Aspen Peak Cellars at Clifton House Inn

The winding dirt road that separates Aspen Peak Cellars from the bustle along U.S. 285 is littered with hectic schedules that have been happily left behind.

The winery and bistro are now part of the Clifton House Inn, a Victorian farmhouse built in 1875. Today, Marcel and Julie Flukiger, proprietors of Aspen Peak Cellars, offer tasty cuisine from their restaurant and a ready glass of their own fine wines.
“We’re easing into it,” Marcel said, “but now, all the parts of the business are in place.”

Clifton House Inn is a four-bedroom bed and breakfast with antique ambience and vintage charm. The old inn perches on a hilltop on 5 acres with a stunning view south to Pikes Peak.

Inside, the essence of wine spills across everything. Shuttered cabinets hold a selection of wine glasses, and the tall, carved counter holds a refrigerated lazy Susan that displays spotlighted wines. Marcel’s warm welcome and hint of a Swiss accent draw connoisseurs and the curious alike to learn more about wine and good food.

People frequently ask how the Flukigers make their wines. The barrel room sits off the main dining room and holds future harvests: red wines in wood barrels, white wines in tubs.

Marcel and Julie make their own blend, and they produce all types of wine from sparkling to dry, white to red. Their wines have won international awards in categories that contained up to 4,500 entries.

There are no vineyards at Aspen Peak Cellars. The couple purchase raw juice from vintners whose fruits grow around the world. The staff offers samples of several varieties.

Board members of the Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 18 to welcome Aspen Peak Cellars to the area and toast its success as a new part of the Conifer community.

Cathy Davis, chamber executive director, stayed after the ceremony to visit.

“It’s a great escape,” Davis said.

Places to escape include two elegant but comfortable dining rooms and a substantial outdoor patio.

Everything at the bistro is homemade, from the wine to the salad dressing. Marcel and Julie are skilled chefs and designed their distinctive menu. Marcel trained to be a chef in his native Switzerland, and Julie attended the Culinary Institute of America.
Bottles of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and Conifer red pair nicely with smoked-elk carpaccio appetizers, salads with candied walnuts and blackberry vinaigrette, and sandwiches with olive tapenade. Three- and four-course gourmet meals are served on special occasions by reservation.

Special events can be celebrated at Aspen Peak Cellars. Both the inn and 6,000-square-foot restored barn are available for special events, weddings and parties. The barn, mostly used for summer events, can accommodate up to 150 guests.
Conifer residents Curt and Joann Huffman came to sample the food and spirits, and they chose a table by the bay window. As they left, they chatted with Marcel, the consummate host, who invited them to return soon.

The little bistro in the historical Clifton House Inn is very much like a fine wine — meant to be savored.

Box:
Aspen Peak Cellars at the Clifton House Inn
12414 S U.S. 285, Conifer; 303-816-5505 or toll-free at 866-604-3751
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday brunch; closed Tuesdays.
Visit the winery at http://www.aspenpeakcellars.com. Or the Clifton House Inn at http://www.cliftonhouseinn.com.