VinCO Awards of Excellence Announced! (Wine Industry Network)
Press Release
January 24, 2025
The Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) recently concluded its highly anticipated VinCO & WCHS Conference and Trade Show, held January 21-23 at the Grand Junction Convention Center.
As the region’s premier grape growing and winemaking conference, VinCO brought together industry professionals from across the country for an inspiring three-day event.
This year’s conference featured over 25 expert speakers who covered various topics essential to the wine and grape-growing community.
Presentations included in-depth sessions on fermentation, winemaking, pruning, barrel aging, legislation, and more. Additionally, VinCO hosted engaging panel discussions, educational wine tastings, and numerous seminars designed to provide valuable insights for attendees.
“We are thrilled to have brought together such a dynamic group of experts and professionals this year. The energy and collaboration at VinCO are truly remarkable,” said Cassidee Shull, Executive Director of CAVE. “This conference serves as a vital platform for education and networking, strengthening the future of Colorado’s wine industry and supporting its growth on both a local and national level.”
The pinnacle of the event was the Awards of Excellence, where CAVE members nominated and recognized outstanding contributions to the Colorado wine industry. The 2024 awards honored the following recipients:
Grape Grower of the Year / Hillary & Casey Eales
In 2014, Hilary and Casey Eales moved to the area with a passion for helping others and a strong work ethic. Hilary, an EMT turned winemaker, and Casey, a nurse anesthetist, embarked on their winemaking journey when Hilary started at Meadery of the Rockies and later became a winemaker at Talon Winery. After six years of honing her craft, the couple seized the opportunity to purchase a neglected winery on West Orchard Mesa. They restored the property and introduced BioDynamic farming practices, incorporating livestock to help revitalize the vineyard.
Together, they established Fermentation Collaborations, which they’ve successfully operated for four years, and Mafia Princess Wines, founded three years ago. Their projects focus on creativity and quality, producing wines from both vinifera and hybrid grapes. While Casey balances his nursing career with vineyard management, Hilary dedicates herself entirely to winemaking and running the tasting room. Through their hard work and innovative approach, Hilary and Casey are making a name for themselves in the local winemaking community, blending traditional techniques with modern practices to craft exceptional wines.