Sutcliffe Vineyards
Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado. Tasting room.
Details
- Where
- 12174 Road G, Cortez, CO 12174. Directions
- When
- Summer: 12:00pm – 7:00pm • Monday - Sunday; Winter : 12:00pm – 5:30pm • Monday - Sunday.
- Season
- Summer hours (Mar–Nov); Winter hours (after Daylight Saving).
- Getting there
- Heading south on Hwy 491 from Cortez, take a right on Road G at the traffic light with signs for Hovenweep National Monument and the airport. Follow the road through McElmo Canyon for about 13 miles; signs point to the vineyard on the left.
- Access
- Tasting room deep in McElmo Canyon at 5,340 feet above sea level.
- Walk-in or reserve
- Guided vineyard tours and private barrel tastings, each available by appointment; intimate seated tastings or informative guided tours.
- Phone
- (970) 565-0825
- Established
- 1995.
Seven distinctive guest houses set among the red-rock canyons of Southwest Colorado — historic ranch homes, handcrafted cabins, or the architectural dwellings of Sky Village — near Mesa Verde, Canyons of the Ancients, and Hovenweep.
Notable Events
- 1995Of the 1,500 vines that we planted in 1995, we have fewer than 800 left. stories.renewingthecountryside.org
- 1996Our Winemaker Jesus Castillo began his career at the Vineyard in 1996, managing the livestock and hay operation. sutcliffewines.com
- 1997Sutcliffe Vineyards produced its first vintage. denverpost.com
- 2003Sutcliffe Vineyards began regular production. denverpost.com
- 2014In an unprecedented moment for Colorado wines, the Wine Enthusiast in 2014 awarded 90-point ratings to Sutcliffe for its 2010 Merlot, 2010 Syrah and the 2011 Cabernet Franc. summitdaily.com
- 2017All the winemakers extolled Jesus' talents and this has been endorsed by the fabulous wines he has crafted since 2017. sutcliffewines.com
- An 800-yard-wide storm with 80 mph winds slung quarter-sized hail that ripped every leaf off most of the vines; some $60,000 was lost. denverpost.com
People
- John Sutcliffe, operated Tavern on the Green in New York City before planting the vineyard.
- Francisco Castillo, an immigrant farmer from northern Mexico who shared the vineyard work and later bought his own piece of the vineyard.
- Joe Buckel, winemaker for 12 years before establishing Buckle Family Wine.
- Ben Parsons, first winemaker.
- Bill Cavena, lends some measure of financial discipline to the cavalier approach of Sutcliffe Vineyards.
- Emily, John Sutcliffe's wife, who accepted the idea of planting vines.
- Jesus Castillo, lead winemaker; began his career at the vineyard in 1996 managing the livestock and hay operation (1996–).
- Joe Buckle, winemaker (12 years).
- Reggie Gibson, architect who designed the two ranch houses and suggested planting vines.