I started Garfield Estates Vineyard & Winery 10 years ago this month. Coincidentally we are also relaunching our new website this month with this blog included, so reflecting on the first 10 years seemed like a fitting first blog.
Well, I guess the first thing to acknowledge is its hard to believe its been 10 years!!! I'd love to say everything has gone just as planned, but that would assume I actually had a plan. In reality all I had was a passion to make wine and enough money to get in trouble. But all things considered things have gone pretty well. Our vineyards are healthy and thriving, our wines have been well received by the market and we have continued to educate consumers on the wonderful potential our region represents.
So what were my biggest surprises, hmmmmm, well I guess there were a few. First, don't let anyone ever tell you growing grapes is easy!! They are like children, when they are young they take an ENORMOUS amount of work. The first three years are very challenging, once you get past that things get a little easier. Second, I underestimated how stubborn some people can be about wines if they aren't from Napa or some other rock star wine region. As a major wine nut I have always been open to trying new intersting wines from odd places. I can still remember the first time I tried a wine from Uraguay, pretty good stuff. I have always looked at wine as empirical, its either good or bad, who cares where it is from! But alas, many people just can see it. Those are the same people that only buy brand names or like to name drop about what labels they wear. So what about good surprises, well I still cannot get over how faboulous the Grand Valley and Palisade are. After 10 years I still love every sunrise and sunset, it really is the best kept secret in Colorado!
So in closing, its been a great 10 years. The wines and the winery are wonderful and I thank every single one of you that has helped us get this far. Can't wait for the next 10 years!!!
| < Prev |
|---|
