Danielle and Justin Caruso had a dream to find property that reminded them of a scene out of a Hallmark Movie. They searched for ten years before their perfect acreage presented itself in 2021. Situated on the South Platte River, the 45-acre property has trees, a vineyard, flowing water and farmable land. It ticked every box on their list.
The Carusos had a vision to create a place where people could gather, celebrate, drink good wine, enjoy a delicious meal, shop and listen to live music in a beautiful setting. Just six months after closing on the property, they hosted their first concert with about 500 attendees. Since then, they have been busy developing, creating and constructing new spaces and experiences.
The name Salt & Acres was inspired by the biblical term Salt of the Earth which refers to good, honest and hardworking people. Salt is also a preservative and nods to their motto: Preserve the Moment.
Just three years after opening, Salt & Acres is now a multifaceted business, with a farm, vineyard, market, tasting room, restaurant, concert and wedding venue and outdoor children’s area.
The Farm
Prosper Fields is a cut-flower farm. All of the flowers in the tasting room, restaurant, and market are grown on the property. They also use their flowers to garnish the beverages and plates. Bouquets are available for purchase in their market. Salt & Acres also grows their own produce for use in their restaurant.
The Vineyard
The property came with a six-acre vineyard. The Carusos are working with the CSU Agriculture Department to help train vines and establish high-quality grapes for wine making. Salt & Acres is currently sourcing their grapes from California and their estate label, Ampersands, is available in their tasting room.
The Market
No trip to Salt & Acres would be complete without a visit to The Barn, which houses gifts, food, souvenirs, décor and Salt & Acres branded items. They also offer a “Build Your Own Picnic Basket” option, where you can choose various imported meats, cheeses, fruit, and other delicious accoutrements to enjoy while visiting the picturesque property
Tasting Room & Restaurant
“The tasting room is the heart and soul of Salt & Acres,” Danielle says. “We offer seasonal food and drinks as well as our exclusive wine label, Ampersands Wines. It is great for a date night as well as small or large celebrations.”
The Tasting Room seats about 70 indoors and 70 outdoors on the expansive deck. There are also fire pits along the waterfront for people to enjoy. Salt & Acres proudly sources their spirits locally from Family Jones, Suerte, and Curation for use in their handcrafted cocktails.
The lunch and dinner menu offers a variety of seasonal dishes, salads, finger foods, sharables, and flatbread pizzas. The brunch menu, available on Sundays, offers breakfast items, charcuterie and more. They are known for their scratch-made biscuits and their menu offers a variety of ways to enjoy them.
The Venue
The venue hosts an intimate farm-style summer concert series. Since opening, they have hosted 10 Nashville artists with number one hits and grammy nominations. The concert stage offers a mountain view and high-quality lighting and sound for a one-of-a-kind concert experience. Seating includes a VIP area with various seating options, and general admission with blanket seating and standing area in front of the stage.
Local food trucks are brought in and an additional smaller bar called the Acrey is opened up to provide wine, cocktails, and mocktails for the guests.
Salt & Acres also sets aside one weekend per month as a wedding venue. They recommend reservations far in advance.
45 Acre Woods Children’s Play Area
Salt & Acres is a family friendly space and offers a “natural scape” play area, with a treehouse and equipment that blends into the natural environment. They have also included themed toys for kids to create their own farm stand, bakery, restaurant and flower shop.
Coming Soon
The house on the property of Salt & Acres will be the future home of The Acrey Biscuit House & Coffee. Guests will be able to purchase baked goods, jellies, and butters to enjoy with their coffee in late 2025.
Website: https://saltandacres.com/
Instagram + Facebook @SaltAndAcres
“The tasting room is the heart and soul of Salt & Acres.” -Danielle Caruso