The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

Canon City, Colorado – July 7, 2014

We were on the road around 09:00 for our 50-minute trip to Cañon City. Our targeted tourist destination of the day was The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey. We all thought Monday would be an excellent day for tourism. We were wrong.
Our arrival was about 15 minutes before the opening time of 10:00. We sat at one of the picnic tables in the shade and waited. The shop opened a few minutes early. As soon as we entered, we inquired about the next tour of the winery. We were disappointed to learn that tours are only done on the weekends, and then only by appointment. I had looked on the website a day or two earlier, but I had failed to discover that salient fact. We opted for the next best thing, a wine tasting. Leslie and I tasted several wines, purchasing some to take home.
I was aware the Abbey was no longer a functioning religious location. I had just assumed, based on the name, that the winery had purchased the Abbey and operated the distillation process from there. I was wrong–again.
Leaving the shop, we drove the short distance next door to the Abbey. We participated in a self-guided tour. It was interesting; however, it was also disappointing. I imagine the wine will dull some of the disappointment of the day.

The east side of the Abbey of the Holy Cross in Cañon City.
A mud-brick outbuilding at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey.
The barn at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey.
A different view of the barn at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey.
A Viet Nam era bronze statue.
The stained glass in the chapel at the Abbey of the Holy Cross.
Detail of the stained glass in the chapel at the Abbey of the Holy Cross.
The Latin on the floor medallion translates as Abbey Holy Cross Peace.

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