Odell Brewing’s OBC Wine Project wins Colorado winery award

Odell Brewing, which was founded in Fort Collins in 1989, has won plenty of beer awards over the decades, but on Friday, the company’s wine operation won a coveted award as well.

The OBC Wine Project took home “Best in Show” for its Colorado Red blend during the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board’s tenth annual Colorado Uncorked event.

“It means so much to be recognized, especially among so many great wineries here in Colorado,” said Travis Green, head winemaker for The OBC Wine Project. “We set out this year to double down on Colorado, focusing on what we could create with local fruit and Colorado grapes. Seeing that come to fruition in this way is extremely rewarding.”

The process began in August when hundreds of wines from in-state wineries were judged by a panel of sommeliers, wine writers and experts from across the country as part of the Governor’s Cup Winemaking Competition, which was held at Metropolitan State University. Of those, 14 were featured as part of the 2024 Governor’s Cup Collection on Nov. 1 at the History Colorado Center.

This marked OBC’s first time being chosen for the Governor’s Cup Collection and its first time taking home the grand prize.

OBC’s Colorado Red is a blend that showcases Colorado-grown Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin and Teroldego. Using grapes exclusively sourced from Palisade, it exemplifies the unique qualities of the Western Slope’s terroir, where vineyards thrive in the high-altitude climate, according to Green. The wine was aged for ten months in neutral French oak and, as Green described it, features “a smoky note and tannic edge, making it an ideal pairing for bold, grilled dishes.”

“I was pouring next to the barbecue station, and I think Carolina barbecue with a mustard sauce would be the perfect match,” Green said.

Odell doesn’t own its own vineyard, so the company buys grapes from expert growers like Sauvage Spectrum in Palisade. Green praised Palisade’s beauty and its unique growing conditions, which he said yields grapes with balanced ripeness and consistent quality.

“Each variety we use in the Colorado Red brings something special–the Chambourcin holds its acidity, the Teroldego adds structure and the Cabernet Franc, which grows incredibly well here, carries the wine’s flavor profile.”

Green grew up around winemakers and learned the ropes of his craft by helping his parents at their small family vineyard in North Georgia. He later became a winemaking consultant before moving to Colorado in 2020 to launch The OBC Wine Project.

With the brewery’s extensive experience in beer fermentation, Green said the wines have benefited from “cross-pollination” of techniques. “Working with Odell has been invaluable. It takes a lot of beer to make a little wine, and being next to Colorado’s best craft brewery has been a huge asset.”