A vein of
water
at altitude.

Thirty acres of cold-hardy hybrids at the dry base of the Rockies. Italian discipline, American ground, a short list of cultivars.

30
Acres at altitude
6
Cultivars, no more
5,430
Feet of elevation
MMXVII
Planted & established
See the wines Learn the story

The grapes

Six cold-hardy hybrid varietals, each with distinct characteristics for your winemaking. Ferment them your way — or ours.

Frontenac
rosso
Red · Structured

High tannin, high color, demanding grape. Capable of complex, age-worthy reds with forward fruit and mineral edge. Best with extended skin contact and oak aging.

Typical Profile
Sour cherry, iron, dried fig. Tense, mineral, long stone finish. Pairs with game, hard cheese.
Frontenac
gris
White · Stone Fruit

The most delicate of the three Frontenacs. Aromatic and floral with subtle minerality. Clean, bright whites that reward temperature control during fermentation.

Typical Profile
White peach, beeswax, wet limestone. Quiet, broad finish. Pairs with trout, fennel, soft cheese.
Frontenac
blanc
White · Citrus

Crisp, food-friendly, quick to ferment. The most forgiving of our whites for new winemakers. Good acidity structure, citrus-forward character. Drinks young.

Typical Profile
Citrus, fresh acidity, mineral finish. Bright and approachable. For fresh, early-drinking whites.
Maréchal
Foch
Red · Deep

The oldest block on the property. Small berry, thick skin, concentrated fruit. Demanding grape that rewards patience — three weeks of skin contact, old oak aging, no shortcuts.

Typical Profile
Deep color, concentrated black fruit. Patient, structured. For winemakers who want a project — a wine worth the wait.
Chelois
Red · Spice

Smaller harvest, darker and more structured than Frontenac rosso. Natural tannin backbone with peppery character. For serious winemakers after nuance and complexity.

Typical Profile
Black fruit, spice, natural tannin structure. Reserved, demanding. Named by vineyard selection, not marketing.
Noiret
Red · Pepper

The youngest vines, ripening at the edge of what the season allows. Still establishing its character in our vineyard. Peppery, dark, with bright acidity underneath.

Typical Profile
Deep ruby, black pepper, dark fruit, mineral edge. For experimental winemakers and boutique producers.

The tenuta

Thirty acres at the dry base of the foothills. The growing season is sun-bleached and stingy with rain.

Beneath the property runs an aquifer fed by snowmelt from the high country — a vein of water arriving slowly, on its own schedule. The vines drink from it. The wine remembers it.

The name is the brief: an Italian sensibility translated into a high, arid, American place. Old-world discipline. New-world ground.

We planted cold-hardy varieties — Frontenac in three mutations (rosso, gris, blanc), Maréchal Foch, Chelois, Noiret — developed for short, brilliant seasons at altitude. Not the usual European cultivars. The cultivars are treated as protagonists, named in full, never apologized for.

Location: Berthoud, Colorado · 5,430 feet above sea level

Common questions

When is the harvest, and how do reservations work? +

Harvest typically occurs in late August through October, depending on the varietal and ripeness. We announce the start of each vintage year in early summer with estimated harvest windows.

To reserve grapes, fill out the form below with your preferred varieties and quantities. We'll confirm availability and delivery/pickup details. Reservations are confirmed on a first-come basis and must be made before the harvest period closes for each varietal.

Can I reserve part of a varietal, or do I have to buy the full harvest? +

You can reserve as much or as little as you need. Whether you're starting a winery and want to purchase the entire harvest of one variety, or you're a hobbyist winemaker looking for a half-lug of Frontenac gris — we accommodate all scales.

Our grapes are offered to both small boutique wineries beginning at the must stage and home winemakers. The minimum order is .25 lug (approximately 10 pounds of grapes), but custom arrangements can be discussed.

What are the quality specs? Do you provide testing data? +

Yes. Before harvest, we monitor Brix (sugar), pH, and total acidity on all blocks. As harvest approaches and grapes reach target ripeness, we'll provide those numbers to all customers with confirmed reservations.

Because we harvest at different times depending on ripeness, you'll receive detailed quality specs 2-3 weeks before your specific pickup/delivery date. Typical Brix ranges for our reds run 20–23; whites 18–20. This allows winemakers to plan fermentation strategies with real data, not estimates.

How are the grapes grown? Any pest pressure, disease, or special handling? +

Our cold-hardy hybrids were specifically selected for their resilience at 5,430 feet elevation. They naturally resist powdery mildew and many fungal pressures that plague traditional European varieties at lower altitudes. The high light, low rainfall, and long shadows of our location create ideal growing conditions with minimal disease pressure.

We manage the vineyard with sustainable practices: canopy management, integrated pest management, and selective spraying only when necessary. We do not use systemic herbicides. Grapes are hand-harvested into small bins to minimize damage and ensure they arrive at your location in excellent condition.

What's the difference between cold-hardy hybrids and traditional wine grapes? +

Cold-hardy hybrids like Frontenac, Marechal Foch, Chelois, and Noiret were bred to thrive in northern climates and at altitude where traditional Vitis vinifera struggles. They survive sub-zero winters without winterkill and produce fully ripe fruit in short seasons.

The trade-off historically was perceived lower quality, but that's changed. Modern hybrids produce complex, ageworthy wines with distinctive character. They're particularly suited to small producers and winemakers who want quality fruit without the frost risk of traditional varieties.

How do I pick up or receive my grapes? +

You have two options. You can arrange a pickup at the tenuta (our facility near Lyons, Colorado) during your harvest window. We'll schedule a specific date and time to minimize sitting time between harvest and fermentation.

Alternatively, we can arrange delivery within reasonable distances. Shipping grapes long-distance is challenging due to weight and the need for speed; if you're outside Colorado, we'll discuss logistics and any associated costs when you submit your reservation.

Reserve your grapes

Tell us what you'd like to reserve. We'll confirm availability and next steps.