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 TopicsHigh-elevation Colorado vineyard conditionsHow Pinot Noir grows in the West Elks AVATraditional vs modern wine pressingNeutral oak philosophy & fermentation choicesFreeze events, die-back, retraining, & resilienceWater, irrigation strategy, and soil connectionWhat You’ll Hear in This Farm TourVineyard walkthrough and climate explanationOld basket press vs modern bladder press demonstrationStainless tanks, oak barrels, and aging philosophyVine die-back, retraining, and freeze recoveryHow irrigation, soil depth, and vineyard management shape flavorHonest discussion of additives, hangovers, and “natural” wineWhy Colorado wine deserves far more recognitionWebsiteInstagramX 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

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