Sutcliffe wines and Heinrich gold: perfect pairing at Telluride Gallery of Fine Art tonight

29 Dec Sutcliffe wines and Heinrich gold: perfect pairing at Telluride Gallery of Fine Art tonight

[ click play button to hear]

“Panache” is his middle name. A Brit by birth, John Sutcliffe’s wines are as mellifluous as his vowels, which are decidedly upper “U.” (Britspeak for Upper Class.)

John came to the USA in 1968 after serving seven years in the British Army. He graduated Reed College in 1973 before moving to New York City. Once in town, John took a big bite out of the Big Apple by successfully navigating the perilous restaurant world: first he managed the uber hip Maxwell’s Plum, then helped Warner Leroy re-open Tavern on the Green. A series of other high profile eateries followed, including two in Carolina, John’s next address in the States.

John purchased Battlerock Ranch in Cortez 1992, 88 acres in McElmo Canyon. At first he raised hay – the literal variety – and also fruit, vegetables and some livestock. In 1995, he planted his first vines. By 2001, Sutcliffe Vineyards’ first vintage, the 1999, was released. In a blink, the Colorado winery had a bullet attached to its name: the culinary world and its scribes had found a new love child.

As 2008 winds down, Sutcliffe’s ambitious plans for the New Year include boosting production to 4,000 cases and bagging few more plum New York restaurants. Most of all, he hopes to produce better and better wines: bigger, lustier, denser, even more complex.

We are honored that John has agreed to become TIO’s wine maven. From time to, he will pair recipes from local chefs and caterers with his award-winning output.

Tonight John will be pouring his wines at the opening of Barbara Heinrich’s new lines of jewelry at the Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, a perfect pairing.

To hear more from the horse’s mouth, press the “play” button and listen to John’s podcast.