This Rocky Mountain State Is House to a Hidden Gem Wine Area

Whereas American wine doesn’t have the identical storied historical past as, say, Bordeaux or the Rheingau, our viticultural areas are nothing to smell at. There’s, after all, Napa Valley with virtually 170 years of manufacturing, in addition to different California wine areas like Sonoma and the Central Coast. And lately, burgeoning wine sizzling spots have popped up throughout the nation in locations like Oregon, Virginia, Texas, and the New York Finger Lakes. However wine connoisseurs usually overlook one Western state that is higher identified for its ski slopes than its vintages: Colorado.

Wine grapes have been grown within the Centennial State since 1890, however manufacturing wasn’t in full swing till the late Nineteen Seventies. Now, there are over 150 wineries unfold all through Colorado, and the state performs host to occasions such because the Colorado Governor’s Cup and festivals just like the Colorado Mountain Winefest. About 80 p.c of all of Colorado’s grapes are sourced from the Grand Valley American Viticultural Space, positioned between Grand Junction and Palisade, within the state’s Western Slope—one among Journey & Leisure’s Greatest Locations to Go in 2025. Clearly, one thing wonderful is occurring on the market.

“Our aim was to place Colorado on the map and show that we may make wonderful wine from this area,” mentioned Kevin Webber, CEO of Carboy Vineyard. Webber owns two vineyards within the Grand Valley AVA, totaling round 32 acres. “There’s an adventurous nature to Colorado wines which might be enjoyable and energetic, and they’re by no means the identical 12 months to 12 months.”

At first look Colorado looks like an uncommon place to develop wine. Right here, vignerons should deal with harsher climates, increased altitudes, and continuously fluctuating temperatures—however that is solely pushed growers to be extra artistic. Many have cultivated cold-hardy varietals that additionally develop nicely in sizzling, heat desert climes. The rising seasons are shorter right here, however the mixture of sizzling, sunny days, whipping mountain winds, 6,800 ft of elevation, and rocky alkaline soil make for a very fascinating and distinctive terroir.

“We’re all pushing the envelope and exploring what Colorado wine is and what it may very well be. The challenges and grit it takes to make it via a single season right here make this area very endearing,” mentioned Patric Matysiewski, the winemaker and cofounder of Sauvage Spectrum Property Vineyard & Winery.

Colorado has a comparatively younger wine scene however generates round two p.c of all wine offered within the U.S.  Riesling, cabernet franc, malbec, teroldego, and viognier are beacons of the state’s wine scene. Curiosity in agrotourism has additionally skyrocketed, and the picturesque peaks of the Western Slope have grow to be a preferred vacationer vacation spot. Wineries are even popping up in locations just like the Entrance Vary and different components of the state the place grapes can’t be grown.

“Wines ought to and do style completely different in all places and replicate what is exclusive concerning the rising area,” mentioned Webber. “We name this the Wild West of American wine, and Colorado wines are an journey.”

Listed below are a few of our favourite wineries throughout the Centennial State.