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Statewide wine tasting event brings business and wine lovers to Grand Valley

Wineries all across the state took place in the second annual wine tasting event, Wine around Colorado. This is good news for our expanding wine country right here on the Western Slope.

Events like this one really bring the area notoriety. The wineries are always ready to show what the Grand Valley has to offer when it comes to wine.

Scott Hamilton is the owner of Red Fox Cellars in Palisade, he said it’s a growing industry that centers right here on the Western Slope.

“The more people that taste Grand Valley wines, I think they’re impressed with what we’re doing here,” he added.

Red Fox consider themselves the new guys in town, opening in late 2014.

Hamilton brewed both beer and wine, but then decided to focus more on the wine.

“Beer didn’t turn out so good, but the wine did turn out pretty good,” he explained.

Taking part in the statewide wine tasting event brings his wine and others to the spotlight.

“It’s charming; We have 20 plus wineries in a 10 mile radius. People need to know that we make some good wines over here,” he said.

Diana Tarasiewicz is the Retail Operation Assistant Manager for Talon Wine Brands, she said, “It’s wonderful to be able to introduce our local wines to a larger audience.”

In 2012– the state of Colorado saw 24.8 million dollars in wine sales.

It’s a booming business- that puts the Grand Valley on the map, boosting tourism and revenue.

“This is sort of the fruit belt of Colorado. We can grow so many wonderful fruits and grapes and so it’s just great for the industry.”

The two wineries did things a little differently. Red Fox gave out samples of two wines directly from the barrels themselves. While Meadery of the Rockies, which is one of the Talon Wine brands, did them out of tasting bottles.

Over 30 wineries across the state participated in this event.