Perhaps you find it surprising that a state with the world’s most challenging selection of 14,000-foot peaks, white powder days and a city which sits one mile above the rest of the earth’s continents also hosts world class Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Fortunately, this same state, with its 300 days of sunshine, elevated valleys, fluctuating temperatures and rich soils, also offers the ideal growing conditions for such varietals. Colorado wine offers wine enthusiasts an experience as unique as our state itself.
The heart of the Colorado wine country is located in the more temperate region of the state known as the Grand River Valley. Wineries can also be found scattered throughout the Minturn/Vail area, Paonia, Colorado Springs, and Montrose. The state currently hosts nine wineries, each offering a unique taste and tour of the state’s many wine varieties, which include Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and fruit wines.
Colorado State regulations dictate that a winery located in Colorado may only affix the phrase “Colorado Grown” to bottles of wine of their own manufacture which contain wine produced from 100% Colorado Grown grapes or other fruits.