Colorado: Wines with an Altitude
While the State of Colorado is widely known as a premier ski and outdoor destination, little is known about its extraordinary wine culture. Colorado is known for its mountains, but the fertile valleys and vineyards are equally enticing. Colorado’s abundant sunshine, warm days, cool nights and low humidity provide the perfect conditions for wine grapes that feature the complex character and chemistry required to craft award-winning wines.
From rich Chardonnays to robust Merlots to wines made from cherries, peaches, plums and honey, Colorado wines enjoy a well deserved reputation for top quality. Colorado’s grape growing regions range in elevation from 4,000 to 7,000 feet and are amongst the highest vineyards in the world. Colorado’s wineries are spread all over the state. You can plan a trip to almost every part of Colorado and find a wine trail to follow. Just look for the blue information signs with the “Colorado Wine Trails” logo. The wine routes will bring travellers along some of the most scenic and spectacular roads in Colorado.
Doug Caskey, Executive Director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, explains that Colorado produces about 100,000 cases of wine each year, and about 90 percent stays within the State. The 80-plus wineries accounting for over 1,000 acres of grapes produce mostly, high-quality, Bordeaux and Riesling varieties. The largest concentrations of vineyards are found in the Grand Junction region, along the Colorado River and in the West Elks region (Delta County), along the Gunnison River. The federal government has designated these two regions as American Viticultural Areas (AVA). Caskey gives the insider’s look by letting travellers know that the Grand Junction and West Elks regions are a must for oenophiles and wine-lovers in general. However, he mentions that the wineries at Cortez and Durango are a worth a small detour.
Some of the wine festivals taking place in Colorado in 2010 are:
June 5: Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival (www.manitousprings.org)
July 24: Castle Rock Wine Festival (www.castelrockwinefest.com)
August 7: Vino and Notes Wine Festival, Woodland Park (www.vinoandnotes.com)
August 27 – 28: Mesa Verde Country Wine & Art Festival (www.mesaverdecountry.com/tourism/festivals/winefest/winefest)
September 16 – 19: Colorado Mountain Wine Fest, Palisade (www.coloradowinefest.com)
November 3 – 7: Denver International Wine Festival (www.denverwinefest.com)
March 9, 2010
Posted in: United States West