Colorado's grape growing regions range in elevation from 4000 to 7000 feet and are thus among the highest vineyards in the world. The high elevations result in hot days accompanied by cool nights. Day to night temperature variations typically range from 25 to 30 degrees during the grape maturation months of August and September. The long, warm daylight hours of intense high altitude sunlight mature the fruit completely and build the natural sugars. The cool evenings and nights cause the grapes to retain the acids so vital to premium wine making.

Rainfall in the river valley microclimates generally ranges from 6 to 9 inches per year and the relative humidity is extremely low. The dry climate allows the irrigated grape grower to optimize the water available to the vines. The low relative humidity coupled with low winter temperatures minimizes vineyard disease problems thereby minimizing pesticide spray applications.

Winter hardiness is the major challenge facing the Colorado wine grape grower. Proper site selection, grape variety selection and evolving cold climate vineyard management practices are essential to successful viticulture in Colorado.

Vineyard acreage in Colorado has grown tremendously in the past decade. A 1983 census recorded 20 acres of grape vines under cultivation in the state. Today Colorado boasts 80 vineyards totaling 380 acres of vines with 30 acres of new vineyards being planted during 1995. Nearly 75 percent of the acreage is located in Mesa County's Grand Valley. Adjacent Delta County and its North Fork Valley of the Gunnison River accounts for another 20 percent of the state's vines. Virtually all of the grapes in Colorado are produced for winemaking. The 1995 harvest was composed of 30% Chardonnay; 18% Merlot; 10% Cabernet sauvignon; 8% Pinot noir with the remainder consisting of Cabernet franc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon blanc, Viognier and other varieties. Colorado now hosts 410 acres of wine grapes with 193 of those acres of bearing age. Yield of the bearing acres averaged 2.92 tons per acre in 1995.

The 563 tons of wine grapes harvested in 1995 will yield approximately 93,000 gallons or 465,000 bottles of Colorado grape wine. In addition to grape wine, the state's vintners will produce more than 20,000 gallons of wine made from other fruit and honey. The retail value of Colorado wines produced in 1995 will exceed $4,000,000.

During the past two years Colorado wines have garnered nearly 150 awards for outstanding quality in regional, national and international wine competitions. These award include 23 Gold Medals in forums as prestigious as the Tasters Guild International Competition, the Los Angeles County Fair, the American Wine Society International and the InterVin Competition.

Five Palisade wineries (Mesa County) tallied nearly 24,000 visitors during the summer of 1995. Wineries estimate that this represents a 200 to 300% increase over 1994. Market research conducted by the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau concludes that the Grand Valley wineries are now second to only the Colorado National Monument as the leading destination for Front Range-based visitors to the Grand Junction area. As consumer awareness of Colorado wines continues to grow, so too will the economic impact of winery-oriented tourism.

The Colorado legislature created the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board in 1990 to promote the state's growing wine industry. Since that time, the number of wineries in Colorado has increased from five to fifteen.

For specific information on commercial grape production in Colorado, contact Dr. Horst Caspari, Viticulturist at the Western Colorado Research Center, Orchard Mesa, 3168 B 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado (970) 434-3264; FAX (970) 434-1035.

Rocky Mountain Association of Vintners and Viticulturists

Colorado Wine Industry Development Board .