Uncorking the Wine

Experience the uniqueness of the North Fork wines during the North Fork Uncorked festival.  On the 15th and 16th of June the wineries of the North Fork will be holding special events, dinners, and tours to showcase the quality and uniqueness of the valley. This is an opportunity for you to see the valley through the eyes of a vineyardist and winemaker. Come learn why the North Fork valley is increasingly a go-to destination for all kinds of people, including photographers, foodies, and locavores.  The wineries of the North Fork are releasing the new vintages for the season and pairing them with tidbits to highlight the pairing of local food and local wine.

Additionally, you may get to taste some vintages that may sell out before half of the summer has passed. Small batch wines that are released in June often don’t last through July. With the quality of the wines we make come unavoidable limitations on quantity, making each product even more unique and special. Come try the new releases and experience the blossoming food and wine industry during the 2013 North Fork Uncorked festival. Tour the wineries, taste the new vintages and make reservations for a winemaker’s dinner by contacting one of the following wineries:

BLACK BRIDGE AND 5680 WINERIES @ FRESH AND WYLD FARMHOUSE: Enjoy a locally grown menu right from the Fresh & Wyld Garden.  RSVP: (970.527.4374).

LEROUX CREEK INN & VINEYARDS @ THE WINERY: Dinner under the tent pairing Chambourcin and Cayuga with a 5 course French menu. 6:30 PM. RSVP: (970.872.4746).

STONE COTTAGE CELLARS @ LIVING FARM CAFE: Five course, organic, farm-to-table winemakers dinner featuring Stone Cottage Cellars current releases paired with Chef Mike Gillespie’s farm fresh, locally-grown gourmet entrees. RSVP: (970.527.3444).

A wine weekend with multiple tastings and a great dinner would not be complete without a night or two at “the Brown Palace of Paonia” - the Bross Hotel Bed and Breakfast.  Reservations can be
made online or by calling 970.527.6776.

Wine Tourism Day

The nation's first Wine Tourism Day is Saturday, May 11th.  Wineries throughout the country will be offering tastings, dinners, and other events.  Here in the Paonia/West Elks Winery area, Stone Cottage
Cellars is offering a special weekend for those who want to learn more about vineyards, wine tasting, and the pairing of wines and food.  For specifics on the package see the preceding blog post.  There are a few rooms still available for the weekend so call today to reserve your place for the weekend - 970-527-3444. 

Get Away For a Wine Weekend

Treat your mother/wife to a fantastic Mother's Day getaway and get a jump on the wine tasting season.  Stone Cottage Cellars, the Bross Hotel and the Living Farm Cafe are offering a package deal you don't want to miss.  Arrive at the Bross Hotel Friday evening, May 10 for a wine reception where you'll meet the other guests on this weekend getaway.  After a good night's rest and one of Linda's scrumptious breakfasts spend the morning exploring the area (the sheep dog trials are one possibility).  In the afternoon the Hellecksons will  educate you on wine production in the North Fork Valley and the art of wine tasting.  And, before you leave Stone Cottage Cellars you'll choose your favorite 10 bottles of wine to fill you very own case (cost included in weekend price).  Pairing wine with food will be highlighted at dinner prepared by Chef Michael of the Living Farm Cafe.  All in all, the weekend will be a special treat for that someone in your life.  Cost:  $595 per couple, plus tax and tips.  Slots are filling fast for this event so call 970-527-3444 for your reservation today. 

The Orchards Are Blooming!

Yes, the apricots trees are now flowering.  By next weekend you should be able to view the gorgeous pink blossoms of the cherries.  It's a sight you'll want to see so call today for reservations at Paonia's historic hotel.  The Bross Hotel B&B will welcome you and offer you the April discount of 30% off a two-night stay.  It's a deal -- low price and fantastic views.  Call today - 970-527-6776.

Spring is Special

Yes, spring is a special time of year.  In the North Fork Valley it is Blossom Month.  Noted for its many orchards, the valley celebrates the renewal of spring each April with the abundant blossoms that herald the growing season.  The show begins with apricot blossoms and progresses through cherries, peaches, plums, pears, and apples. 

Stay at the Bross Hotel for two nights during April and get a 30% discount on your room.  And, you can enjoy our perennial gardens.  They are coming alive now and the vibrant colors of the primroses and crocus are a welcome sight after winter.  The tulips and daffodils are up about six inches and will be blooming in April.  So come to Paonia for the blossoms and the discount.

I'll be glad to provide directions for a self-guided tour of orchards.  You can call ahead for a blossom update throughout the month.  But make your plans and reservations now by calling 970-527-6776.  Be sure to tell me you want the April Special rate.

Prepare for the Holidays

It's time to prepare for the holidays.  Folks are scurrying around shopping for the perfect gifts to give their loved ones.  The stores are busy and the background music clearly tells us that Christmas is just around the corner.  The lists are long with gifts to buy, decorating to do, and parties to attend.  So, what are you doing to prepare yourself for the holiday?  Let me suggest that you join the Paonia community this weekend for holiday fun.  Begin getting in the Christmas mood by attending a live radio drama of "It's a Wonderful Life"on Friday (or Saturday) evening at the Paradise Theatre.  Afterward, stand on Grand Avenue and view the Garden Club's nativity scene on the hill at the end of the street.  It's a lovely reminder of the real holiday to be celebrated.  Then return to your room at the Bross Hotel B&B for a hot drink and a warm bed.  Saturday join the townspeople on Grand Avenue for a hayride, nibbles at Homestead Market, caroling, and the Gingerbread Festival at the Blue Sage Arts Center.  Try your hand at decorating a gingerbread house and be sure to welcome Santa when he arrives.  So decided right now to be in Paonia Dec. 7 - 9 and make your reservation to stay at the Bross Hotel B&B by calling 970-527-6776. 

Beautiful!

This morning I drove down the valley and it was a beautiful sight.  The fields are green, the cottonwoods along the river and elsewhere are golden, cattle have come home from the high country for the winter, the weather couldn't be better, and the smell of fall is in the air.  Then coming home I enjoyed the added attraction of seeing this beauty against the backdrop of Mt. Beckwith with snow on its summit.  What more could one want on an autumn day? 

Know what I want?  I'd want you to be here to enjoy these gorgeous fall days.  So I'm going to extend my October 15% discount to include any two or more days from now until the end of the month.  Rooms are limited the next two weeks so call today to make your reservation -- 970-527-6776 -- and tell me that you saw this extended offer on the Bross Hotel blog.