Meet The Team

Kaibab Sauvage

Kaibab Sauvage

Wine Grower

Born and raised in Palisade on the Western Slope of Colorado to a small peach farmer and water chemist. Kaibab, has been fascinated with nurturing and growing his whole life. At 4 years old, clad in irrigation boots he would take a glass of water into the front yard every day and water a small area. Soon, a small sapling sprouted and over time grew a magnificent tree that thrived there for 20 years!

After graduating cum laude from Colorado Mesa University 2000 with a B.S. in Biology-Chemistry Minor, he returned to the fields and began his wine grape growing career. Kaibab Sauvage owner of Colorado Vineyard Specialists has been perfecting growing grapes in Palisade for more than 2 decades. Numerous award winning Colorado Wines have their origins in his vineyards. He has been passionately seeking the best cultivars and locations for Colorado’s unique climate. Now, with a shared vison through the talented wine making partner Patric they are fashioning together progressive, exciting, elevated wines using 100% estate grown fruit!

Patric Matysiewski

Winemaker

In 2010 Patric Matysiewski began a career in fermentation. Hired on at Breckenridge Brewery originally to prep in the kitchen and wash dishes. Within a few months he was summoned to operate the canning line. From here on he excelled to bottling line operator and keg filler and washer. Learning the ins and outs of the cold side of brewing and cellaring.

Mid 2012 he was approached by the CEO of a popular urban winery to not only learn to make wine, but aid in the alternative packaging revolution of wine. It was here, his crossover from the brewing industry played a vital role in the development of his career.

Patric remained at IMT until early 2017. From there he exercised the Colorado Vintner’s Restaurant License in partnership with a restaurant group in Breckenridge, CO undertaking the ambitious project of designing, excavating, and installing an underground winery underneath one of the most iconic bars in the state. Again utilizing cross training gained from the brewing industry, wines are served from pressurized Bright Barrel Vessels directly to the taps in a dual concept restaurant / wine tasting room setting. This first system of its kind in the world.

Late 2018 a cider label was added to his company under the name Ten Mile Cider Co. Summit County’s first homegrown brand utilizing Colorado grown pome fruit.

Patric Matysiewski

Patric’s Awards:

GLINTCAP

2014 IMT Dry Hopped Pear Cider – GOLD

SONOMA MARIN NORTH OF THE GATE

2017 Carboy Winery Albariño GV – SILVER

SONOMA MARIN NORTH OF THE GATE

2017 Carboy Winery Rosé GV – BRONZE

COLORADO GOVERNOR’S CUP

2017 Carboy Winery Cabernet Franc GV – SILVER

2017 Carboy Winery Rosé GV – SILVER

2017 Carboy Winery Pinot Gris WE – SILVER

2017 Carboy Winery Albariño GV – SILVER

2017 Viognier GV – BRONZE

James Suckling AMERICAN WINE REVOLUTION

2017 Carboy Winery Cabernet Franc GV – 90

2017 Carboy Winery Rosé GV – 89

2017 Carboy Winery Viognier GV – 87

MICHELLE WEST

Palisade Tasting Room, Wine Club, AND EVENTS COORDINATOR

Michelle is a Native of Colorado who grew up only an hour from Palisade.  She moved to Grand Junction to attend College and graduated from Mesa State College in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine.  She then spent the next 6 years working as an Athletic Trainer/MA in Orthopedics and Plastic Surgery.  After having her first son in 2017 she decided it was time for a change and that is when she was introduced to the wine world.  Since the day she started working as a tasting room associate in 2017 she fell in love with the industry and never looked back.  She loves meeting new people and strives to make your trip to Palisade a memorable one.

Michelle is married with two sweet little boys and when she isn’t working she enjoys long walks to the couch with a glass of wine to watch trashy TV. She is also very outdoorsy… she loves to drink wine on the patio, in the mountains, or by a lake. Her hobbies include avoiding stepping on dinosaurs, constantly cleaning up said dinosaurs, cleaning surfaces while asking “what is that”?, making meals that get thrown on the floor or fed to the dogs, and more recently answering to the question WHY 1,000 times a day!

Patric Matysiewski

John Calacino

Tasting room lead, wine tour guide, & level 2 sommelier
Since this time I’ve purchased a vineyard, worked it myself with help from my incredible wife Carol. The experience I learned in farming my vines led me to study for and attain a level two Sommelier certification from the International Sommelier Guild. I started working for Sauvage Spectrum Estate Winery in late 2020, where I work as the in house Sommelier pouring wine and doing private wine tours that help educate our customers on the process from harvest to glass. I take great pride in working for Sauvage Spectrum Estate Winery!
 
 

Patric Matysiewski

Hannah Parnell

Assistant WineMaker
Hannah joined Sauvage as the Assistant Winemaker in 2023, combining creativity, scientific interest, and hands-on experience. Initially encouraged to pursue art, Hannah explored this path before transitioning to organic farming. The connection to nature and rewarding physical labor resonated deeply.
Through farming, Hannah discovered a passion for viticulture and then winemaking at a small winery in Pennsylvania. The blend of science, creativity, and the satisfaction of crafting a tangible product became a significant interest.

An avid rock climber, Hannah enjoys the adventurous lifestyle of the West. At Sauvage, she contributes to the winery’s efforts, driven by a commitment to learning and the craft of winemaking.

Patric Matysiewski

Seven people wearing plaid shirts smile and pose inside an old, weathered trailer. Two people in front hold a glass award and a bottle of wine. Gravel is visible on the ground outside the trailer.

bobbi blank

Tasting Room Associate

Tricia Duran

Tasting Room Associate

kathy bennett

Tasting Room Associate

amanda cose

Tasting Room Associate

tess peterson

Tasting Room Associate

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November 23
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December 8
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December 16
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