Livin' la Vida Local on tasteMAKERS – Focus: the From the Hip Photo blog

Jack Rabbit Hill Farm

Jack Rabbit Hill Farm is a diversified farm and producer of local Colorado wine. The farm sits near Hotchkiss in western Colorado’s North Fork Valley. The farm grows 18 acres of grapes, and is also home to sheep and cattle. In 2006, Jack Rabbit Hill Farm began practicing biodynamic farming. This farming method entails “fermenting/composting different plant and animal materials together.” This helps the farm avoid using inorganic pesticides and fertilizer. The owner of Jack Rabbit Hill Farm, Lance Hanson, claims the practice has increased the quality of his products. Judging by the fact that the farm’s local Colorado wine is starring in its own episode of tasteMAKERS next, we’re inclined to believe him!

Lance’s episode will focus on a program he calls WineTapistry. The program offers Jack Rabbit Hill Farm wines at lower prices to “Colorado restaurants, caterers, and events.” It also includes a few non-Coloradan wines selected by Lance. You can find WineTapistry at venues such as Denver’s own Yeah Baby and Bar Dough. But the program goes beyond offering delightful local Colorado wine. All the WineTapistry wines can be blended together to create new, custom wines for any ocassion.

The Maker Movement

tasteMAKERS is a series on modern American cuisine, hosted Cat Neville. The show takes a look at makers “who approach their work with a focus on authenticity, quality, and sustainability.” Neville has been working for over 20 years, and has won many Emmy Awards for her reporting. Each half-hour episode of the show consists of three parts. Neville profiles the maker, details the maker’s process, and tastes the final results. Season one of tasteMAKERS will have 14 episodes on topics ranging from spirits to snail farming.

You can watch a trailer for the Jack Rabbit Hill Farms episode and learn more about Lance’s work here. Be sure to tune in to your local PBS station on Wednesday, November 7 to catch the full episode!