Good food connects. It brings family and friends together and attracts people to explore local businesses and communities. A delicious meal can connect us to vignettes of the past, just as it can cause us to pause in the present. Finally, good food has the power to unite us with the earth that brought it forth. Every piece of produce can be traced back to a plot of land and the hands that harvested it.
Palisade, Colorado, is renowned for producing some of the nation’s best produce. This sun-soaked valley is only four hours from the hustle and bustle of Denver. Slightly warmer temperatures and a much slower pace make Palisade the perfect autumnal weekend getaway. With a population of less than 3,000, Palisade is saturated with small-town charm. Locals, dressed in faded blue jeans and ball caps, welcome strangers as neighbors with unhurried grace.
With more than 35 wineries, it’s no secret that Palisade is a great place to connect with people over a bottle of wine. However, Palisade invites you to slow down and reconnect with yourself as well. If you need to retreat, reflect, and rest, Palisade is the perfect getaway to put on your calendar this fall.
Where to Stay: The Wine Country Inn
To get the authentic Palisade experience, book your stay at The Wine Country Inn. This charming lodge is nestled among 21 acres of vineyards and has 80 rooms designed in a Victorian farmhouse style. It’s family-owned and operated, and each member of the core management team has been there for over 10 years. Watch the sun set behind the flat-top mountains from your personal porch, or sip a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc while meandering through the lush property.
In October, your view will be a kaleidoscope of autumnal colors. “All Palisade businesses continue to thrive in the cooler months," says Saunders Stewart, the sales and event manager at Wine Country Inn, "Leaves are changing in the vineyards, which makes for an unbelievable surrounding for weddings and events.”
The Wine Country Inn takes care of your tastebuds too. They offer a complimentary afternoon wine reception that features selections of their private labels, as well as a free deluxe breakfast. Their restaurant, Caroline’s, provides dinner options that focus on local Colorado meats and produce, and the Tapestry Lounge is an excellent spot for a post-dinner cocktail. Afterward, you can work off some calories in the gym or unwind in the year-round hot tub spa.
To book your stay, visit winecountryinn.com.
Where to Drink
There are dozens of wineries, orchards, and lavender fields scattered about the 25-mile-long Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway. Bicyclists and motorists can hop on this scenic route and take their pick of delightful wineries. We chose Colterris Winery, Bookcliff Vineyards, and Meadery of the Rockies.
Colterris is the largest winery in Palisade. It’s a family-run, estate-grown winery, which means that 100% of the grapes are grown on land owned or controlled by Colterris. As Lance Lewis poured Malbec into our glasses, he explained how Palisade has the perfect conditions for growing “rich, intense, world-class fruit.” Diurnal temperatures (hot in the day, cool at night) help generate optimal sweetness, and the high altitude gives grapes thick, tannic skin.
Bookcliff Vineyards is named so because of its stunning views of the Bookcliffs—flat-topped mountains resembling bookshelves. In addition to the panoramic views, we loved this vineyard for its generous wine tastings and lively environment. Bookcliff offers ‘Sunset Saturdays’ through October. There’s live music and a food truck—we indulged in a gooey brie and jam grilled cheese from Underdog Cheese.
Finally, we ended on a sweet note at Meadery of the Rockies. You can sample unique flavors like blackberry mead, apricot honey, and lavender wine. Their honeyed offerings are the cherry on top of a day full of tastings.
Where to Play
As true for most Colorado towns, there is no shortage of outdoor activities in Palisade. Bring your pups to Riverbend Park for off-leash fun or hike the 3.3-mile out-and-back Palisade Rim Trail. U-Pick fruit is also a must. While summer in Palisade is notorious for juicy peaches, fall is the prime time to pick apples and pears. To make the experience even more immersive, we recommend riding the Fruit and Wine byway on a cruiser or electric bike from Rapid Creek Cycles. For a slower afternoon, take a stroll through downtown Palisade. The block is speckled with mom-and-pop shops and art galleries if you want to update your wardrobe or home decor.
Patrick Allen, a tasting room host at Colterris Winery and former Disney employee, moved to Palisade a few years ago. He likens the town to a mini-Sonoma or a mini-Napa and affirms that “there’s no way you could do everything in this area in a weekend.” We agree with that assessment—from vineyards and orchards to hikes and bikes, there are several ways to play during your stay in Palisade.
