By Jewels Burdick
Ask anyone at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey what their favorite season is and the answer is inevitably “Harvest”. The harvest season at the winery is considered to be September 1st through the end of October. After the grapes are harvested and crushed in September, fermentation begins. The month of October brings the sweet smell of infant wines and ripe apples, pervading the autumn senses. The crisp air assaults one with the expectation of long winter nights, hot mulled wine and a warm comforting fireplace with a blaze of piñon and juniper on the hearth.
In November, as we think of gathering with friends and family to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for our many blessings, it is time for the release of the Wild Cañon Harvest, the wine that the whole community of Cañon City and much of Fremont County has contributed to. Containing over seventeen different grape varietals that are crushed and blended together, The Wild Cañon Harvest is dedicated to those who bring in their grapes and those who harvest them. The back label indicates “Special thanks to the “Wild Bunch”, and includes the names of the youth groups who help harvest the grapes, as well as the names of the many individual growers whose grapes are included in the blend. The 2016 harvest is projected to yield close to 30,000 pounds from over seventy growers.
December signifies the release of several new wines in the tasting room at the winery, as well as newly designed gift boxes and baskets for holiday giving and receiving. Folks come from all over Colorado, as well as the surrounding states, to Christmas shop in the beautiful and elegant winery gift store. There one can find different and unique gifts from around the world. Your shopping experience in the tasting room will include rich, colorful textiles from Provence, exquisite crystal from Italy and an extensive selection of the most cutting edge wine accessories. Enjoy books that relate to every aspect of wine, cooking, travel and the good life. The knowledgeable staff will assist you with your shopping. The tasting room also offers gift wrapping and has a full service shipping department. Now, that is definitely one-stop shopping.
If you can’t visit the tasting room to shop, you can call them to request a catalog at 877-HCA-WINE (877-422-9463) and a gift catalog will be mailed to you. You can also shop on the website at abbeywinery.com.
The tasting room and gift shop are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am until 6:00pm and Sunday from 12:00 until 5:00pm. Winter hours are in effect January 1st through March 31st, during which time the tasting room closes daily at 5:00pm. For more information call the above toll free number or email info@abbeywinery.com.
