We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassidee Shull and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassidee, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) is a 501(c)6 membership-based trade non-profit that exists to support and encourage grape growing and wine making throughout the state of Colorado! We are most known for our consumer focused (and largest fundraising) event that takes place each fall in Palisade. Colorado Mountain Winefest brings together dozens of Colorado wineries for unlimited samples, educational seminars, chef demos and live music each year celebrating our growing wine industry. All funds raised from this event go towards our annual VinCO Conference & Trade Show, our region’s only conference dedicated to winemaking and grape growing. Each year during VinCO, we bring seminar speakers together from across the country and sometimes the world to speak our industry on the latest in viticulture, enology and business and marketing. We also host a Trade Show, networking events and an Industry Awards Banquet. CAVE also works with a dedicated lobbyist who monitors legislation on behalf of the wine industry, running legislation when appropriate. We host an Amateur Winemaker Competition each summer, encouraging the next generation of winemakers in Colorado who one day may open up the next winery!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

The Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) is the only membership based, trade non-profit that exists to support and encourage the Colorado wine industry throughout our state. Our membership consists of winemakers, grape growers, allied trade partners, and amateur wine makers statewide and beyond. Though CAVE is an industry focused non-profit, we are most publicly known for organizing our Colorado Mountain Winefest every September in Palisade. This event is our largest fundraiser and brings in thousands of wine enthusiasts to the Grand Valley each fall from around the world. In 2017, Colorado Mountain Winefest was named the Best Wine Festival in the Nation by USA TODAY! The event has also received the Outstanding Community Tourism Award from the Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference.

All proceeds for Winefest go back into our industry during our regional conference, VinCO, held every January in Grand Junction. This event is held in conjunction with the Western Colorado Horticultural Society and includes an interactive trade show, Wine Industry Awards Banquet and networking events. We bring in dozens of industry leaders from around the world to speak to our growers and winemakers on the latest in viticulture, enology and business and marketing. The event has grown consistently over the past 13 years as we are bringing in attendees from sister winemaking states, Canada and beyond. It is incredibly exciting to see our wine industry continue to grow, produce award-winning wine, and be recognized nationally for all that they are accomplishing. Most recently The Grand Valley and Colorado wine in general have been featured in Top Travel Destination articles such as The New York Times, Travel + Leisure and Wine Enthusiast among others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Visiting Colorado wineries is always top on my itinerary for obvious reasons! Whenever I have friends or family ask for recommendations, it is always a very personalized response. It depends on the time of year, whether they are looking to enjoy nature and the outdoors, want to relax and recharge, or spend time with kiddos. Sitting on the Palisade Tourism Advisory Board and working closely with the Colorado Tourism Office offers the great opportunity to stay in the know of the latest places to visit, hidden gems and not to miss events! Feel free to reach out if you are looking for a curated Colorado experience!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our Program Director and Volunteer Coordinator, Melinda Tredway has been an absolutely vital part of the success, growth and upward trajectory not only of CAVE, but of the Colorado wine industry as a whole. She began working with the organization shortly after I was hired in 2012 and we have been going strong ever since! From leading over 350 volunteers during our largest fundraiser, Colorado Mountain Winefest, to organizing and booking dozens of speakers during our annual VinCO Conference, there is so much behind the scenes she is responsible for that keeps the organization running smoothly. Plus, we have a fantastic working relationship and just have fun together each day. I am incredibly grateful to work alongside her!

Website: www.ColoradoWinefest.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misscassidee/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-shull/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misscassidee

Image Credits
Dancing in my Head Photography & Jim Cox

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.