Inside a High-Elevation Colorado Pinot Noir Vineyard (Live Farm Tour) – Peony Lane Wine | #100

Ben Justman takes me inside Peony Lane Wine in Paonia, Colorado for a live farm tour of one of America’s highest-elevation vineyard regions. 

He educates me on how grapes are grown, how vines survive harsh winters, how low-intervention wine is made, and why true place-based winemaking creates a totally different drinking experience. 

It’s interesting to see how he constantly adapts to the seasons, soil, weather, and other farming variables to keep the operation productive and high quality.

Key Topics

• High-elevation Colorado vineyard conditions
• How Pinot Noir grows in the West Elks AVA
• Traditional vs modern wine pressing
• Neutral oak philosophy & fermentation choices
• Freeze events, die-back, retraining, & resilience
• Water, irrigation strategy, and soil connection

What You’ll Hear in This Farm Tour

1. Vineyard walkthrough and climate explanation
2. Old basket press vs modern bladder press demonstration
3. Stainless tanks, oak barrels, and aging philosophy
4. Vine die-back, retraining, and freeze recovery
5. How irrigation, soil depth, and vineyard management shape flavor
6. Honest discussion of additives, hangovers, and “natural” wine
7. Why Colorado wine deserves far more recognition

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00:00:00 — Colorado vineyard & climate
00:01:00 — Old basket press
00:02:30 — New bladder press
00:03:30 — Tanks & barrels
00:05:00 — Pressing process
00:06:30 — Vineyard origin story
00:07:30 — Why this wine feels better
00:09:00 — Additives & labeling truth
00:10:30 — Wine, place & meaning
00:11:30 — Commodity vs real wine
00:14:30 — Vine growth & maturity
00:17:30 — Freeze damage & recovery
00:21:30 — Training vines
00:23:30 — Irrigation & soil depth
00:27:00 — Cutting back growth
00:28:30 — Lessons, learning, & commitment