18261 Road G Cortez, CO 81321

The magic of McElmo Canyon is as appreciated today by artists and writers, vintners and archeologists as it was by The Ancients, who chose to settle in this majestic area thousands of years ago. One of the nation's precious hidden gems and perhaps its next Napa Valley, this amazing canyon's property is ripe for the picking. This water-rich 58 acres is anchored by a beautiful stone house built in 1899, and completely updated circa 2006. One of the first homesteads in the canyon, it is shaded by 140-year-old cottonwood trees, and surrounded by apple, pear, peach, cherry and plum trees, a 3-acre vineyard, gorgeous landscaping and a wonderful patio from which to enjoy it all. The "proof-of-concept" vineyard produces enough Baco Noir, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc and award-winning Traminette grapes to create 3000+ bottles of your own wine a year. Wine-making equipment in the barn! Or sell your grapes to one of the local wineries. In the farmhouse, a warm living-dining-kitchen area wraps around the original stone fireplace. Also on this level are the laundry room and a full bathroom. Upstairs are the master bedroom, bathroom and a romantic balcony overlooking the vineyard, as well as a second bedroom. The house is serviced by a brand new boiler and city water, and the land by extensive water rights. The large, paid-for array of solar panels power all the irrigation equipment and produce more electricity than is being used. McElmo Creek runs through the lower level of the property—a completely private, flat area. This is an Airbnb and VRBO paradise! Reminiscent of southern France, a short-term rental here would likely be booked solid, judging by the success of other vacation rentals in the canyon. Incredible backdrop for weddings and other events. Serve your guests breakfast at the farmhouse, evening wine on the flagstone patio, and during the day send them off with a packed lunch to enjoy Sand Canyon—gateway to Canyons of The Ancients—just down the road, to Mesa Verde, Hovenweep or any of the other incredible sites nearby. (Please note: Montezuma County is open to ideas like these, but anything more than short-term rentals needs to be approved.) With the airport an easy 5 miles away, the lovely weather almost guaranteed by its location in horticultural zone 7a, and the ambience already built in, this fertile oasis is a dream destination.