Governor’s Cup Wine Collection coming to Denver

By Jay McKinney

For those planning to share a good local wine at an upcoming dinner party, the 14 winners of the 2021 Governor’s Cup Wine Collection are a good place to start. Thankfully, the annual wine tasting event, Colorado UnCorked, will allow guests to taste the featured wines at the History Colorado Center on Nov. 5.

With 279 submissions from 41 Colorado wineries, this was no easy task for the panel of judges that included sommeliers, chefs, writers and wine experts from across the country. Among the panel of 16 judges were wine industry icons Ashley Hausman, Joel Butler, Wayne Belding and Doug Frost, who is one of only four people in the world with expertise as a Master of Wine and Master Sommelier.

"I look forward to judging the Governor's Cup competition every year and never once have I experienced anything but improvement in the quality and range of potential grapes this great state can deliver,” says Ashley Hausman, Master of Wine. “While well-known grapes like Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah put on a great show, it was the oddballs that had my heart this year: Cinsault, Teroldego, St. Vincent, and Lemberger."

Bookcliff Vineyards, Carlson Vineyard, Plum Creek Winery, The Storm Cellar, Whitewater Hill Vineyards, Turquoise Mesa Winery and Redstone Meadery are repeat winners for the Governor’s Cup Wine Collection as they continue to raise the bar for Colorado wine. First-time winners include Buckel Family Wine, Carboy Winery, Sauvage Spectrum and Continental Divide Winery. Also included in the collection for the first time ever was the addition of some hard seltzer and sake entries.

"Colorado’s wine industry plays an important role in our state, from generating tourism to boosting Colorado’s agriculture sector,” says Gov. Jared Polis. “I’m thrilled to celebrate today’s 2021 Governor’s Cup Collection winners. Our state’s winemakers work hard to not only produce excellent wines but to provide another way to experience the best of Colorado.”

The 14 winners will be offered alongside small bites from some of Colorado’s best chefs at Colorado UnCorked. Thatch Tran of Ace Eat and Serve and Steuben’s, Taj Cooke of Ms. Betty’s Grandson, Justin Brunson of River Bear Meats and others will be pairing their culinary creations with this year’s collection of wines. The ticket price of $55 should be worth every penny. VIP tickets can be purchased for $95.