Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/724494
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m S e p t - O c t 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 2 1 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m the Facebook post. Those dreams include extensive road trips in "an Airstream [named Stan]," says Jay Christianson. "We look forward to working with wineries throughout the country to share our knowl- edge and help them find success." It sounds rather American Dream-ish, but this 30-year-old winery, a benchmark for Bordeaux variety producers along the Western Slope, will be shuttered at the end of the year nonetheless. DOORS CLOSED Another of Colorado's finest (indeed, one of this writer's favorites between the coasts), closed its doors in December 2015. Boulder Creek Winery made lovely, well- balanced reds and whites, and its Syrahs were reminiscent of cool climate French versions and still supple, sleek and clean. I routinely deployed its wines to prove to coastal elites that there was more h a p p e n i n g o f f t h e L e f t Coast than they knew. T h e M e r l o t s w e r e f o c u s e d a n d j u i c y ; t h e Cabernet Francs could be fragrant and sometimes ethereal. The 2013 Syrah was a knockout for me, with black cherry ripeness, black and white pepper, and violets; it was round, pretty and classic. Jackie and Mike Thomp- son clearly understood their source material; I never 'm a Colorado wine enthusiast, make no mistake. The rugged, seemingly inhospitable terrain has sprouted into a colorful garden for all manner of grapes and wine styles. With lovely reds and whites, Riesling to Cabernet, the state's diverse offerings are belied by consistent, if still nascent, excellence. Regardless of the vagaries of vintage — and weather's impact here can be anything but vague — certain producers and vineyards have dem- onstrated their potency (or so it's seemed to me). But this year, those rose-colored glasses haven't protected us from reality's sharp stick in the eye. Two of the state's very best wineries are closing. Canyon Wind, perhaps notoriously the first (and only) in the state to produce a $100 wine, closed its doors on August 15. The owners, Jay and Jennifer Christianson, are moving on to "pursue exciting new endeavors and follow our dreams," says MIDWEST WATCH DOUG FROST It isn't just the weather affecting Colorado's wine industry. + Colorado's wines are highly underrated outside the state — but shouldn't be. + Some wineries are being forced to close due to permitting problems. + The cannabis industry seems to be affecting alcohol sales overall. + It's difficult for Colorado win- eries to compete nationally. AT A GLANCE It isn't just the weather affecting Colorado's wine industry. Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows Jay and Jennifer Christianson are moving on from Canyon Wind wines to pursue winery con- sulting while traveling in their airstream, Stan.