Muscat grape shines through
with full, luscious flavors.
Semillon: This
much-overlooked grape is traditionally blended
with Sauvignon Blanc to make a dry white wine
that can range from medium to full body and
flavor intensity, with an aroma of ripe apricots
or peaches.
Sauvignon Blanc: With
hints of citrus and bright melon fruit flavors,
this variety can be made into a great light
wine, perfect for a hot afternoon when served
chilled. Sauvignon Blanc is often blended with
Semillon and it has a heavy oak essence with
tropical fruit flavors.
Syrah: Currently the
most popular grape variety worldwide, Syrah has
garnered critical acclaim for its balance and
complexity. Syrah produces a spicy, aromatic
wine best associated with the wines of northern
Rhone and Australia (where it is known as
Shiraz). This full-flavored grape is known for
producing strong, sturdy wines of deep purple
color, capable of aging for many
years.
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