Our Story
The Estate-Grown Wine Difference
100% Estate Grown, Bottled, and Produced
"from the Colorado Land"
The name COLTERRIS means “from the Colorado land.” ‘COL’ is short for Colorado and ‘terris’ is the ablative plural form of the Latin word ‘terra’ which means land or earth. Thus, making Colterris mean “from the Colorado Land”. Our Colterris wines will always be produced 100% from our 200-acre estate located in Palisade, Colorado. Situated along the Colorado River, the favorable meso-climates and volcanic soils of our vineyard locations contribute to the rich color, intense fruit flavors and robust character that make Colterris wines truly unique.
The Estate-Grown Difference
The U.S. government sets these requirements for wineries that want to use the word “Estate” on their labels:
100 % of the wine must be made from grapes either grown on land owned by the winery or controlled by the winery. Since most wineries source some or all of their grapes from other grape growers, other regions, or other states, this can be a tough standard to meet.
The vineyards must be in an American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is a defined grape-growing region with boundaries that are recognized by the U.S. government. An AVA has unique geographic features such as soil and climate that set it apart from surrounding areas.
The winery and the vineyards must be located within the same American Viticultural Area.
Winery must crush and ferment the grapes it grows, age and finish the wine, then bottle (or can) the wine on its own premises and in a continuous process. Wine cannot leave the premises at any time during its production.
ALL Colterris Wines are 100% “Estate Grown” and “Estate Bottled” in the Grand Valley AVA in Palisade, Colorado.
Meet our Winemakers
Bo Felton - Winemaker
Raised in Colorado, Bo was introduced to wine by his grandfather—an avid home winemaker. Each vintage, after his grandfather had driven a van full of grapes from California to Colorado, Bo and his family would de-stem the fruit by hand and ultimately help turn it into wine. These early experiences left Bo with a fascination for wine, and planted the seed for his future career.
Bo studied ecology, population and organism biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After completing his degree, he moved to California where he landed a coveted winemaking position at Duckhorn Wine Company’s Goldeneye and Migration Wine division, and met his mentor Zach Rasmuson. “Zach taught me to be a steward of the vineyards and to respect the quality of the fruit in the winery.” Eager to gain international experience, Bo went to New Zealand to work a harvest at Rapaura Vintners. “Bo is a true talent,” says Zach. “He has vision, focus, a highly developed palate, and an innate understanding of winemaking. He also has a deep respect for his craft that is impressive for a young winemaker.”
Over the next ten years, Bo became intimately familiar with site-specific wines that show their cool-climate pedigree —a familiarity that allows Bo to make balanced wines. Combining experience gained on two continents, Bo practices a vineyard-driven approach to winemaking that accentuates the character and complexity of the growing conditions and geological locations of the vineyards which he brings to Colterris.
Justin Jannusch – Assistant Winemaker
With a background in Colorado winemaking with BookCliff Vineyards since 2006, Justin has over ten years of viticulture and vinification experience that make him a great fit for Colterris. He is a certified sommelier and has studied winemaking styles internationally. He received a B.S. degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder before immersing himself in the world of winemaking and grape growing.
Justin has extensive and well-rounded experience supervising and monitoring the daily operations of the winery with an incredible attention to detail from harvest crush to racking, blending, bottling and tasting room operations. He is truly at home in Colorado organizing and hosting winemaker events, educational programs and consumer sales at Colterris. Justin has first-hand experience and knowledge of what it means to make wines “from the Colorado land”.
Colterris Vineyards
Theresa's Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Theresa’s Vineyard contains 2 Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vineyard is a 17.85 acre site with 15.5 acres planted in six clones of 20,700 Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in 2001, and one clone of 800 Merlot vines in 2011. This vineyard is one of the largest contiguous vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Grand Valley AVA and producer of our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon red wine. Our Coral White Cabernet Sauvignon has become a main stay of our portfolio and also comes from this vineyard.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 7 (10,300 vines) 50% – Planted 2001
Clone 24 (3,000 vines) 15% – Planted 2001
Clone 4 (2,900 vines) 14% – Planted 2001
Clone 337 (2,900 vines) 14% – Planted 2001
Clone 2 (1,260 vines) 6% – Planted 2001
Clone 5197 (340 vines) 1% – Planted 2001
Merlot
Clone 348 (800 vines) 100% – Planted 2012
Scott's Vineyard
Malbec & Cabernet Franc
Scott’s Vineyard is a 10 acre vineyard site of which 6.75 acres are Malbec planted in 2012 and 2013; Cabernet Franc planted in 2013 and 2014. This unique vineyard site is one of the highest irrigated hills in Mesa County and planted on an old Cherry Tree orchard. The wind patterns falling off of the hill makes for an excellent mesoclimate for the vines.
Malbec
Clone 595 (1,000 vines) – Planted 2013
Clone 4 (2,600 vines) – Planted 2012 and 2013
Cabernet Franc
Clone 332 (1,350) – Planted 2014
Clone 623 (1,200) – Planted 2014
Clone 214 (500) – Planted 2013
Clone 327 (2,350) – Planted 2013 and 2014
Katie's Vineyard
Cabernet Franc & Malbec
Katie’s Vineyard is a 4.9 acre vineyard site of which 3.1 acres are Cabernet Franc planted in 1989 and Malbec planted in 2011. The Cabernet Franc vines here are some of the oldest in the valley and produce extremely high quality grapes. It is true that with age comes excellence.
Cabernet Franc
Clone 1 (1,000 vines) – Planted 1989
Malbec
Clone 9 (1,700 vines) – Planted 2011
Vinelands Vineyard
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, & Chardonnay
Vinelands Vineyard is a 7.7 acre vineyard site of which 6 acres are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay, all planted in 1995. This is our largest block of Chardonnay in our estate situated near the calm section of the Colorado River.
Merlot
Clone Unknown (1,800 vines) – Planted 1995
Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone Unknown (900 vines) – Planted 1995
Chardonnay
Clone Unknown (2,700 vines) – Planted 1995
Riverside Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, & Chardonnay
Riverside Vineyard is a 19 acre vineyard site of which 18.25 acres are Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1991 and 1998, Merlot planted in 1991 and 1998, Petit Verdot planted in 1991, Cabernet Franc planted in 1991, and Chardonnay planted in 1991. There is also our second plot of Chardonnay here which was planted in 1991. Riverside vineyard is the most diverse site in our estate. It is home to the wine production facility along with the most gold medal winning wines in our portfolio. Riverside is widely regarded as one of the highest quality and most picturesque vineyards. The opening of the canyon produces truly unique wind patterns that follow the Colorado River into the valley and right by Riverside.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 8 (700 vines) – Planted 1998
Clone 7 (700 vines) – Planted 1998
Clone Unknown (4,100 vines) – Planted 1991
Merlot
Clone 3 (2,000 vines) – Planted 1998
Clone Unknown (1,700 vines) – Planted 1991
Petit Verdot
Clone Unknown (2,550 vines) – Planted 1991
Cabernet Franc
Clone 1 (1,050 vines) – Planted 1993
Chardonnay
Clone Wente (2,000 vines) – Planted 1991
Cliffside Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Pinot Gris, & Syrah
Cliffside Vineyard is a 16 acre vineyard site of which 10.75 acres are Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 2000 and 2001, Sauvignon Blanc planted in 2003, Malbec planted in 2011and 2012, Pinot Gris planted in 2003, and Syrah planted in 2003. The Bookcliffs radiate heat and help push wind patterns down towards the Colorado River near Riverside vineyard.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 337 (1,700 vines) – Planted 2001
Clone 4 (1,700 vines) – Planted 2000
Sauvignon Blanc
Clone 1 (1,900 vines) -Planted 2003
Malbec
Clone 595 (500 vines) – Planted 2012
Clone 9 (1,350 vines) – Planted 2011
Pinot Gris
Clone 146 (2,000 vines) – Planted 2003
Syrah
Clone 887 (2,100 vines) – Planted 2003
Photo Gallery
