Plum Creek Winery

Our Vision

We first put roots down in growing wine grapes in 1980. Knowing Colorado has extremely limited areas for grape production we searched two of the areas in western Colorado renowned for growing peaches, cherries and apples. We correctly figured that if the weather was temperate enough for fruit trees it was likely wine grapes could be grown and thrive.

Our first venture was leasing a 11-acre site on Garvin Mesa, just north of the small farming community of Paonia, in 1980. We planted 8,000 Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Cabernet Franc vines by hand, tilled the soil, pruned the vines and picked the grapes. It was learn-as-you go.

Four years later we founded Plum Creek Winery and embarked on a pioneering venture of making premium wines from grapes grown only in Colorado. It was a unique idea at the time for a winery to commit to using only grapes grown in Colorado. As a mark of our early venture Plum Creek holds Colorado winery license No. 10, the oldest license of all of the state's wineries now in existence.

More than 20 years later we remain dedicated to our mission of making Colorado-grown wines of excellent quality. "Colorado is where our heart is," say owners Doug and Sue Phillips. "We invite you to discover Colorado's true distinction of place in Plum Creek wines."