Audio By Carbonatix
Each year at harvest time, John and Birdie Balistreri and their daughter, Julie, throw a huge party at their Denver vineyard to release their new wines. Party-goers can taste more than twenty new wine releases, feast on hors d’oeuvre, wood-fired pizza, roast pig and desserts, plus enjoy live music and meet John Balistreri himself, who’s been honing his craft since his father and uncle taught him as a kid.
Just last month, the winery’s 2005 Colorado Cabernet Sauvignon won a gold medal at the Colorado Mountain Winefest, and its 2004 Colorado Syrah won the double gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition this year. Let’s hope all the new releases are just as good.
The fourth annual Denver Vineyards Harvest Party takes place from noon to 6 p.m. today at Balistreri Vineyards, 1946 East 66th Avenue. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 at the door, and include food, wine and a commemorative glass. At 2 p.m., kids can help make Little Feet Merlot by stomping grapes, but the rest of the event’s activities are geared more toward adults, notes Julie Balistreri.
And if you can’t make the party, the winery’s tasting room is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays year round. For information, call 303-287-5156 or visit www.balistreriwine.com.
Sun., Oct. 8, 12-6 p.m.
