Mines alumnus manages sucessful Colorado winery

Colorado School of Mines alumnus John Matthewson has established Terror Creek Winery, which encompasses approximately 150 rows of grapes.

The Paonia, Colorado winery was purchased by Mathweson, a 1953 graduate, while he worked as a geological engineer in Nigeria. He subsequently worked in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia and Yemen.

With nearly 25 years in the winery business, he focuses on the production of dry reislings and Gewürztraminers style wines. His wife, Joan, is active in the business having spent time taking wine production courses in Switzerland and interning with wineries near Geneva. This experience influenced the vineyard’s focus on Alsatian style wines. The winery still hold wine tastings during the summer season.

The winery business was supported by John’s career within the international oil and gas industry.

The couple has two sons, one who also attended CSM and now works for Shlumberger. The other has worked with drones in the U.S. Air Force and owns a craft brewery in Virginia.