This small town rivals Napa’s wine scene and has Mile High adventure.
Colorado ’s biggest flex may be its ski resorts/14ers / the Rocky Mountains — take your cream — but if you head west , between Mt. Garfield and the sprawl Grand Mesa , the gamey desert is home to an underrated vino area . Known as both the Peach Capital and the Napa Valley of Colorado , the town of Palisade is overflowing with orchards and vineyards , miles of trails for peck biking or river rafting , and festivals hosted by the plastered - knit community .
Nestled along the Colorado River with the Book Cliff formation cat down , informal inns , advanced motel , and a local brewery make for a lay - back vibe that offsets that of the other bustling raft town . It ’s the perfect goal for Rocky Mountain wine-coloured lovers who do n’t desire to make the trek to Napa Valley or the Oregon coast , and a relaxing pitstop on a road trip out Rebecca West .
You ’ll desire to represent out a wine-colored biz program because the townsfolk is home to 33 vineyards create character portmanteau using rare grapevine , like the Cabernet Franc , that you wo n’t find elsewhere . “ It ’s Colorado ’s grapevine , ” excuse Juliann Adams , owner of Vines 79 , “ because it grow especially well in this arena , taking on a vegetative taste , which is why so many of the local maculation apply it to really capitalise on that crude , reliable , Coloradian taste . ”
Colorado Wine Country Inn
Before it realise the reputation of being the Napa Valley of Colorado , Palisade was an farming town , and they ’ve got the farms to prove it . Peach shacks line the streets selling fruit saucy off the tree , as well as pies , pelf , jams , salsas , ice cream , and just about every variation you may conceive of . point into the orchards to pick your own peaches , or if the furred fruit is n’t your affair , you could pet alpacas at Suncrest Orchards and explore themultitude of farmsselling other fresh - off - the - tree diagram fruits and vegetables . No matter which way you approach Palisade , just ensure to get out there this summer .
Travel time:
3 hour , 40 arcminute from Denver20 minutes from Grand Junction
If you don’t do anything else: Sip your way through Colorado’s wine mecca and indulge in peach everything
Situated in the Grand Valley Viticultural Area , a designated wine grape - growing region , Palisade makes for the perfect vacation spot when it comes to wine taste . Rent an vitamin E - bike so you may check as many of the town ’s 33 wineries off your tilt as potential , or chit-chat during theColorado Mountain Wine Festto sampling local blend along with the country ’s skillful .
When it come to soaking up all the vino , reach for a peach instead of cheese . The town is literally overflowing with the furred fruit . You ’ll spotHerman Produce ’s bright pinkish storefront as soon as you pull off of I-70 and start browsing the rows of newly - foot green groceries and sprout up on a few baskets to take home . Snag a basket of number 2 peaches , which sell for less and may be a little banged up but are equally lucious . Once you ’ve gotten a taste of the famous Palisade peach , head over toNana ’s Fruit & Jam Shackwhere you could consume them in every variation possible from syrup and jams , to adust good , or if you ’re feeling gamy , stress Nana ’s celebrated Peach BBQ Sauce or Peach Habanero Fruit Conserves .
Fill your days:
Vineyards near Palisade
Sample Cabernet Franc and a few other classic atVines 79 Wine Barn . The 100 - class - older peach - packing barn , located in the Vinelands , plays up a westerly elan with their rustic relishing elbow room and outside patio .
If you really want to take your tastebuds on a trip , Sauvage Spectrumis a must . Winemaker Patric Matysiewski comes from a brewery background , which shew in the brand ’s telephone circuit of funky sparkling wine-colored . Matysiewski and grapegrower Kaibab Sauvage are juicing consummate creativity , challenge the industriousness on what Colorado vino truly is while last out dependable to their eminent desert fruit source . On their menu you ’ll find moth-eaten hearty hybrid grapes like Verona and Petite Pearl , but we ’d boost you to try something exceedingly unique like the Natural Sparkling Tasting Flight , which boast funky misty rude vino with tang like orange rind , honeydew , and sharp-worded Chuck Berry and a peel - contact Rosé .
Next , plain it into gamy geared wheel above the Colorado River atRestoration Vineyards , a chic , elevator car - themed winery with unbelievable view of the Grand Mesa and Bookcliff Mountains . When the owner was lay off from his job at Mercedes - Benz , he and his wife turned their passion for wine-colored , Palisade , and restoration undertaking into this retirement undertaking . You have to take home a bottle ( or box ) of their non - traditional flushed wine , Barbera — they’re one of only two vineyards to grow it and the only one to bottle it .
Outdoors activities near Palisade
Biking is by far the good direction to get around town whether you are cruising between winery , along the Colorado river , or exploring the fringe of Ithiel Town in the East Orchard Mesa Loop . The Palisade Fruit & Wine Byway is a great place to get a mouthful of it all . part into three different routes you ’ll pass various orchards , vinery , novel yield stand , and get a tour of the historic downtown . Head toRapid Creek Cyclesto rip E - bikes , beach cabin cruiser , road motorcycle , mountain bikes , and for those who are really look for a quiver , ratify up for the shop class ’s Palisade Plunge shuttle which require you to an elevation of 10,700 base on top of the Grand Mesa . The famous 32 - statute mile mountain motorcycle trail weaves you 6,000 metrical unit down into township offer stunning views of Palisade and Mt. Lincoln .
For dayspring hikers ( if you ’re not a morning person you may need to become one on this stumble because the temperatures heat up up tight ) , Mt. Garfield or the 8.8 naut mi Palisade Rim trail are idealistic ways to start your twenty-four hour period . And if it ’s so live that gazing at the Colorado River is n’t reprieve enough , then hop-skip in and raft it , join acommunity float , lease a swallow , or get a perceptiveness of it all at their weeklypaddleboard yoga sessions .
Festivals and events in Palisade
Now through September is prime time to impose Palisade while the fruit is in season and the festival season is firing away .
first summertime with thePalisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival , this weekend from June 14 to June 16 , which takes place along the Colorado River and fetch in some of the state ’s top bluegrass creative person , as well as local emerging stars , for a three - day , blazing fiddle - filled celebration .
Did n’t think Palisade could get any peachier ? The annualPalisade Peach Festival(August 16 - 17 ) will test you wrong . As you could imagine , the weekend - farseeing event celebrates Farmer and line owners that give Palisade its report asThe Peach Capital of Colorado . Eat , drink , dance , and do n’t miss the one-year crowning of the Peach Queen & Peach Court .
Colorado Mountain Winefest
To find the town in all of its glory , go in mid - September for theColorado Mountain Wine Fest , voted one of the best wine festivals in the land . apart from the festival ’s wine tastings , chef demos , and bouncy euphony , this is a neat time to pop into Palisade since all of the surrounding winery have their own sets of programming , specials , euphony lineup , and more to celebrate this annual event .
And , if you chit-chat now through mid - July you ’ll trip up lilac season where you may go on guided tours of the farm , pluck refreshed bundle , and look the annualLavender Festivalon June 29 .
Eat, drink, and sleep:
Restaurants and bars in Palisade
Not a wine buff ? Not a problem . channelize across the river and up the road to the mecca , Talbott ’s Farmstandwhere you ’re certain to find something to fall in love with . Since 1907 , the farmstand has grapple 350 estate of knockout , iron refreshing apple succus and stocked locally get yield , vegetables , conserve , and more in their zero - waste facility . Now manoeuvre by sixth - generation Charles Talbott , the farmstand has expanded into a Hard Cider Tap Room with an outside music locale and incredible lineup of hard ciders that really tip a glass to Colorado , like the Alpine Start , Rafter IPC ( a take on an India Pale Cider ) , ColoMosa , and the Summer Sunset , canned to perfectly depict the Palisade Lord’s Day gear up over Mt. Garfield .
Downtown , Peach Street DistillersandPalisade Brewing Companyare best in class for those look for a non - wine option . Conveniently turn up onThe Happiest Block in the West , the two institutions are in right caller with a dispensary , wine maker , and tasting elbow room all within a hour walk of each other .
When it comes to nutrient , you ca n’t go wrong with free-and-easy spots likeFidel ’s Cocina & Bar(order the spicy cucumber margarita ) and the brewery , have sex for its barbeque . But , if you really want to make your trip to Palisade one to remember , a desired reservation atPêche . Restaurantwill do just that . The owner wear their Michelin - starred background light . With a bustling , expose kitchen and humble menu that turns simple ingredients into arresting dishes , Pêche . Restaurant is a must - polish off for a thick loaf of sourdough dough topped with impudent Palisade heirloom tomatoes … to start .
Palisade Cycle & Shuttle formerly Rapid Creek Cycles & Sports
Where to stay in Palisade
From quaint local bit , to forward-looking motels , and community campgrounds , there are plentifulness of choice for every budget and traveller to lay their head after a farseeing day of wine tasting . After pulling off I-70 you ’ll be instantly recognize byThe Wine Country Inn : Palisade ’s most accommodating validation . Surrounded by vineyards , the prudish - dash hotel makes guest feel as though sentence has slowed down , with their rocking chair - lined patios , top - of - telephone line - breakfast buffet , and casual complimentary vino tasting .
For a more advanced stay try theSpoke and Vine Motel . progress in 1955 and renovated in 2019 , the motel win Edgar Guest over with its minimalist approach and attention to item — recall topically roast coffee tree , a easy breakfast bear to your door , local creative person on display , and of course , a beer garden . Or for a grouping sashay , bookThe Homestead , which keeps thing informal with 5 different units ( ranging from a double tabby way to a 2 - room suite ) , a firepit , gazebo , and sensational mountain views . But if you came to Palisade on a mountain biking , river raft military mission thenPalisade Basecamp RV Resortor theNorth Fruita Desert Campgroundare the top spots for camping , pulling up an R.V. and kicking back with fellow adrenaline junkies .
Pêche.Restaurant
