FIVE OF COLORADO’S MOST ELEVATED FOOD ATTRACTIONS
5 of the highest places to grab wine, beer, cheese and more in Colorado
The proximity of the peaks of the Rocky Mountains makes Colorado an obvious candidate for some of the highest attractions in the country.
We’re talking about elevation, people.
Already Colorado has the highest paved road in North America (Mount Evans Scenic Byway) and the highest vehicle tunnels in the world (EisenhowerJohnson Memorial Tunnels), but what about things made in Colorado? Specifically food and drink?
Here’s a look at some of some of the places that rise to the top of the list.
Highest winery
At an elevation of 10,362 feet, the Continental Divide Winery is the world’s highestaltitude winery technically. The elevation stems from the winery’s storage facility located in Alma. It’s here that the grapes that eventually become wine under the Continental Divide label are shipped in from California and Palisade and stored until they are ready to be processed. Crushing, aging, blending and bottling all happen in the winery’s Fairplay facility (still a respectable 9,953 feet), which also has a tasting room and retail outlet. Continental Divide’s Breckenridge location offers tastings and
another place to buy the wines or to sign up for one of the wine clubs.
Continental Divide makes mostly classics: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel, albarino, riesling and others. The tasting flights offer the opportunity to do a sidebyside comparison of Colorado and California versions of the same varietal.
Even though the boasted elevation is a storage facility, the Palisade vineyards sit at elevations of between about 5,000 and 7,000 feet. These altitudes and the soil associated with them have a definite influence on the flavor profile. Condensed periods of sunlight and the iron and minerals in the soil give the grapes — and resulting wine — unique characteristics, said Leanne Bellncula, executive wine ambassador. Colorado reds are earthy and have qualities of minerality and smokiness that come from the area, Bellncula said.
“It is truly reflective of the region and its physical surroundings,” she said.
Processing wine at altitude also means there’s less air in the bottle, which helps preserve the flavors, Bellncula explained. On occasion, the winery “partners with Mother Nature” during the fermentation process, she added. This involves the hightech process of rolling wine barrels into the snow to slow down fermentation, and then rolling them back inside to restart fermentation.
Continental Divide Winery: 505 S. Main St., Breckenridge, 9707713443, Daily noon7 p.m.; and 331 Highway 285, Suite D, Fairplay, 7198382349; Labor Day to Memorial Day: Mon., Thur.Sat. noon7 p.m., Sun. noon5 p.m. Closed Tues.Wed. Rest of the year: Mon.Sat. noon7 p.m., Sun. noon5 p.m.; breckwinery.com.
Highest Brewery
At an elevation of 10,156 feet, Periodic Brewing in Leadville claims the title of the highest craft brewery in North America. The familyowned brewery has a rotating selection of its own craft beers: There’s always an IPA, an amber and a Belgian, plus experimental and whimsical creations, and other liquid libations as well as a select food menu at the brewery and tasting room.
The chemistry of beer brewing is complicated (and beyond the scope of this article), but let’s just say it becomes even more challenging at altitude. Lower air pressure affects carbonation, and brewing itself is made more difficult because of the higher temperatures required to boil any liquid at elevation — including beer. Experts also agree that higher altitudes mean you need more hops — though how much more depends on who you ask. Success at altitude has encouraged Periodic to open a second location in Northglenn, in case you don’t feel inclined to drive to Colorado’s highest town for a beer.
Periodic Brewing, 115 E. 7th St., Leadville, 7203168144, Mon.Thur. 39 p.m.; and 2100 E. 112th Ave., Northglenn, 7194223370; Fall hours: Fri.Sun. 1210 p.m., Mon. and Thur. 310 p.m., Tues.Wed. 39 p.m. periodicbrewing.com.
Highest coffee roaster
Given that Leadville is the highest town in Colorado, it stands to reason that City On A Hill Coffee & Espresso is the highest coffee roaster in the state. The roaster is at about 10,200 feet and, as far as owner Adam Schuknecht knows, it’s the highest coffee roaster in the country. The art, and challenge, of making a good coffee is in the roasting process. Roasted too long and the beans become “baked” and don’t fully develop their flavors. Roasted too hot and the beans become burnt and the resulting coffee tastes the same. Roasting at altitude affects these variables bringing the skills of the roaster into play. The folks at City On A Hill have got it down — or up, as the case may be.
The establishment is also a café, and in the summer months it fields a coffee truck. The roasted beans feature names like Alpine Grind and Mt. Massive Medium Roast and can be ordered ground or as whole in 1 or 5pound bags. Purchase at the shop, or you can join its coffee club and have your coffee shipped directly to you. Currently, City On A Hill is featuring fair trade, sustainable coffee from Nicaragua, with a portion of sales dedicated to helping humanitarian organizations in that country.
City On A Hill Coffee & Espresso, 508 Harrison Ave., Leadville, 7194860797; Open daily 6 a.m.6 p.m.; Cityonahillcoffee.com
Highest cheesemaker
Unofficially, the highest cheesemaker in Colorado is Moon Hill Dairy, where cows graze at 6,800 feet elevation on 300 acres at the foot of Sleeping Giant Mountain north of Steamboat Springs. Cows that produce the milk that Moon Hill cheese is made from are entirely grass fed and graze outdoors yearround in pastures of native grasses and clover. This forage coupled with other unique environmental elements makes for delicious cheese.
According to owner John Weibel, there isn’t a particular limitation on cheesemaking imposed by altitude “as long as the bacteria can do their thing,” Weibel said. The challenge — and the op portunity — in producing alpine cheese is the short season — a mere 48 days of frostfree growing. Weibel said this short season means the grass has a higher omega3 fatty acid content, which is transferred to the cow, her milk and, ultimately, the cheese, “making our products a health food, when one considers the fatty acid content,” Weibel said.
Moon Hill Dairy offers about six cheeses, numerous flavors of ice cream and soon will add “alpine yogurt” to the lineup. The operation also offers porkand grassfed beef. Find Moon Hill products in natural food stores, fine cheese shops, and restaurants in the mountains and along the Front Range.
A full list of retail outlets and restaurants using Moon Hill Dairy is available at moonhilldairy.com/local; Dairy’s contact 970367
6184; moonhilldairy.com
Highest concert
OK, it’s not food or drink, although both can be had at the 10 Mile Music Hall in Frisco, which on its opening at the end of October will be the highest yearround concert venue in the country at 9,097 feet.
The views are incomparable, and some might say music sounds better at altitude. But performing at altitude — just like everything — can take a toll on musicians. To ensure the show goes on, 10 Mile provides oxygen backstage for all performers.
The 7,500squarefoot venue features a large rooftop deck that serves food for lunch, dinner and happy hours, weather permitting. (The fare is from Moe’s Original BBQ , but drinks are made onsite.)
In addition to concerts, the venue is available for weddings, conferences and other events. Tickets can be purchased at Cool Inside, 620 Main St., from noon to 6 p.m. daily, or one hour before the show at 10 Mile.
Leftover Salmon will headline the grand opening celebration Oct. 30 and 31. The inaugural season lineup also includes Perpetual Groove, The Infamous Stringdusters, Tab Benoit, Los Lonely Boys and Big Sam’s Funky Nation.
10 Mile Music Hall, 710 Main St., Frisco, 7202990459; 10milemusic.com.