The Winery Name Game

 

Is there anything more exciting than discovering a new winery? I love walking into a tasting room, paroozing the wine list, and wondering what gems are awaiting my taste buds.

              There are very few things I will travel to Denver for. A Rob Zombie concert, the occasional Broncos game, Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour, and a winery I have yet to try. A recent trek into the city led me to Bigsby’s Folly.

              Described as a craft winery and cellar door, I was intrigued by this place immediately thanks to its logo of a dog in a top hat and the fact that the tasting room is housed in an 1886 building. I also liked that they had a nice selection of wines, offered brunch on the weekends along with their regular menu, and were a short distance away from the hotel we were at. My friend and I had mulled over a couple of other options, but this became the clear choice for our girl’s weekend. It did not disappoint.

              The experience at Bigsby’s from the very moment we entered was amazing. The staff taking care of us were so friendly and knowledgeable about the wines, the venue was just beautiful, and the little patio where we sat offered a whole lot of people watching. My biscuits and gravy were absolutely delicious, and all of the food walking by our table looked exceptional. And, most importantly, the wines were delectable. 

              We had a lovely late morning/early afternoon out there, and I left with a t-shirt and a bottle of the Reserve Pinot Noir. This experience also led me to something I had been thinking about for a while. Winery definitions.

              When I first got into wine, I had images of every bottle coming from a quaint barrel room surrounded by endless miles of vines. I truly believed that each farm that grew grapes also made wines and had tasting rooms that welcomed all wine-loving travelers. I quickly learned that this is not the case, and I have had a blast discovering the different winery styles out there. Below, I have broken down the various types of wineries and vineyards I have personally experienced into my own definitions. I have also included some of my favorite examples. This in no way describes everything available, but I hope it helps to bring some clarification to the numerous tasting room options wine enthusiasts can explore. Cheers!

 

Classic Vineyard and Winery: Primarily known as an estate winery, this is that image I described above. At these types of wineries, they grow, tend, and harvest the grapes that are taken to a facility on the grounds to be made into the bottles they will serve at their personal tasting rooms on-site. These can range from large-scale establishments that produce thousands upon thousands of cases a year, to boutique style wineries which typically produce 4,000 cases or less a year. The biggest thing about this kind of winery is simply that they grow everything they produce. Some of my favorites include Feather River Vineyards in Nebraska, Kerry Hill Winery in Idaho, Antietam Creek Vineyards in Maryland, Shiloh Vineyard in Kansas, and Black Mesa Winery and Cidery in New Mexico.

Classic Winery with a Twist: This is the type of winery that I have visited the most often. Like the classic example defined above, the wine is made and sold on-site with some grapes grown in their own personal vineyards. However, not all of the grapes used are estate grown. This winery version will also produce wines from grapes or concentrate from other vineyards. Depending on the place, they will import grapes from a neighboring vineyard, from vineyards throughout their state or other states, and some will bring in product from another country. Most of these wineries will let you know what you are drinking by the wording on the label such as “estate grown” for wines produced from their own grapes, or by listing the AVA, state, or country from which the grapes are from on the others. Though there are so many of these locations that I love, some amazing examples include LaNoue DuBois Winery and Whitewater Hill Vineyards in Colorado, Sol Invictus Vineyard in Idaho, Valerie Hill Vineyard and Winery in Virginia, and Hilmy Cellars in Texas.

The Combo: This could also be called “the expansion.” Though these wineries still have their vineyards and production sites, they either have a tasting room in a different location or have expanded to multiple tasting rooms in different places. The main reason for having more than one location that serves wine is that by having tasting rooms spread throughout different areas, the winery can reach more people. For those who simply have their tasting room off-site, they do so because they find it beneficial to have a spot on a popular street to garner more foot traffic and make it easier for customers to find, or they are required to have their tasting room off-site due to zoning laws. Whatever the reasoning, these wineries can be a mixture of the classic and the classic with a twist styles. Some wonderful examples include Bookcliff Vineyards in Colorado, Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards in Arizona, Belle Jolí in South Dakota, and Becker Vineyards in Texas.

Urban and Town Winery: This type of establishment is basically a tasting room and production facility without the vineyard. Wineries that are commonly termed “urban wineries” source their grapes or concentrate from vineyards spanning locally to globally, as they do not have any vineyards of their own. From the grapes or juice brought in, they then produce the wines to be enjoyed in their tasting rooms. Winemaking sites and tasting rooms are located in towns and cities. Some of my favorites include Snowy Peaks Winery, Manitou Winery, and Bigsby’s Folly in Colorado, Old Town Cellars in Utah, and Stone House Urban Winery in Maryland.