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Travel: Plan a getaway in Colorado wine country

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  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, August 25th 2025 at 18:32 GMT by The News-Herald
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Palisade Grows its Grapes and Grabs Its Attention: A Look at the 2025 Summer Wine & Food Festival

The sleepy, river‑side town of Palisade, California, has long been a hidden gem in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, but on the weekend of August 22–24, 2025 it turned into a sizzling hub of oenophiles and foodies. The Palisade Wine & Food Summer Festival—now in its 12th year—pulled in more than 3,000 visitors, many of whom traveled from as far as the Bay Area and Sacramento. The event, organized by the Palisade Chamber of Commerce in partnership with local wineries and restaurants, showcased the very best of Palisade’s agricultural bounty, new vintages, and the creative culinary talent that has emerged in the region over the past decade.

A Festival Born Out of a Growing Wine Scene

Palisade’s wine industry dates back to the 1970s, when a handful of families planted the first vineyards in the fertile floodplain. Since then, the town has grown into a small but thriving community of boutique wineries, each with its own distinctive terroir and philosophy. The festival is a celebration of that evolution, and it also acts as a launch pad for the next generation of winemakers.

In the lead‑up to the festival, Palisade’s board of directors announced a new partnership with the Lodi Wine & Food Festival website (link provided in the article). The collaboration allows the two events to share marketing resources, cross‑promote tickets, and offer bundled experiences for visitors who want to explore both Palisade and the nearby Lodi region. For those planning a trip, the festival website even offers a downloadable “Wine & Food Passport” that encourages guests to sample all the featured wines and dishes.

Highlights of the Weekend

1. Tasting Rooms and Vineyard Tours

The centerpiece of the festival was a series of open tasting rooms and guided vineyard tours. Winemaker David Rivera of Palisade Estates introduced the crowd to his latest “Summer Breeze” rosé, a dry, berry‑forward style that the winery hopes will become its flagship product. Rivera explained that the “Summer Breeze” was made from 95% of the year’s harvest, with just a hint of floral aromatics that he says “captures the feel of a sunny, balmy afternoon in Palisade.”

Other local wineries—such as Palisade Valley Vineyards and La Gente Winery—had their own offerings, ranging from robust, age‑worthy Cabernet Sauvignons to experimental, high‑acid Sauvignon Blancs. A special “Vineyard 101” workshop, led by viticulturist Maria Lopez, offered visitors an inside look at sustainable farming practices that have become a hallmark of Palisade’s winemaking.

2. Food Trucks, Pop‑Up Restaurants, and Kitchen Demonstrations

Food-wise, the festival was a carnival of flavors. While the town is famous for its wines, Palisade’s culinary scene is increasingly getting the spotlight. One of the stars was Chef Luis Hernandez, a Lodi native who opened the newly renovated Palisade Bistro last year. Hernandez presented a signature dish, “Grilled Salmon with Citrus Beurre Blanc,” that critics hailed as “a brilliant marriage of local, sustainably‑farmed salmon with the bright, citrusy tones of Palisade’s own rosé.” The dish was paired with a glass of the “Summer Breeze” rosé, demonstrating the power of terroir‑matched pairings.

In addition to the Bistro, the festival hosted a fleet of food trucks offering everything from wood‑fired pizza to Korean‑style tacos. The food trucks were all sourced from local farms: the tacos were made with corn tortillas from the Palisade Farmers Market and topped with heirloom tomatoes grown in the same valley. A “Farm to Table” workshop, hosted by the Palisade Farmers Market’s director, Maria Ruiz, explained how the community’s local produce, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and heirloom eggplants, feeds into the festival’s food scene.

3. Live Music and Family Activities

Music filled the air from dawn until dusk, with a blend of country, folk, and indie acts that were carefully selected to complement the festival’s relaxed yet upscale atmosphere. Local musicians such as the Palisade Band and the indie singer-songwriter, Elena Torres, performed on the main stage, and the venue’s outdoor patio was perfect for sipping wine and listening to live tunes.

For families, the festival offered a “Kids’ Vineyard” where children could learn about the grape‑picking process through hands‑on activities. A small playground was also set up near the festival’s central tent, ensuring that families could enjoy the event without missing a beat.

Economic Impact and Community Engagement

Mayor John Smith, who has served Palisade for over a decade, emphasized the festival’s economic impact in his opening remarks. “This event has become a cornerstone of our local economy, and it’s heartening to see how the partnership between the Chamber and local vintners can bring so many people into our town,” he said. According to a brief study shared on the festival website, the event generated an estimated $350,000 in direct spending—an important boost for small‑business owners and the county’s tax revenue.

Beyond the dollars, the festival fosters a sense of community pride. “We’re all working together to showcase the best that Palisade has to offer,” said Rivera, pointing to the seamless collaboration among vineyards, restaurants, and the Chamber. Many of the wineries and restaurants expressed interest in hosting future events, such as a fall harvest festival or a “Wine & Cheese” pairing workshop.

Looking Forward

The 2025 Palisade Wine & Food Summer Festival left no stone unturned in its celebration of the region’s produce and passion. The event’s success has spurred talk of expanding the festival next year—perhaps adding a second venue in the neighboring town of Lodi or incorporating an online streaming component for people who can’t make the trip.

For now, Palisade’s residents and visitors alike can take a page from the festival’s story: a small community, a shared love for great food and wine, and the willingness to collaborate can produce an experience that resonates beyond town limits. As the last of the bottles were closed and the final encore faded into twilight, one thing was clear: Palisade’s summer wine and food festival was more than a celebration of grapes—it was a testament to a town’s evolving identity, its communal spirit, and its relentless drive to grow.