As with all of our previously sold-out Escapes, this year’s event kicks off our 2023 season with a goal of enjoyment, relaxation, fine wine and cuisine in the heart of Colorado’s largest concentration of organic farms, centered in the West Elks American Viticultural Area.
We begin your escape on Friday evening, May 12th at the completely restored, turn-of-the century, Bross Hotel in Paonia. Freshen up in your private room (check-in starts at 4:00), then join innkeepers, Suzanne Tripp & Mike Yengling and Karen & Brent from Stone Cottage Cellars for light hors d’oeuvres and wine with two times 6:30-7:30 and 7:30 to 8:30.
Reception Menu
TBD
Saturday opens with a home-made, seated breakfast at either 8:30 or 9:30, and a stroll through town. At 10:45, find your way up the short drive to Garvin Mesa, overlooking the North Fork Valley and the West Elks mountains, for a tour of the vineyard and cellar at Stone Cottage Cellars. Walk with the owners, Brent and Karen Helleckson, through the vineyard then the join them in the tasting room for a tasting of the full suite of locally grown, locally crafted Stone Cottage wines. Brent will host a short Wine Seminar. As part of the Escape, select 12 bottles of your favorite Stone Cottage wines to bring home.
On your own for lunch, you can enjoy some of Paonia’s delicious food & great music at Qutori Winery and Root & Vine Market or Big Bs at Delicious Orchards.
For the afternoon, you have a bit of downtime and we encourage sampling the fine wines and ciders at the other wineries of the West Elks, exploring Paonia’s new designation as a Colorado Creative District, taking a bike ride on Jumbo Mountain’s bike trails, strolling the riverwalk,…or exploring the uncrowded north rim of our National Park, The Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Our friends at Western Culture offer a complimentary cheese tasting (take some home!) at their state of the art goat dairy farm. Open 10-5.
With a brief respite at the Bross, to refresh and relax, unwind with us Saturday afternoon (starting at 6:30) meet us at Stone Cottage for a beautiful dinner setting. Chef, Brandt Bishop, serves up a five course gourmet winemaker’s dinner. Each course is crafted to pair perfectly with a different Stone Cottage Cellars Wine. Chef Bishop and the Hellecksons will guide you through the food and wine pairings as the evening progresses. We welcome the opportunity to accommodate your dietary restrictions while preserving the match between food and wine, but ask that you bring it to our attention to it as soon as possible.
Leisurely drive back to the Bross Hotel for your second restful night in Paonia.
Sunday morning enjoy a Mother’s Day breakfast at the Hotel, again at 8:30 or 9:30, then stride out the door to begin another adventure —- or relax in the rocking chair on the porch.
Email us at info@stonecottagecellars.com or paonia-inn.com.
Wine & Dine Escape Menu/Wine Pairings.
Appetizer with Pinot Gris
“Crudité de Printemps au Fromage”
Carrot Variations, Snap Peas, Radish, Mint, Sherry Agrodulce, Western Culture Feta
Salad with Gewürztraminer
Arugula Salad with Almond, Parmesan Reggiano, Tart Cherry, Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette
Mid-Course with Pinot Noir
Wild Mushroom Tart with Piperade, Green Garlic Confit, Fromage D’Affinois, and Aged Balsamic
Entree with Merlot
Homestead Steak with Cannellini Beans, Piquillo Peppers, Caramelized Shallot, and Natural Jus
Dessert with Barrel Pulled Port
Blue Sky Baking Hazelnut Chocolate Tart- Barrel Pulled Port
Weekend Itinerary
Friday, May 12th
- Check in Bross Hotel
- Welcome wine & food reception
Saturday, May 13th
- Breakfast (Two Seatings 8:30-9:30)
- Vineyard & Cellar Tour 10:45
- Wine Sensory Seminar at Stone Cottage Cellars
- Choose your wine for Stone Cottage Case
- On your own for lunch – Root & Vine or Big Bs
- Explore Paonia
- Western Culture Goat Dairy Tour & Tasting
- Jumbo Mountain Bike Trails
- Riverwalk Trail
- Shop local Creative District Shops downtown
- Refinery Up-cycle Clothing Shop
- Short drive to Black Canyon National Park
- Winemaker’s Dinner – Midway Schoolhouse w/ Chef Brandt (6:30-8:30)
Sunday, May 14th
- Breakfast (8:15-9:30)
- On to the next adventure
Email us at info@stonecottagecellars.com or paonia-inn.com