By Tom Crosby

Julie Ballisteri knows Denver’s main attractions are the majestic mountains that surround this western city and lure 5 million people annually to the 850 ski slopes within a four hours drive.

With Denver’s International airport currently the fourth busiest in the nation, Julie hopes some Denver arrivals will begin adding an extra day to their mountain vacation to explore a burgeoning local industry - the Front Range wineries.

Using Colorado grapes to sate the nation’s increasing thirst for new, unique wines, with the number of wineries state-wide doubling to 60 in the past five years.

Spending an afternoon visiting wineries in and around Denver is a testament to the resilience of wine entrepenuers and the quality of Colorado grapes (two sections of the state are viticulture classified, meeting strict standards relating to sunshine, soil, temperature and rainfall.).

On a sunny Saturday in spring, even a first-time Denver visitor can sample different wines, aging and bottling techniques with unique marketing tie ins at five wineries diversely located on a former truck farm, in an historic small downtown, a residential neighborhood, a college town and an industrial park.
Except for the Balisteri winery, which grows some grapes down the road from its wine-tasting facility, all of the wineries use Colorado grapes grown in the viti-culture areas.

“Our Front Range wineries provide a wide sampling of Colorado wines,” said Balisteri, who suggested a one-day, five-winery Denver tour. Any can  provide you with maps of all 14 Front Range wineries an hour from Denver:

• Balisteri wineries comes first, located at 1946 E. 66th Avenue, and in operation since 2000. Handcrafted wines are individually produced in barrel lots with annual production of about 3,000 cases. Sometimes released “young,” wines age well with each bottle hand-dipped in wax to provide extra sealant. Fermentation is all natural with no sulfites added.
• Spero Wingery, which produces about 1,500 cases a year, is found at 3316 W. 64Th Street in a residential neighborhood previously zoned agricultural. Vino e Buono is their trade name. Locally grown cherries, however, are handcranked to make a fruit wine tasty enough to serve separate, over ice cream or to just sip for its natural taste. Ask about “cherry-pie-in-a-bottle.”
• Old Town Winery is located in Arvada, an historic farm town. A walk around town sits the stage for a sampling visit to this micro-winery, which makes about 800 cases a year. Depending upon the time of year, you can actually watch them bottle the wine. Address is: 7505 Grandview Ave., Arvada.
• Bookcliff Wineyards combines its retail space with the Belgian Chocolate Shop, 1468 Pearl St. #120 in Boulder, the college town for the University of Colorado. It pairs wine samples with chocolates for a unique experience. The 2002 Merlot, for example, is paired wieh a dark chocolate hazelnut heart.  It’s fun to experiment, although not for those on a diet.
• Boulder Creek Winery is also in Boulder at 6440 Odell Place, an industrial park located off Diagonal Highway (Hwy-119).  Take a self guided tour and talk to the owners, Jackie and Mike Thompson. Says Jackie in describing which wines they choose to make: “You make the wines you like to drink yourself.” The 2004 Zinfindal Port will redefine what you want in a port wine.