Colorado Wine Country

Mountains in Colorado do not just serve up scenic views and a vast amount of recreational activities. They also serve for the leisurely activity of sipping on a glass of wine while enjoying a vineyard tour. Colorado’s Wine Country is known to be located on the Western Slope and has two AVA areas, meaning American Viticultural Areas. The largest producer of Colorado Wine’s is the Grand Valley AVA. First established in 1991, this area resides throughout Fruita and Palisade. Grand Valley is the largest producer of Colorado Wine’s as it houses most grapes and is nearly 76,000 acres. It is slowly becoming a competing opponent with the infamous Napa Valley. The climate here is perfect for vineyards as there are over 300 days of sunshine and a warmer winter than most of the Front Range. The West Elks AVA is also located on the Western Slope near Hotchkiss and Paonia, Colorado. Around 48,000 acres, this valley is famous for producing perfect white wines such as Rieslings and Gewurztraminers, as the grapes here also thrive in the climate. Like the Grand Valley, West Elks is known to have some of the highest elevation vineyards. If you are more into the leisurely activities of Colorado adventuring, these vineyards are a great activity to add to your next summer Colorado visit.