Avalon Arbor Vineyard is a collaborative vineyard allowing CSU students to learn every aspect of growing, pruning, and harvesting. Students are only a bus ride away, and they love and appreciate having access to this all natural, beautiful vineyard, located on 10 acres in the heart of Fort Collins.
In 2010, Abe Barghelame decided he wanted a vineyard on his property. He wanted it to add beauty, but also so that students could learn and benefit from it. Abe connected with someone at Colorado State University ( CSU ), who helped him get things started. Two teachers in particular were most instrumental in setting up the vineyard; Dr. Stephen Menke and Dr. Horst Caspari. Avalon Arbor Vineyard is the only “experimental vineyard” in our area. The next closest vineyard that CSU works with is in Grand Junctio
The grape cultivar test vineyard at Avalon Arbor is a cooperative venture with CSU Viticulture and Enology Concentration . Dr. Stephen Menke and Dr. Horst Caspari, with the generosity of the Barghelame Family to provide the site, now are in the 4th year of this test of cold hardy grape cultivars, with CSU students helping with vineyard care and with the wines made from the 2016 harvest. You can see some photos of the students in the Gallery .