With elevations ranging from 4000 to 7000 feet above sea level, Colorado’s vineyards are among the highest in the world. The continental climate (warm days + cool nights + low humidity) creates ideal conditions for the cultivation of grapes required to produce premium wines. Home to 2 designated American Viticultural Areas, Grand Valley and West Elks, Colorado has a thriving wine industry with more than 60 wineries throughout the state.
The Grand Valley AVA, the largest and oldest AVA in Colorado, is the birthplace of Colorado’s resurgent wine industry and home to more than a dozen wineries. Located just west of Grand Junction, the AVA includes some of the highest vineyards in North America, averaging 4700 square feet. Grapes receive almost 300 days of intense sun, combined with warm, dry days and cool nights, resulting in intense flavors and balanced wines.
The highest altitude vineyards in the northern hemisphere exist in the West Elks AVA. Created in 2001, the AVA includes 10 wineries stretched across a 75-acre area just east of Paonia to the west of Hotchkiss. Similar to the Alsace region in France, the West Elks AVA is producing quality Gewürztraminer and Rieslings, followed by Pinot Noir.
This week I will highlight some of Colorado’s best wineries including Canyon Wind Cellars, Garfield Estates Vineyard and Winery, and Allis Ranch Winery. I invite you along to see why the wine industry is becoming serious business in Colorado. Cheers!
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November 15, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Brian – Looking forward to upcoming post(s) on Colorado. I never had the chance to visit actual wineries out in the Western part of CO, but I did have the chance to visit several tasting rooms in and around Denver, including the Canyon Wind tasting room in Georgetown, CO… still have a couple of bottles of their wine at home (Cab Franc I believe). My visits preceded my blog, so I don’t have specific tasting notes, but I recall the reds being quite good.
Cheers!
November 15, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Hi Frank,
Canyon Wind Cellars has some very impressive reds. I sampled the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and though both were excellent (very fair pricing as well). I still have a PV I need to open, but will probably save for a food pairing. Any wine trips planned in the next month or so? Cheers!
November 16, 2009 at 8:33 am
Very cool! I’m looking forward to hearing about these wineries…. how do they compare to the ones in CA? Less touristy?
Cheers!
November 17, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Hey Brian, I had a class in CO about two years ago and got to taste some CO wine at an outdoor mall of all places. It was pretty good juice, so looking forward to your posts on the CO wine industry. I think its pretty cool that these areas that was not considered as wine growing areas not too long ago are getting it right
Happy Sipping!
November 19, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Thanks for your readership Dezel! It’s amazing the quality that continues to come out of the other 46 states. Hopefully the trend will continue and people will start to take notice. It’s definitely not a secret anymore. Cheers bro!