I’m embracing a Colorado wine encore, cultivating grapevines, and crafting wine.
I’m sharing my wine encore journey from city life winemaking to country vineyard grower, hoping to inspire those with similar dreams or offer a vicarious escape for others.
I am now on Substack
I’m using Substack as a medium to write a book about my wine encore journey. To receive chapters as they are published, follow this link to sign up for a free subscription.
Marshall's Wine Encore is Multi-Faceted
Marshall’s Wine Encore is geared toward wine-growing, winemaking, and the world of wine.
While the content is written for casual wine enthusiasts, it dives deep into details on multiple subjects.
For example, the site’s Vineyard and Winemaker pages detail growing wine grapes and winemaking. After the topic summaries and highlights, there is a series of curated topic blocks by subject matter experts who make it happen.
If you’d like to learn “with a side of humor” from my personal experiences, immerse yourself in my blogs, which cover rural valley living, planting and maintaining a vineyard, and my musings on current events in the world of wine.
You can also keep up-to-date on the Colorado wine scene, and news.
I've Enjoyed this Journey—So Can You!
Wine Myths – Fact or Fiction?
What are common wine myths – are they fact or fiction? Common myth examples include: all red wine ages gracefully; cheap wine uses screw caps, and red wine should always be served with red meat, and white wine with white meat. You might unintentionally get caught up in this dynamic. Don’t let wine myths control your thinking, it’s time for you to take control!
When Does Wildfire Smoke Taint Grapes and Wine?
How much wildfire smoke does it take to taint grapes and the resulting wine? Locally, this subject became more topical in early July, when several wildfires in western Colorado and eastern Utah, including in our vicinity at the Black Canyon broke out.
2025 – A Midsummers Night Dream – Moisture
My apologies to the bard. The North Fork Valley is badly in need of moisture. The 2025 grape growing season in the North Fork Valley is trending hot and dry. Understandably, the “dry” part of that equation might be difficult for eastern flatland lubbers to grasp, especially with the wet start to the season along Colorado’s Front Range.
Recommending a New Approach to Retail Wine
Meininger’s International posted a thought-provoking article recommending a new approach to retail wine. Based on a German Wine Producers report, they suggest that retailers can better position themselves with their customers by organizing wine by color and sweetness rather than country or type. I’ll take it one step further.
What are the Biggest Restaurant Wine Service Red Flags?
Nine sommeliers are asked what their biggest restaurant wine service red flags were in a recent VinePair article. Several common-sense red flags include unclean glasses, talking down to customers, incorrect glassware, and wines served too warm. There were also less known red flags, several of which I expand upon.
What Temperatures are too Cold for Grape Vines?
What temperatures are too cold for grape vines? When I planned my vineyard in the North Fork Valley four years ago, I didn’t hesitate choosing Pinot Noir and Riesling. The climate tends toward a moderately warm growing season with cool nights. The bane of the Valley is the temperature extremes.
Could Fallen Mountain Be the Next World-Famous Winery? (Thirst Colorado)
Alex Castillo-Llamas is always on the move. He grew up as a migrant farm laborer, then helped open his family’s prestigious California winery. Now he is bringing that experience and work ethic to the hills above Hotchkiss, where he operates
How to Spend Three Eays in Colorado Wine Country (Thirst Colorado)
Centennial State wineries keep winning international awards and landing on prestigious and selective wine lists. Colorado is becoming the next California, but our wineries remain unpretentious and welcoming. Travelers can meet the winemakers and growers while relaxing by the vines.
Colorado Wine Reaches New Heights (Vinography)
Let’s get this out of the way at the start: I grew up in Colorado, and when I departed for California, I left a little bit of my heart behind in my home state. Despite my affinity for the Rocky
Cañon City’s Historic Abbey Winery Wins Three International Awards (CPR-KRCC)
The Abbey Winery in Cañon City has won three international awards from the U.K.-based Decanter World Wine Awards. The Abbey, which was originally founded by Catholic monks in 2001, is the first in the state to win a silver award
The View from Colorado Wine Country (Thirst Colorado)
Team Thirst took a whirlwind trip through Colorado Wine Country last week, visiting old friends and making new friends in Palisade, Grand Junction, Hotchkiss and Paonia.
The New Locals’ Brag: I Haven’t Been to Food & Wine in Years! (Aspen Daily Times)
I remember the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen before it was a classic. It was more of a social gathering. It was started by longtime local, Gary Plumley of Grape & Grain local fame, whom I didn’t know at