Amidst the merlot and sauvignon blanc vineyards that dot the valley floor in the heart of Colorado’s Wine Country, an 80 room boutique hotel catering to wine lovers has opened its doors
The $8 million wine-themed hotel sits in the middle of a vineyard, within walking distance of two tasting rooms and a short drive away from nearly two dozen wineries
“Our family toured the wine regions of Napa, Sonoma and the Mid Coast of California, as well as Tuscany in Italy and the Rhine River Valley in Germany,” says co-owner Richard Tally. “We went to many inns and wineries and brought back the best ideas from each region.”
The hotel is the realization of a dream the Tally family has nurtured for a decade. Richard and his wife Jean are the principles in the hotel venture, along with their grown children, Anne and Greg, and Greg’s wife, Meredith.
The Wine Country Inn consists of three main buildings flanking a landscaped courtyard with an outdoor pool, spa, and pavilion. The hotel features wrap-around porches with rocking chairs. Wine will be for sale in both the hotel gift shop and available to guests at complimentary afternoon tastings in the hotel lobby.
The inn also sports a new wine label with five varieties marketed by Grand River Vineyards. The varieties include Chardonnay, Merlot, Meritage White (blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), Ten Acre Red (blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). A Sauvignon Blanc will be available under the Wine Country Inn label after harvest 2008. The grapes in the Meritage White were harvested from the vineyards surrounding the inn.
The hotel’s design echoes clusters of farm buildings typical of much of the turn of the century architecture in the area, and is a short walk away from two of Palisade’s wineries.
The Tallys acquired 20 ½ acres of vineyard at auction in 2006 with the idea of opening a hotel.
Architect Jim Johnson, whose firm JG Johnson Architects, designed the project, calls the style “farmhouse vernacular.” He points to wrap-around porches, gables and wood siding as typical design elements.
The Tallys say they wanted to evoke the Victorian feel of so many farm homes across America in small towns like Palisade.
“We wanted these buildings to look like they belong here, and we think the architects have done a wonderful job of giving a current interpretation to the Victorian farmhouse look,” says Richard.
Facing the I-70 corridor, the one and a half story Reception Building houses the public areas: lobby and front desk, breakfast/wine tasting room, catering kitchen, large and small meeting rooms, business center, gift shop,
South of the Reception Building, the three story Guest House, includes 72 king and queen rooms, including ADA compliant accommodations.
On the East side of the complex, a Suites Building offers several configurations for the remaining eight rooms. This two-story structure caters to corporate retreats and meetings, bridal parties, family reunions and other small group oriented functions.
Besides the architects, other principals on the project are The Wright Group, general contractors; Ground Logic, landscape architects; Rolland Engineers, (civil); Redwine Engineers, (structural); ME Group, (mechanical and electrical), and Design Force, interior design. More information is available on the hotel web site, www.coloradowinecountryinn.com, or by calling 1-888-855-8330.