Colorado wine

Colorado's grape growing regions contain some of the highest elevation vineyards in the world, with most viticulture in the state practiced between 4,000 feet (1,219 m) and 7,000 feet (2,134 m) feet above sea level. The mountain climate ensures warm summer days and cool nights. Colorado is home to two designated American Viticultural Areas of the Grand Valley AVA and the West Elks AVA, where most of the vineyards in the state are located. Approximately 100 commercial wineries operate in Colorado and about 1,000 acres (405 ha) are planted to grapevines.[1] Other wine regions include: the Four Corners area near Cortez, near Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and Durango; Pikes Peak/Arkansas River Valley near Salida, Canon City, and Manitou Springs; and the Front Range between Fort Collins and Castle Rock, with many wineries located in the Denver metropolitan area.

Grapevines were first brought to Colorado in the 19th century by miners in southern Colorado. The first agricultural record of vineyards was when Governor George A. Crawford, founder of Grand Junction planted 60 acres of grapes and other fruit near Palisade. Homegrown wine was once a part of life in Colorado as it was throughout America. Like in other areas Prohibition in the United States virtually wiped out the Colorado wine industry in the early twentieth century only to have it resurrected again in the 1960s. In 1968, Gerald Ivancie opened Ivancie Winery in Denver using grapes from California, but was instrumental in developing experimental plantings of premium wine grapes in and around the Grand Valley.[2] Ivancie's winemaker was Warren Winiarski, who was the first winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery and rose to fame when he won the Judgement of Paris (wine) tasting in 1976 for his Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V Cabernet Sauvignon.[3][4]

In 1977 Colorado's Limited Farm Winery Act was passed; a decade later Colorado was one of the first states to respond to California's offer to establish free trade among wineries and consumers through the Reciprocal Shipping Law, helping the re-emerging Colorado grape growing and winemaking industry.

In 1990, with five operating wineries, the Colorado General Assembly created the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board.[5] In 1991, the Grand Valley area near Palisade, Colorado, was recognized by the federal government as an American Viticultural Area (AVA). In 2001, the West Elks AVA was added as the second AVA. In 2010, there were approximately 115 commercial wineries in Colorado. In 2019, there are approximately 165 wineries - including 21 hard cider producers, 13 mead producers and 1 sake producer.

Every year, the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board hosts the Governor's Cup Competition; which is the only competition exclusively for Colorado wineries. The top wines from the competition comprise the Governor's Cup Collection which is used to showcase the industry to the public and the wine industry.

The most popular grapes grown in Colorado are varieties in the species of European grape Vitis vinifera. The most popular red varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. The most popular white varieties are Chardonnay, Riesling, and Viognier.[6]

Several Colorado wineries have been awarded scores of 90 points or above by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and The Wine Advocate.

In 2017, Colorado Mountain Winefest was voted the best wine festival in the U.S. by USA Today 10Best.[7]

Also in 2017, Kyle Schlachter (Outreach Coordinator for the CO Wine Industry Development Board) was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 40 Under 40 Tastemakers because his efforts reflect the diversity and uniqueness of wine in the U.S.[8]

In 2018, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Colorado's Grand Valley AVA one of the Top Ten wine travel destinations in the world.[9]

• American wine
• Grand Valley AVA
• West Elks AVA

• Colorado Wine Industry Development Board
• Colorado wine at Curlie