Snow Capped Ciders hosts fellow craft producers for food, drinks, conversation

By Jay McKinney

In most contexts, meeting your maker is not a good thing. But when it comes to Colorado’s craft beverage industry, who doesn’t want to meet the maker? Snow Capped Cider in Cedaredge is spotlighting the collaborative craft community on the Western Slope with “Meet the Maker” gatherings.

Each month the cider tap house is hosting an event in which local winemakers and chefs will team up to create an evening filled with great food, drinks and conversation. Guests will get a chance to talk with winemakers about their craft and discover the unique terroir of Colorado.

The Snow Capped Cider tasting room in Cedaredge. | Photo provided

Kari Williams, who owns Snow Capped Cider along with her husband Ty, grows fruit and has a passion for crafting wine and cider. Williams started making cider as a hobby and fell in love with the beverage, which gradually turned into her business venture.

Last year, Snow Capped Cider opened its taproom in a converted 1940s gas station that is located at the only stoplight in town. The tap room has an extensive selection of ciders and wine, and Williams is thrilled to showcase the quality coming out of Colorado. While her staff is knowledgeable and will gladly take the time to talk about the wine and where it is made, the Meet the Maker events take that experience one step further.

“I want you to talk to the growers because that’s what I am,” Williams says. “I want you to get to the roots of what's going on in Colorado wine. What are the varietals being grown? Why? What are the hybrids? What are people interested in? What's working, what's not? What vineyards are they coming from?”

The first event featured Patríc Matysiewski from Sauvage Spectrum and Chef Kate Woodward who prepared a creole-inspired feast to pair with the wines. It was a major success that sold out and many of the people who attended purchased bottles on their way out and signed up for the next event.

From 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, the taproom will host a French dinner featuring Alfred Eames from Alfred Eames Cellars in Paonia. Eames has a wealth of wine-making knowledge and an incredible location in nearby Paonia. Those who attend will leave well fed and have a better understanding of the West Elks AVA.

Upcoming Meet the Maker events will include Joe Buckel from Buckel Family Wines and Ben Parsons from Ordinary Fellow Winery in Palisade. Both winemakers are major figures in the Colorado scene and should be on every wine-lover’s radar.

“It makes a really fun thing for you to come in and for us to be knowledgeable and for you to meet the people that I'm serving and that I'm supporting in Colorado,” Williams says. “And that's really what the winemaker series is.”