All 14 wines will be available to taste alongside chef pairings during the
Colorado UnCorked public tasting event on November 5th
The Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB), part of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, proudly announces the 14 Colorado wines that have been selected to comprise the 2021 Governor’s Cup Wine Collection. This year’s competition included 279 wine submissions from 41 local wineries – including entries of sake and hard seltzer for the first time – all of which were judged by a panel of sommeliers, chefs, writers, and wine experts from around the country. The Best of Show winner will be officially announced during the annual Colorado UnCorked Event on November 5, 2021, at The History Colorado Center. This event will be the first and only opportunity for the public to try all of the award-winning wines at the same time.
“Colorado’s wine industry plays an important role in our state, from generating tourism to boosting Colorado’s agriculture sector,” said Governor Polis. “I’m thrilled to celebrate today’s 2021 Governor’s Cup Collection winners. Our state’s winemakers work hard to not only produce excellent wines but to provide another way to experience the best of Colorado.”
Highly acclaimed wine icons traveled to Denver to sit on this year’s 16 person judging panel, including Ashley Hausman, Master of Wine; Joel Butler, Master of Wine; Wayne Belding, Master Sommelier; and Doug Frost, Master of Wine AND Master Sommelier (one of only four people in the world with both).
The 14 winning wines will be put into the 2021 Governor’s Cup Collection; wines designated to reflect the high quality of the Colorado wine industry. Eight wineries from previous Collections are repeat winners again this year: Bookcliff Vineyards, Carlson Vineyard, Plum Creek Winery, The Storm Cellar, Whitewater Hill Vineyards, Turquoise Mesa Winery, and Redstone Meadery. New to the collection this year include wines from: Buckel Family Wine, Carboy Winery, Sauvage Spectrum and Continental Divide Winery.
The CWIDB will use this collection in the coming year to represent Colorado at marketing opportunities in the state, across the country, and around the world. The award-winning wines will also be used for educational purposes at Colorado winemaker roundtable discussions to improve the overall quality of Colorado wines.
At this year’s public tasting event, aptly named Colorado UnCorked, wines will be paired with small bites from some of Colorado’s finest chefs including Thatch Tran of Ace Eat Serve and Steuben’s, Taj Cooke of Ms. Betty’s Grandson, Kevin Morrison of Fish n Beer and Tacos Tequila & Whiskey, Scott Skomal of Bezel, Justin Brunson of River Bear Meats, Cristian Graves of Citizen Rail and chefs from Logan Street and Carboy Winery.
Find more information and tickets HERE.
2021 Colorado Governor’s Cup Collection
Wines that “Best Represent Colorado’s Wine Industry” as selected by a panel of national and Colorado wine professionals
All of these wines are made from Colorado grapes or other fruit unless otherwise noted (*)
- BookCliff Vineyards (Boulder) – 2018 Graciano, Colorado
- BookCliff Vineyards (Boulder) – 2018 Syrah Reserve, Colorado
- Buckel Family Wine (Gunnison) – 2019 Cinsault, Colorado
- Buckel Family Wine (Gunnison) – 2020 Pétillant Naturel Rosé
(“Pet Nat” Syrah/Cinsault), Colorado - Carboy Winery (Littleton) – 2019 Teroldego, Grand Valley AVA
- Carlson Vineyards (Palisade) – Cherry Wine,
100% Grand Valley Montmorency cherries - Carlson Vineyards (Palisade) – 2019 Tyrannosaurus Red (Lemberger),
Grand Valley AVA - Continental Divide Winery (Fairplay) – 2019 Gewürztraminer,
Grand Valley AVA - Plum Creek Winery (Palisade) – 2020 Palisade Festival
(Aromella/ Riesling/ Chardonnay), Grand Valley AVA - Redstone Meadery (Boulder) – 2019 Tupelo Mountain Honey Wine*
- Sauvage Spectrum (Palisade) – Sparklet Candy Red (Verona),
Grand Valley AVA - The Storm Cellar (Paonia) – 2020 Rosé of St. Vincent, Grand Valley AVA
- Turquoise Mesa Winery (Broomfield) – 2018 Merlot, Grand Valley AVA
- Whitewater Hill Vineyards (Grand Junction) – 2019 Chambourcin,
Grand Valley AVA