| 4/7/2008 9:12:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Mountain Spirit Winery associates display their most recent awards won during the New World wine competition, fourth largest in the world. From left are Tom Zienkiewicz and Jane Hudon, cellar assistants and Karl Hinther, cellar manager. To date, the Chaffee County winery has won 46 national and international medals. Photo by Arlene Shovald
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Local winery wins gold for Angel Blush
By Arlene Shovald - Special to The Mail
Mountain Spirit Winery may be small, but it hasn't lacked attention at national and international levels.
Owned by Terry and Michael Barkett, the winery recently learned its Angel Blush wine, a Chaffee County favorite, received a gold medal and was best in its class of natural fruit wines during competition involving most of the "New World."
That includes North America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. A trophy will be presented to the winery.
In the same competition, Mountain Spirit Blackberry/Cabernet Franc won a silver medal, with Cherry/Apple Blush and Raspberry Dessert wines each garnering bronze medals.
"We are so proud of this distinction coming to our local winery from the world's fourth largest wine competition," Terry Barkett said.
"This means we were competing against the best wines from the great wine houses of California, Australia and other countries."
The Barketts attribute much of their wine quality to efforts of wine manager Karl Hinther and cellar associates Jane Hudon and Tom Zienkiewicz.
"Wine production, for our dedicated cellar staff, is approached as an art," Michael Barkett said. "Extreme attention is given to every step in the wine making process. We are grateful to our many volunteers who help with the grape harvest and bottling. Lots of Chaffee County energy goes into the making our wines."
The winery, always a family dream, opened in rural Maysville in 1995. In earlier years, Terry was busy with their three children and Michael, a surgeon and gastro-intestinal endoscopist, had a practice which he maintains in Salida.
After the children were grown, the couple decided it was time to follow their dream. They said the winery is a success beyond their wildest imagination.
The Barketts are excited about new arrivals for the spring and summer.
"Our award-winning wines are now accompanied by award-winning artisan goat cheeses by Dawn Jump of Jumpin' Good Goat Dairy," Terry said. "Dawn moved her dairy and goats from Washington State. Her cheese is delicious."
Mountain Spirit Winery and Gallery on U.S. 50 west of Salida, expanded its inventory with a mix of Colorado gourmet food items, a new line of clocks and Trollbeads such as those in fashion magazines and worn by at least two stars at the Golden Globe Award presentations.
Mountain Spirit Gallery and wine tasting room is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday beside Twisted Cork Cafe on U.S. 50 west of Wal-Mart.
The winery on CR 220 in Maysville is open for tours and tastings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
More information is available at www.mountainspiritwinery.com. There is also a blog there for latest winery happenings.
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