Ten Bears Winery

Yesterday, I shared our Red Feather Lakes adventures with you. Cooling Off In Red Feather Lakes On the way home, we came back a different route than how we went up. While Larry was planning everything out, (he likes doing the planning) he looked up things to do in the area Ten Bears Winery popped up. Of course we had to give it a try. It was a new winery for all of us.

The Ten Bear’s story in their own words:

Ten Bears Winery officially opened in 2007, with the vineyard planting to follow in 2009. 

[The] winemaker, William Conkling, has a background in Biology, Chemistry, and Geology, began his fermentation career in 1999 working in Quality Assurance for one of the local breweries in Fort Collins, but he always maintained a passion for winemaking. After 7 years at the brewery he decided it was time to take his hobby to the next, and legal, level. After finishing the winery construction in 2006, the next step was licensing and approvals, and in just under a year [they] were ready for the first grape harvest. Using grapes from Colorado’s Western Slope [they] made [their] first Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, and with Washington grapes [they] made our first Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

After a couple of years of research, into what types of grapes to plant on the Front Range, [10 Bears Winery] had finally found what [they] believed would be the best varietals to plant in [their] unique climate, the Marquette and La Crescent. Both are cold hardy hybrids developed by the University of Minnesota with the Marquette producing a wonderful red wine and the La Crescent an amazing white. With lots of help from family and friends [they] managed to plant 480 vines in May of 2009, with minimal soil disruption, to maintain the native flora. Hopes of a small harvest were quickly dashed in the Spring of 2012 due to an unnaturally warm April followed by a freeze in May which caused [them] to lose the first bud break.

2013, 2014, and 2016 have produced Marquette harvests, as well as small La Crescent harvests, so keep an eye out for the latest release of Ten Bears Winery Larimer County Estate Bottled Marquette and La Crescent in the near future, but hurry! They sell out quickly. 

Ten Bears Winery is just a small little place, nestled in between the hills and prairie of Laporte, CO. There are just a few tables inside the tiny winery, and some tables for tasting and enjoying the wines outside too.

Winemaker and owner, William Conkling proudly pouring out his samples.

Ten Bears offers both their own unique reds and whites for everyone to enjoy. We ordered 2 mixed flights, with both reds and whites, one for each couple.

Normally, I am more of a white wine person, especially in the summer. But I really enjoyed the Ten Bears’ reds a lot, particularly the Baco Noir. All the wines we tasted were good, but the Baco Noir was the one that really stood out to me this time. It had just the right amount of smokiness and dryness, and it was a lighter red that was nice and pleasant to enjoy on a warm summer’s day. We enjoyed our wines under the covering, with some vines blending into the prairie right behind us. We were told we had the most popular table. 🙂

Sitting back and enjoying some new wines was a perfect way to end our day.

Ten Bears’ Wines can be found and enjoyed at the winery itself (the store front, since the vineyards are on the Western Slope, in Western Colorado) or in some of the local restaurants, or in some of the local wine shops as well. You can learn more about the Ten Bears Winery either by visiting their winery in Laporte, at Ten Bears Winery, or by calling or visiting their website.

Ten Bears Winery
(970)566-4043
5215 Ten Bears Ct.
Laporte, CO 80535
tenbearswinery@hotmail.com

It was a pleasant surprise and a very nice little find for us. We enjoyed relaxing with our wines in the middle of the prairie. You will too. 🙂