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Red, white & brew: Buy local, drink local

Caitlin Row
crow@gjfreepress.com

MIX IT

Carlson Cherry Lemonade

2 bottles Carlson Cherry Wine

1 can 12 oz. frozen lemonade

Mix in pitcher and serve. If you have time, make ice cubes with some of the wine blend for even more flavor (yes it will freeze).

Optional: Add fruit, like orange slices or a handful of blueberries or raspberries.

SOURCE: Printed with permission from Carlson Vineyards, http://www.carlsonvineyards.com

Bin 707 Foodbar’s Peach Mint Julep

To assemble the drink:

1. In a Julep cup (silver goblet) or rocks glass, muddle 1/2-3/4 oz. peach shrub, 1/2 oz. mint simple syrup, an HCO peach slice, 2-3 mint leaves.

2. Pack with ice, add 1 1/2 oz. bourbon (we use Buffalo Trace x Bin 707 Foodbar Barrel Select, but if you have a bottle Of Peach St. Distillers Bourbon, use it!), top with soda water.

3. Garnish with a peach slice and a mint leaf, enjoy!

Top drink with soda water, stir once and garnish with a slice of peach. We use equal parts by weight High Country Orchards peaches boiled with pure cane sugar and cider vinegar (or a combination of cider and a lighter vinegar like champagne in equal parts) to make a “gastrique” commonly used in mixology by the term “shrub.” It will keep for months.

For Mint Simple Syrup: Separate leaves from stems, discard stems, boil 1/4 cup packed mint leaves in 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar for 5 minutes, then strain. It will also keep for months.

SOURCE: Josh Niernberg, head chef at Bin 707 Foodbar in downtown Grand Junction

Editor’s note: Red, White & Brew features Grand Valley’s burgeoning wine, beer & spirits industry. Email crow@gjfreepress.com with news and tips.

Supporting Grand Valley agriculture need not be limited to food. The area also boasts numerous wineries, a handful of breweries and its own Palisade-based distillery. Explore, taste and discover with these expert imbiber tips.



RED



According to Brooke Webb, Mesa Park Vineyards’ proprietor and winemaker, “some of the more impressive Cabernet Franc [wines] can be found at Colterris Wines along the Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway. It’s a gorgeous property that offers fruit and wine.”

Three types of Cabernet Franc are currently available — from 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The winery and tasting room is located at Theresa’s Vineyards (3548 E 1/2 Road in Palisade). Head to Colterris Wine’s website — http://www.colterris.com — for more information.

WHITE

Webb also mentioned Carlson Vineyards in Palisade for its Cherry Wine, which she described as “very delicious.”

“I am not a person who loves sweet wines, but Carlson’s fruit wines are always perfectly balanced,” she noted.

Carlson Vineyards’ website describes this fruit wine as made from “100-percent Colorado grown Montmorency pie cherries.” It was a gold-medal winner in 2012 at Mesa County Fair Commercial Winemaker Competition.

The winery and tasting room is located at 461 35 Road in Palisade. For more information, visit http://www.carlsonvineyards.com.

BREW

Kannah Creek Brewing Company’s own Katlin Birdsall recommends Palisade Brewing Company’s Dirty Hippie.

“It is a dark wheat beer, so even though it is darker in appearance it still drinks really light, perfect for summer time,” she explained.

For Grand Junction Rockies fans, enjoyment of Dirty Hippie is made easy — it’s available on tap at all home games, GJ Rockies general manager Tim Ray confirmed.

Looking for a regional brew with lots of hops? Birdsall suggests Modus Hoperandi from Ska Brewing in Durango.

“It is in my top five of favorite overall IPAs,” she said.

Check in with your local liquor store to purchase Dirty Hippie and Modus Hoperandi; both brews are available in cans. Or stop into Palisade Brewing Company at 200 Peach Ave., in Palisade.

For more information, visit http://www.palisadebrewingcompany.com and http://www.skabrewing.com.


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