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The Storm Cellar

Sommeliers turned winemakers, rewriting Colorado’s wine future

Set atop Sunshine Mesa, The Storm Cellar produces award-winning whites and rosés that have garnered national acclaim—crafted by a husband-and-wife team of former Denver sommeliers.

The Storm Cellar is a project founded upon a love of Colorado and a desire to make great wine. The goal was to help put a relatively unknown, yet up-and-coming region, on the national map. The elevated property sits atop Sunshine Mesa, between the towns of Paonia and Hotchkiss. Ideally, it is well above the valley floor, virtually alone atop the mesa. The cellar is a collaborative vision between Steve Steese and Jayme Henderson. They two Denver sommeliers are now farmers and winemakers.

Insider Insight

Request the “Sunset Flight”, a seated tasting offered on the edge of the mesa, complete with blankets, lanterns, and a backdrop of the West Elk Mountains. Email ahead for their harvest volunteer list—participants may receive private barrel samples and discounts not available to the public.


High elevation, high energy, and wines with story.
The Smalls