OUR STORY
Thirty years ago on a ranch deep in Southwest Colorado a tiny vineyard was planted on a whim.
A small metal sign on the ditch, deep in McElmo Canyon read: melons, tomatoes, peaches, ranch. The fruit was bought and an offer was made on the ranch. The next day the offer was accepted and low and behold Sutcliffe Vineyards was born.
John says, “The architect, Reggie Gibson, who designed my two houses, had camped on our newly acquired ranch, absorbed the nature of the place, and then toured Northern New Mexico to gain inspiration from buildings that addressed the prevailing essence of this canyon, Truchas, Chimayo, Taos, and of course, Santa Fe. Sitting in the drawing room, cradling a glass of good bourbon and nibbling at anchovy-smothered toast, he expounded an idea that would fundamentally change my life. In an accent honed in Anderson, South Carolina, he said, ‘I believe vines’d be beautiful around these houses…no, I really do.’
Before I could dispel this idea, my wife (at the time), Emily, responded in an accent also from South Carolina, “Yes, Reggie. What a great idea.” And so the saga began.
When John Sutcliffe was operating Tavern on the Green in New York City, he gave unwavering support to California Vineyards when they were still a tough sell in the city; France and Italy ruled. To Sutcliffe's delight and surprise, some of those vintners, now deeply successful, appeared to help him plant vines years later.
The idea of churning out wine in a place that is absolutely ideal has no appeal, so there was something entrancing about the idea that it’s impossible to make wine here, in the harsh wilderness of McElmo Canyon.
Two of Colorado's most celebrated and trusted winemakers began to build this iconic label. Ben Parsons first, on his way to creating the legendary Infinite Monkey and then Joe Buckle for 12 years before establishing Buckle Family Wine. What a great start.
We remain committed to their passion and talent. Twenty years on, the vines are weathered and strong, the wine more complex, and the tradition continues under Jesus Castillo’s devoted eye. We have been told that our inception was the beginning of a new approach to winemaking in our beloved Colorado, 4,000 cases a year of world class wine. To this day, we continue to garner more awards than any other Colorado Vineyard. Isolated, idiosyncratic, passionate and stubborn, we know no other way.
HISTORY OF SUTCLIFFE VINEYARDS
In 2017 we stole Mikey Christensen from Stonefish, a great Sushi restaurant, where he was sous-chef. He had joked with our winemakers, who frequented the place, about making wine, and soon afterwards he came on board. We knew he was a good cook and loved the great sauces he made from the chillis he grew, but we were soon to learn that his brilliant sense of flavor and taste would be a vital component of our wine making. He is both innovative and a traditionalist in his approach and his taste can always be relied upon.
Our Winemaker Jesus Castillo began his career at the Vineyard in 1996, managing the livestock and hay operation. His firm but gentle way with the animals was astonishing as well as his ability to rope a crazy heifer plunging through the willows. As the Wine operation grew, Jesus became increasingly involved, first with Ben Parsons of "Infinite Monkey" notoriety, Joe Buckel of Buckel family wine and as mentor to David Culliton of the Fableist in Paso Robles. All the winemakers extolled Jesus' talents and this has been endorsed by the fabulous wines he has crafted since 2017. We are proud to have had Jesus raise his 3 children on the Vineyard.
OUR VINTNERS
HARVEST
Sutcliffe's harvest season is a time of anticipation and celebration as we hand-pick the finest grapes from our vineyards. It's a labor of love that marks the beginning of building the exceptional wines that define our vineyard.
OUR VALUES
Nurturing Nature, Crafting Excellence, & Building Community
Letting the Earth Speak
At the heart of our vineyard lies a profound respect for the natural world. We see ourselves as stewards of the land, and this reverence for nature informs every aspect of our winemaking. Our goal is not just to produce exceptional wines, but to do so in harmony with nature.
Building Community
Wine is meant to be shared, and we believe in fostering connections within our community. Whether it's welcoming guests to our tasting rooms, collaborating with local artisans, or supporting charitable initiatives, we strive to create a sense of belonging and togetherness. Sutcliffe Vineyards is not just a place to enjoy wine; it's a gathering point where relationships are nurtured and memories are made.
Crafting Excellence
We are dedicated to the artistry of winemaking. Every vine, every grape, and every barrel is treated with meticulous care and attention.Quality is non-negotiable, and our commitment to crafting exceptional wines is unwavering.
Honoring Heritage
While we are dedicated to innovation, we also hold deep reverence for tradition. Our vineyard's history is woven into the fabric of our wines, and we take pride in honoring the winemakers who came before us. It's this balance between the old and the new that lends depth and character to our wines.
In every bottle of Sutcliffe wine, you'll find a distillation of these values—nature's bounty, the pursuit of excellence, a sense of community, and a deep respect for tradition. We invite you to share in these values with us, raising a glass to the beauty of the land, the artistry of winemaking, and the connections that make life richer.
Welcome to Sutcliffe Vineyards, where our values become your experience.
"In wine, we find both the artistry of the team and the poetry of the winemaker's passion."
Meet the Team
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John Sutcliffe
FOUNDER
As I get older, much older, I feel compelled to explain why I choose to continue on the same demanding and at times anguished path. I have always loved to spin a tale and I have done enough things, seen enough places and met enough people to keep some of those tales interesting. Why then not rest on those experiential moments to regale my friends and acquaintances, perhaps inject the odd twist or detail to retain their attention. Quite simply it is in the joy of new moments, new places, new people that have always funded the stories, would I deny myself those pleasures in the future. Would I be satisfied to have found a place of tired contentment. My compulsion is to communicate my endless curiosity, my tireless fascination with ideas and thoughts, from the most compelling to most amusing. I have a Vineyard and Farm and people deeply committed to its success, who have assumed the same fascination with this eccentric place. I am compelled to ensure they take it further. It is a role I cannot deny.
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Jesus Castillo
LEAD WINEMAKER
Our Winemaker Jesus Castillo began his career at the Vineyard in 1996, managing the livestock and hay operation. His firm but gentle way with the animals was astonishing as well as his ability to rope a crazy heifer plunging through the willows. As the Wine operation grew, Jesus became increasingly involved, first with Ben Parsons of "Infinite Monkey" noteriority, Joe Buckel of Buckel family wine and as mentor to David Culliton of the Fableist in Paso Robles. All the winemakers extolled Jesus' talents and this has been endorsed by the fabulous wines he has crafted since 2017. We are proud to have had Jesus raise his 3 children on the Vineyard, a demanding but exciting place.
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Mikey Christensen
ASSISTANT WINEMAKER
In 2017 we stole Mikey Christensen from Stonefish, a great Sushi restaurant, where he was sous-chef. He had joked with our winemakers, who frequented the place, about making wine, and soon afterwards he came on board. We knew he was a great cook and loved the great sauces he made from the chillis he grew, but we were soon to learn that his brilliant sense of flavor and taste would be a vital component of our wine making. He is both innovative and a traditionalist in his approach and his taste can always be relied upon.
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Hannah Acee
DURANGO TASTING ROOM MANAGER
We have always had a penchant for stealing good help. Good people always have a job. Hannah was plucked from our favorite Coffee shop. Somehow we knew that the way seemed above the mire would suit us, didn't care how young she was, liked her poise and confidence, knew she would thrive if given a project of her own. We were right, her style and creativity already prevails in the Tasting Room in Durango, the events she holds are whimsical and clever. We sometimes even celebrate our inability to curb her fun, sometimes!
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Celestia French
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
A Native Santa Fean, Celestia has made her home with her husband and their two children in Durango, Colorado. Her adoration for excellent food and wine makes her a perfect fit to the Sutcliffe Team. Her careers have varied from modeling and photo shoot production, writing and magazine editing, to online marketing and creative direction. When not baking scones for John’s garden parties and taking thousands of pictures of our clients and staff for social media, you can find her hiking and camping with her family, or with her nose in a glass of wine whilst dreamily writing up tasting notes.
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Antonio Samperio
VINEYARD OPERATIONS
Searching for answers in a state of despair, Antonio has developed an eye for opportunity. Robust health, compassionate decisiveness and an autodidact mentality has secured this lad a spot in McElmo Canyon. Mexican American, Antonio shares truths with everyone on the team and fills roles from splitting logs to looking after the Wine Society. He’s found all the mentorship needed to understand every aspect of the business. Aspirations of legacy for the estate. Antonio has a fire in the belly that can only be doused with wine.