| Wine region | |
 | |
| Official name | State of Colorado |
|---|---|
| Type | U.S. StateAppellation[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 136[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Sub-regions | Grand Valley AVA,West Elks AVA |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Total area | 104,185 square miles (66,678,400 acres)[3] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,000 acres (405 ha)[1] |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc,Cabernet Sauvignon,Chambourcin,Chardonel,Chardonnay,Cinsault,Gewurztraminer,Lemberger,Marechal Foch,Merlot,Muscat Canelli,Orange Muscat,Petit Verdot,Pinot gris,Pinot noir,Riesling,Sangiovese,Sauvignon blanc,Semillon,Seyval blanc,Syrah,Viognier,Zinfandel[1] |
| No. of wineries | approx 165 |
| Wine produced | 206,000 cases in 2022 |
Colorado wine refers towine made fromgrapes grown in theU.S. state ofColorado. Most of Colorado's vineyards are located on the western slope of theRocky Mountains, though an increasing number of wineries are located along theFront Range.
Colorado's grape-growing regions contain some of the highestelevationvineyards in the world, with mostviticulture in the state practiced between 4,000 feet (1,219 m) and 7,000 feet (2,134 m)above sea level. Themountainclimate ensures warm summer days and cool nights. Colorado is home to two designatedAmerican Viticultural Areas where most of the state's vineyards are located: theGrand Valley AVA and theWest Elks AVA. Approximately 150 commercialwineries operate in Colorado, and about 1,000 acres (405 ha) are planted with grapevines.[1] Other wine regions include: theFour Corners area nearCortez, nearCanyons of the Ancients National Monument, andDurango;Pikes Peak/Arkansas River Valley nearSalida,Cañon City, andManitou Springs; and theFront Range betweenFort Collins andCastle Rock, with somewineries located in theDenver metropolitan area.
Grapevines were first brought toColorado in the 19th century by miners in southernColorado. The first agricultural record of vineyards was whenGeorge A. Crawford, founder ofGrand Junction planted 60 acres of grapes and other fruit nearPalisade. Homegrown wine was once a part of life in Colorado as it was throughout America. Like in other areasProhibition 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 the 1930s, Carbone & Co. and Ambrose & Co. opened as the first licensed wineries in Colorado post-prohibition. Neither made wine from Colorado grapes, but bottled bulk wine from out of state. Ambrose closed in the 1950s and Carbone changed names several times and eventually closed in the 1970s. In 1968, Gerald Ivancie opened Ivancie Cellars inDenver using grapes fromCalifornia, but was instrumental in working with fruit growers to develop experimental plantings of premium winegrapes in and around theGrand Valley.[4] Ivancie's winemaker wasWarren Winiarski, who was the first winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery and rose to fame when he won theJudgement of Paris (wine) tasting in 1976 for hisStag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V Cabernet Sauvignon.[5][6] Ivancie sold his winery in 1973 and then it closed a few years later. Ivancie Cellar's license was still listed in the 1978 federal registry but operations ceased sometime before that. in 1976, Franciscan Winery from California (owned byJustin Meyer) became bonded winery number 4 when it opened a tasting room in Denver before closing a year later.
Colorado's Limited Farm Winery Act was passed in 1977. 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.[7] This legislation spurred local home winemakers, Jim and Anne Seewald, who worked with Dr. Ivancie to open Colorado Mountain Vineyards; the first licensed Colorado winery to use Colorado grapes.
In 1990, with five operating wineries, theColorado General Assembly created the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB).[8] In 1991, theGrand Valley area near Palisade, Colorado, was recognized by theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) as the state's firstAmerican Viticultural Area (AVA). In 2001, theWest Elks was added as the second AVA. In 2010, there were approximately 115 commercialwineries inColorado. In 2024, there were approximately 180 wineries - including 21hard cider producers, 14mead producers and onesake producer.
In 2021,Warren Winiarski invested in the Colorado wine and grape industry through a $150,000 grant from the Winiarski Family Foundation, the charitable foundation established by Winiarski and his wife, Barbara. The grant benefits theWestern Colorado Community College Viticulture and Enology program.[9]
Every year, the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board hosts the Governor's Cup Competition; which is the only competition exclusively for Colorado wineries. Each year, the CWIDB invites licensed Colorado wineries to submit samples for evaluation by a panel of esteemed wine professionals from around the United States. 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 winners are honored at public event called Colorado Uncorked and the Best of Show is announced at the event.[10]
Best of Show winners:
The most popular grapes grown inColorado arevarieties in the species of European grapeVitis vinifera. The most popular red varieties areMerlot,Cabernet Sauvignon,Syrah, andCabernet Franc. The most popular white varieties areChardonnay,Riesling, andViognier.[2] Cold-hardy varieties such asChambourcin, Verona,La Crescent,Traminette, and Petite Pearl are becoming more popular as growers look to diversify vineyard acreage that can withstand the sometimes harsh cold events that damage, or kill, grapevines in Colorado.
SeveralColorado wineries have been awarded scores of 90 points or above byDecanter (magazine),Wine Enthusiast Magazine, andThe Wine Advocate.
In 2017, Colorado Mountain Winefest inPalisade was voted the nation's best wine festival byUSA Today's "10Best."[12]
Also in 2017, Kyle Schlachter, outreach coordinator for the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, was named one ofWine Enthusiast Magazine's "40 Under 40 Tastemakers" because his efforts reflect the diversity and uniqueness of wine in the U.S.[13]
In 2018,Wine Enthusiast Magazine namedGrand Valley one of the top ten wine travel destinations in the world.[14]
In 2024, theGrand Valley came in 10th in theUSA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Top 10 Wine Regions.
