After the Daily Grape mention aired on Episode 26 in April, Guy Drew Vineyards found itself flooded with interest from both private buyers and industry types for the 2007 Metate, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz blend that retails for $20. The Washington Post recently wrote about the crush of business, noting that "Restaurateurs and retailers who wouldn't give Drew the time of day in early April were suddenly clamoring for his wine."
Vaynerchuck may have liked the Metate, but he wasn't very positive about this state's overall wine production. "We don't really think of Colorado as a real serious producer of wine," he threw off in that episode. Even so, he revisited Colorado wines in Episode 77, published on July 11, and this time called Colorado one of the most promising of the "other 46" wine states -- those states other than California, New York, Oregon and Washington.
Although the 2008 Canyon Wind Petit Verdot and 2009 BookCliff Ensemble weren't quite as good as the Metate, Vaynerchuck said they did show promise, particularly the Canyon Wind. That wine from that Palisades vineyard, which also got raves from our Swirl Girl, retails for $26. The Ensemble from Boulder's Bookcliff Vineyards, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, goes for $19.
While most online orders to Guy Drew Vineyards come from out-of-state, most of the 200-plus weekly visitors to the tasting room are from in-state. Drew estimates that about 10 percent of them have seen the Daily Grape video or read the Washington Post story.
And when it comes to stores and restaurants ordering his wines, Drew has "definitely seen an uptick," he says. "Who knows who drives that? It's hard to gauge where the interest comes from, the customers or the distributors."
In Denver, you can find Guy Drew at Primo Vino and Superior Liquor. But if you're looking for the 2007 Metate, better get it soon: Drew estimates that he has just two months' worth left in Cortez.
