Balistreri Winery in the Winter

I recently had the privilege of visiting J.A. Balistreri Vineyards in North Denver. Balistreri is a family winery that is celebrating its twelfth year in business as a winery and ten years being open to the public.

The Balistreri’s previously had a commercial flower business. John had been making wine at home for years. But in 1996 the family decided to take the plunge and plant a vineyard. Two years later, they obtained their limited winery license and produced 22 barrels of wine. In February of 2000, they opened up the tasting room in North Denver inviting everyone to enjoy their wine.

Wine aging in barrels.

Balistreri is not located where you would typically envision a winery being located. It is an oasis of wine in the middle of an industrial area. In addition to being a winery and tasting room, Balistreri has a beautiful patio that is perfect retreat on a warm summer’s day. On the patio, they serve great sandwiches and other items to accompany their wine. I had a delicious Brie and Pear sandwich paired with a 2008 Colorado Viognier.

Currently, Balistreri has released twenty-two different wines from multiple grape varietals. They mainly produce red wines but have some very unique whites. Many of the varietals are from the same vintage but from different vineyards. Balistreri mainly purchases their grapes from different vineyards on the western slope of Colorado. The grapes are shipped to Denver in refrigerated trucks. From there they crush, ferment, barrel age, and bottle the wine.

Balistreri Cabernet Sauvignons

All their wines are unfiltered and do not contain sulfites. A lot of wineries finish their red wines through malolactic fermentation. At Balistreri, the wine is finished by resting on the lees. The lees method is where the wine is in contact with the yeast in barrels for a longer period of time and produces a secondary fermentation. Generally, this method can produce a richer and higher quality wine. To insure no air is in contact with the wine, it is carefully bottled, corked and waxed.

This method of making wine has served them well. They recently won a double gold and best of show at the 2009 Colorado Mountain Winefest for their 2008 American Lodi Petite Sirah. They also won the following medals at the 2009 Colorado Mountain Winefest.

• Gold
  • 2006 Cabernet Franc
  • 2008 Grand Valley Talbot Vineyard Sangiovese
• Silver
  • 2008 Grand Valley Talbot Vineyard Syrah
• Bronze
  • N/V American Port
  • 2007 Grand Valley Talbot Vineyard Syrah
  • 2008 Grand Valley Lovies Vineyard Merlot
  • 2007 Grand Valley Lovies Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2007 Grand Valley Three Vineyards Merlot

If you are out and about in Denver and want to learn and taste wine and have an enjoyable time, visit the Balistreri. I enjoy their wines and hospitality every time I visit. J.A. Balistreri Vineyards is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are located at 1946 E. 66^th Avenue, Denver, CO 80229. www.balistreriwine.com