Sauvage Spectrum’s 2024 Zweigelt wine has received the Best in Show award at this year’s Colorado Uncorked event, which is organized by the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB), a part of the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The recognition follows Sauvage Spectrum’s previous inclusion in the Governor’s Cup Collection in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
The winning wine, a Zweigelt—a red grape variety originally from Austria—was entered into the Governor’s Cup competition for the first time this year. Two Zweigelt wines are featured among this year’s finalists.
“Colorado Uncorked celebrates Colorado’s growing wine producers, and our success in putting Colorado on the map for well-regarded wine regions. Congratulations to Sauvage Spectrum for their award-winning bright, fresh, and fruity Zweigelt,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“Zweigelt is the most planted red grape in Austria and I am confident it will gain traction here in Colorado,” said CWIDB executive director Kyle Schlachter. “This year’s Collection is the most diverse group of grapes we’ve seen, with lesser-known varieties like Aromella, Grüner Veltliner, and Rkatsiteli showing their unique characteristics.”
Judges named Sauvage Spectrum’s Zweigelt as both Best Red Wine and Best in Show. Fox Fire Farms’ Aromella was recognized as Best White Wine. The judging panel also awarded ten additional Double Gold medals and selected Kold Prairie Mead’s Ethereal as Best Mead outside of the main collection honors.
Sauvage Spectrum operates out of Palisade, Colorado. Founder Kaibab Sauvage started the estate-grown winery in 2019 with winemaker Patric Matysiewski after two decades of grape-growing experience. The winery focuses on experimenting with new grape varieties to help shape future trends within Colorado’s wine industry. Their products are available throughout Colorado retail locations and at their Palisade tasting room.
The annual Governor’s Cup competition drew 251 submissions from wineries across several states: 43 from Colorado, eight from Idaho, one from Arizona, and one meadery from New Mexico. Sixteen judges—sommeliers, writers, and industry experts—conducted blind tastings before selecting twelve double gold medalists for this year’s collection; an additional ten double gold awards were given—the highest number to date.
The CWIDB plans to use these wines over the coming year for marketing both inside and outside of Colorado as well as for educational efforts aimed at improving local winemaking standards.
Wines included in this year’s Governor’s Cup Collection come from producers across various regions including Grand Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), West Elks AVA, Denver metro area cities such as Littleton and Breckenridge, Paonia, Hotchkiss, Ignacio (Fox Fire Farms), Fairplay (Continental Divide Winery), Carboy Winery locations statewide—and others—with varietals ranging from Cabernet Franc to Albariño.
