Snow and Ski to Wine and Dine in Palisade

Courtesy Powerderhorn Mountain Resort

There’s a spot on the Western Slope where skiing in the morning can be followed by wine tasting in the afternoon and it is Palisade, Colorado. We stayed at the dog-friendly Spoke & Vine Motel. Lodging here comes with delivery of coffee or tea, yogurt and granola, and a banana every morning, and we took full advantage. Palisade is a town of 2,600, loads of wineries, lots of sculptures and several excellent eateries. In addition it’s just 35 minutes from Powderhorn Resort, a ski resort on the Grand Mesa, the flattop mountain that soars 6,000 feet above Palisade. 

Courtesy Grande River Vineyards

I left Ryan at Powderhorn and drove up the Grand Mesa in search of dog-friendly trails. The trail system just beyond this visitor center, called Ward Trails are best with a dog. As we explored Grand Mesa, Ryan skied Powderhorn. For people like Ryan, who learned to ski in the 20th Century, there is something comforting and reminiscent about this resort experience.  Many Colorado ski resorts are daunting—from parking a mile away to lift ticket prices. It makes a person wonder, “Do I really want to ski this badly?”

Courtesy Powderhorn Mountain Resort

It’s not about the gear or the ski attire. Here, it’s about skiing, and during the week here an adult lift ticket is just $99. Over hamburgers, french fries and tasty onion rings from the Powderhorn cafeteria, I learned about Ryan’s morning. Apparently, Friday mornings are good for anyone seeking a little solace on the slope at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Spoke & Vine is a remodeled and reimagined motel of bygone days and it is dog-friendly. There is a bar, open to locals too, and bikes for guests to borrow. Our room came with a large dog bed, biscuits and big bowls. 

That afternoon, we hit Grande River Vineyard. Each summer, the winery hosts Live in the Grapevines, a series of music events in their large events area. Next, we found ourselves basking in the sun along with the winery’s cats at Carlson Vineyards. This winery epitomizes why I like the wine scene on Colorado’s Western Slope; it feels authentic and not contrived. We wrapped up our winery hopping with a stop at Talbott’s Cider Company. Started as a fruit growing business in 1907, they expanded to ciders in 1983, and then to wine as Centennial Cellars in 2019. 

Fritzi At Spoke Vine. | Photo: Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

A standout meal was at Pêche, which means “peach” in French. Appropriate for the region that grows the world’s best peaches. The food is a step above and as I now say, “One does not do Pêche, Pêche happens to you.” We also checked out the weekend barbecue menu at 13 Brix Cider Bistro.

While barbecue is never my go-to, Ryan absolutely adores it, and I admit, the ribs barbecued with the restaurant’s Cherry Bomb sauce were the bomb. Art permeates Palisade; from sculptures on the sidewalks to art galleries such as Blue Pig Gallery, Craig Gallery and the Western Slope Mercantile. Palisade may be a one-horse town, but it is filled with a delightful number of year-round offerings to the visitor.

Palisade Landscape. | Courtesy PHM