Colorado is the new Sonoma - Food and Wine Magazine

I am biased because I work part time in my retirement at one of the wineries here in the Grand Valley, but apparently Food and Wine agrees with me.

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Very pretty part of the world.

Which is probably half the reason they’re promoting it.

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It is a beautiful area, but I bet it’s not what folks think of when they think of Colorado. The wine regions are on the doorstep to the American Southwest, high desert vistas filled with canyons and mesas near the Utah border. The vineyards for the most part are in the irrigated valley off the Colorado River canal system.
Lots of good Bordeaux varietals especially Cab Franc which thrives here. Great dry Rieslings and some surprises like sparklers and some Italian varietals.
The West Elks, the only other wine region in Colorado is about an hour southeast and has some of the highest vineyards in North America.
Here is a recent picture of me on a hike high above the vineyards in the Grand Valley.
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A few more photos of the Grand Valley.
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Looks beautiful.

Watched 60 minutes this past Sunday and they did a piece on water allocation from the Colorado River. Wineries depending on irrigation from the CR don’t seem like a sustainable business model.

Projections show the valley can supply water for about 4x what is here today.

I wish them the best. The 60 minutes piece seemed pretty scary.

The River isn’t the only source of water for the valley. There are reservoirs on the Grand Mesa which supply water for us as well.

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Michael, I want to drink something that comes from there! Are your suggestions the same as F&W or do you have any to add? I like the sound of Grand Valley Cab Franc and Riesling.

I would suggest trying

Bookcliff Vineyards. https://bookcliffvineyards.com/
The Storm Cellar https://stormcellarwine.com/
Restoration Vineyards https://restorationvineyards.com/
Mesa Park Vineyards https://www.mesaparkvineyards.com/

The stone fruit from the area is outstanding. I have no idea about the wines, but I’d always get fruit when I passed through the area decades ago.

Oh, and a burger from Vicco’s Charcoalburger in Glenwood Springs. So tasty.

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A little late to the thread here… don’t log on to berserkers too often. Here are some photos taken by John Fielder - one of Colorado’s best known photography.

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Outstanding! Hiking, food and wine…right up my alley. I just have to convince my wife :wink:

Cheers,
JP

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Wow looks gorgeous. Adding that to the (too long atm) list of possible August trips.