Pack A Fork!

Unique Cultural and Culinary Adventures

Join our Mailing List
Contact us

  • Home
  • Group Tours
    • Copenhagen & The Faroe Islands
    • Copenhagen & The Faroe Islands + Iceland Extension
    • Andalusia: The Soul of Southern Spain
  • Private Tours
    • Gems of Tuscany
    • The Colors of Morocco
    • Maine: A Windjamming & Culinary Adventure
    • Ecuador: Quito & The Galapagos Islands
  • Tour Blog
  • FAQ
  • Testimonials
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Buy a Gift Card

Tour Highlights: ‘A Colorado Wine & Cheese Adventure’ – September 14-20, 2015

Jul 7, 2015 By Patty Moss

CO-photos-main

WHERE WE’RE GOING…WHAT WE’RE DOING ~

We are blessed to live in Colorado! We seem to have it all – there is no lacking for things to do when you are a foodie in search of good ingredients, friends and fun in our state!

I have created a tour for women focused on the farms, ranches and wineries of Colorado that excel in what they do. ‘A Colorado Wine& Cheese Adventure’ will explore Colorado’s Western Slope (Basalt, Paonia, Durango, Grand Junction and Palisade) during fall when the leaves are changing and the air is cool. Although you may have already traveled to these destinations on your own, I assure you, the experiences planned for this trip are unique and selected for wonderful memories!

We will visit artisan cheese creameries in Colorado that produce some of our finest goat, sheep and cow’s milk cheeses. On the itinerary is Avalanche Cheese Company in Basalt which houses their creamery while the dairy is ‘over the hill’ in Paonia. We’ll tour the creamery and meet the cheese makers that produce their award winning goat cheese.

We’ll travel over McClure Pass to Paonia – a feast for the eyes in fall. Paonia is a hub for the farm-to-table movement in the North Fork Valley boasting wineries, orchards, ranches and produce growers. Paonia is known for its peaches, apricots, plums, cherries and grapes on the vine! There are now nine wineries in Paonia. We will visit two of the best, tasting their wines and enjoying the spectacular scenery. We’ll also pick fruit from the orchards and taste their fresh juices and hard ciders. We’ll surely meet some of the locals who will fill us in on the farm-to-table movement that is Paonia today.

AvalancheCheese0090We’ll also see the Avalanche Ranch goats who produce the milkfor the creamery in Basalt. We’ll stop at the dairy farm to greet some of their best-known characters: The Blues Brothers, Lovely Lovey and Eggnog amongst others who lead a charmed goat-life.

CO-itinerary-3After two days in Paonia, we’ll head off to Durango. This drive will offer some spectacular fall mountain scenery! Once there, we’ll stay in a lovely historic downtown hotel where we can wander, shop, check out the cafes or just relax with new friends.

Our time in Durango will include a private hay ride and escorted tour of James Ranch north of Durango in the beautiful Animas River Valley. James Ranch has 400 acres of high altitude, irrigated pastures, crystal clear flowing water, 100% grass-fed cattle, grazing Jersey milking cows, a spruce tree nursery, organic vegetable and flower gardens. We’ll see why James Ranch has won awards for what they produce and why they are regarded so highly as stewards of the land. We’ll finish with a picnic on their grounds from their farm-to-table cafe. Some say James Ranch has the best burger in the West!

After two days in Durango, we’ll then head to Grand Junction to partake in the Colorado Mountain Winefest in nearby Palisade. ‘Winefest’ is Colorado’s oldest and biggest wine festival. Palisade boasts beautiful landscapes that Colorado is famous for but it is also home to a unique gem – the Colorado Wine Country. Two-thirds of Colorado’s vineyard acreage is in Palisade due to its microclimate of sunny days, dry air and cooler nights. This climate produces the grapes that make Colorado’s award winning wines.
cmw

We’ll spend a full day at Winefest taking in tastings from dozens of Colorado wineries, food pairings, wine seminars, chef demonstrations, a grape stomp and live music. Called ‘Festival in the Park,’ it takes place next to the Colorado River in lovely Palisade. It will be a fun-filled day of learning and experiencing Colorado’s wines and chef-inspired tastings.

Come and join us for this wonderful tour – you will come home refreshed and ready for winter!
********************************************************************************************* Accommodations: The Redstone Inn (Redstone), Fresh & Wyld Farmhouse Inn (Paonia), The Rochester Hotel/Leland House (Durango) and Springhill Suites or Fairfield Inn (Grand Junction) ***********************************************************************************************

For a detailed Daily Itinerary, visit us at www.packafork.com. Please also visit our Facebook and Pinterest pages for updated information. Questions? Contact us at info@packafork.com or 303-652-1535.

Don’t miss your spot!images

Filed Under: Colorado, USA

Join Our Email List!

Sign up for our email list to receive a free gift from us & be the first to know about our upcoming adventures.

From Our Blog …

Treasures of Peru & Lake Titicaca Group TourOctober 1-12, 2024

Peru is complex. As a destination, it offers breathtaking landscapes, natural beauty, an ancient history, a living culture and welcoming people. The Inca … [Read More...]

Jewels of Alaska Highlights

Jewels of Alaska Tour July 8 - 19, 2023 This trip was three years in the making due to the pandemic and its economic recovery in Alaska. Finally, 2023 arrived and … [Read More...]

Reasons to Travel with Pack a Fork!

  • Small group tours - no more than 15 guests + two guides and one tour director for a more personal experience
  • Guides who are experts on the culture of the region, food, wine, art, history, the language and local customs
  • Staff who truly care about guests receiving more than they anticipated
  • Tours that include must-see sites and off-the-beaten path experiences
  • Trips that are about learning, camaraderie and fun with the, always necessary, down-time added to the itinerary
  • Gourmet food experiences from meals in restaurants and cafes to hands-on cooking classes and gourmet picnics - always with local artisan foods
  • Wine education and tastings in a particular region
  • Visits to local marketplaces to learn about artisan foods and products
  • Carefully selected private dining experiences that are varied, local and unique
  • Opportunities to try new foods and preparations of the region
  • Local experiences that allow guests to feel a part of the culture by meeting its people
  • Carefully selected accommodations
  • Private transportation on a chartered coach for traveling across country
  • Walking, hiking and other outdoor activities
Contact Pack a Fork! LLC • Phone: 303-593-1680 • Email: info@packafork.com