Touring Colorado’s wine country is a popular weekend getaway for people from all over the state.
With more than 50 wineries to visit, your biggest challenge is narrowing the choices.
While that’s a good problem to have, there’s also the consideration of who’s going to drive.
Layne Whyman, visitor services coordinator for the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau, said wine-country tours by limousine are popular with locals and out-of-town visitors alike.
“We hear from a lot of people from the Front Range who want to see the wineries but don’t know where to start,” Whyman said. “Also, a lot of local people like to entertain their out-of-town guests and families with winery tours. We tell them a limousine tour is a great way to see the sights and enjoy their family and the wineries while someone else does the driving.”
While chauffeured wine country tours are available year-round, spring and summer are the most-popular times, said Shirlene Hutton of Absolute Prestige Limousine Service.
“We offer them year-round and we’ve had some folks do a Christmas lights and winery tour,” Hutton said. “When we started this business, we called the wineries and asked them when the best time to visit was and they said, ‘Anytime.’ ”
She said off-season winery tours offer more personalized attention from winemakers, who are extremely busy during the warm growing season and later when harvest takes precedence.
“But in the summer, you get to see the foliage and the vines when they are really pretty,” she said.
Limousines rent by the hour and winery tours aren’t set routes. Either you choose the length of the tour and the wineries you want to visit or the tour company can make some suggestions, Hutton said.
Robin and Randy Sheldon operate A Touch With Class Limousine and Robin said most tours take 3 to 4 hours and adapt to the customer’s pace.
“It’s fairly simple to set a schedule, all they have to do is call,” Robin Sheldon said. “We pick them up and take them to any wineries. You set your own pace and determine how many or where you want to go.”
“If you’re not familiar with the area or the wineries, we can help with suggestions.”
Limousine companies offer a variety of services and can accommodate groups from two persons to 14 or more. Also available are catered lunches and special dinner tours.
“We get a lot of out of town people who find us on the Internet,” Robin Sheldon said. “We assure them they can have a good time and not worry about tasting wine and then driving.”
Having someone else to drive after a day or afternoon of visiting wineries not only is the smart thing but also the safe thing, said both Hutton and Sheldon.
•
E-mail Dave Buchanan at dbuchanan@gjds.com.
Whyman said. “Also, a lot of local people like to entertain their out-of-town guests and families with winery tours. We tell them a limousine tour is a great way to see the sights and enjoy their family and the wineries while someone else does the driving.”
While chauffeured wine country tours are available year-round, spring and summer are the most-popular times, said Shirlene Hutton of Absolute Prestige Limousine Service.
“We offer them year-round and we’ve had some folks do a Christmas lights and winery tour,” Hutton said. “When we started this business, we called the wineries and asked them when the best time to visit was and they said, ‘Anytime.’ ”
She said off-season winery tours offer more personalized attention from winemakers, who are extremely busy during the warm growing season and later when harvest takes precedence.
“But in the summer, you get to see the foliage and the vines when they are really pretty,” she said.
Limousines rent by the hour and winery tours aren’t set routes. Either you choose the length of the tour and the wineries you want to visit or the tour company can make some suggestions, Hutton said.
Robin and Randy Sheldon operate A Touch With Class Limousine and Robin said most tours take three to four hours and adapt to the customer’s pace.
“It’s fairly simple to set a schedule, all they have to do is call,” Robin Sheldon said. “We pick them up and take them to any wineries. You set your own pace and determine how many or where you want to go.”
“If you’re not familiar with the area or the wineries, we can help with suggestions.”
Limousine companies offer a variety of services and can accommodate groups from two persons to 14 or more. Also available are catered lunches and special dinner tours.
“We get a lot of out of town people who find us on the Internet,” Robin Sheldon said. “We assure them they can have a good time and not worry about tasting wine and then driving.”
Having someone else to drive after a day or afternoon of visiting wineries not only is the smart thing but also the safe thing, said both Hutton and Sheldon.
•
E-mail Dave Buchanan at dbuchanan@gjds.com.
TASTE OF THE vine
If you want to create a list of area wineries to visit, here are some Web sites that can help you and provide information on upcoming events:
— Grand Valley Winery Association: www.grandvalleywine.com.
— Grand Junction — Colorado’s Wine Country: www.visitgrandjunction.com/wine_country/.
— Colorado Wine Room: www.coloradowineroom.com.
— Colorado Wine Industry Development Board: ww.coloradowine.com.
On the Web
Absolute Prestige Limousine: www.aplimo.com.
A Touch with Class Limousines: www.colorado-limo.com.
