452:, affords a more limited daily range in temperature and less danger from frost, particularly at the eastern end of the Grand Valley where the majority of the vinifera plantings are located. Hence, the eastern section of the Valley, to a distance of about 3 or 4 miles (4.8 or 6.4 km) west of Palisade, has a climate particularly suitable for orchard fruits and grapes. Summer temperatures rise to a maximum of about 105 °F (41 °C). Several days in summer may have temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) with cool nights. The winters are mild with temperatures usually above zero, though an absolute minimum of −21 °F (−29 °C) has been recorded. The average humidity is low, so 0 °F (−18 °C) weather does not seem so cold nor the summers so hot as in regions where the humidity is higher. The average frost-free
470:, show extensive evidence of excessive salts and alkalinity. The nearest commercial vineyards outside the viticultural area are located in excess of 50 miles (80 km) from the Grand Valley with mountains, mesas, valleys, canyons, and vast areas of salt, sagebrush and alkali separating the two. Grapes within the AVA are adapted to the medium textured to sandy Genola, Hinman, Mayfield, Mesa, Ravola, and Thoroughfare soils, especially where these soils are in areas where peaches are grown, since grapes and peaches tend to do well in the same type of environment. In contrast, soils to the west of the viticultural area are predominantly Billings, Chipeta. Fruita. Mack and Persayo-Chipeta which, for the most part, are not suitable for grape growing.
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bluffs bordering the
Redlands. High winds are unusual, and cyclones are unknown. Light thundershowers are common during summer. Hail damage is localized and usually slight. Summer showers are frequently more detrimental than beneficial, especially those that come during the harvesting season. The average annual precipitation at Grand Junction is 9.06 inches (230.12 mm). This precipitation is well distributed throughout the year but is not sufficient to permit successful dry fanning. The soils support only a scant growth of native grasses and shrubs if they are not irrigated. The average snowfall is 22 inches (56 cm) but usually melts within a few days after it falls. The ground is free of snow most of the winter.
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497:. Most of Colorado's grape production is from the Grand Valley. However, the continental climate somewhat limits the grape varieties and not all varieties produce substantial yields. There are around thirty wineries/vineyards in addition to an abundance of cideries, meaderies and orchards. Grape varieties planted vary widely and average yields are relatively low at about 2.5 tons/acre. Wine styles range from dry white and red wines to semi-sweet, dessert wines; and even
501:. Due to the abundance of orchards in the area many growers will incorporate local fruits, such as peaches, plums and cherries, into the sweet wines. However, traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah are the most popular and easily grown fruit in this dry, high-altitude terroir. In 2018, Grand Valley AVA received international acclaim as one of the 'Top Ten Wine Getaways” by
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apparently are caused by protective mountain barriers. In the extreme eastern part of the area, the
Colorado River enters the Grand Valley through a steep narrow canyon that tends to stabilize air currents in the Valley. During the day, the air tends to move up the slopes that confine the Valley at its eastern end. Then, at night, the air moves down again. This air movement, spoken of as
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enacted the
Colorado Limited Winery Act, permitting small “farm wineries” in the state. A year later, Colorado Mountain Vineyards opened in Palisade and now operates as Colorado Cellars being the state's oldest operating winery. The Colorado wine industry has been steadily growing especially in Grand
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Grand Valley viticultural area includes, within its boundaries, three areas which are locally known by the names of
Orchard Mesa, the Redlands, and the Vinelands. Orchard Mesa is a tract of almost flat terrace land south of the Colorado River and to the southeast of Grand Junction. The Redlands is a
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planted a 60-acre (24 ha) vineyard in the Grand Valley. By 1900, there were over 1,000 farms growing wine grapes and local sales tax records showed that 1,744 US gallons (6,600 L) of wine were sold that year. However, the thriving wine business diminished in 1909 when Mesa County abolished
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Grand Valley is also distinguishable from surrounding areas by soil differences. In addition to the cliffs and mesas to the north and east of the valley, the surrounding areas to the northwest, west and south contain soils which are usually more alkaline than the soils within the viticultural area.
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is 150 to 182 days. Occasionally, late spring or early fall frosts do some damage to fruits and vegetables on the bottom lands and recent flood plains. On the mesas or higher terraces, frost damage is slight. Frost is especially rare in the climatically protected areas around
Palisade and along the
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sapped farmers of the funds to restart wine production. The development of cold-hardy hybrids sparked a resurgence of winemaking in the 1950s. Colorado's first modern winery was not started until 1968 when a Denver periodontist, Gerald
Ivancie, established Ivancie Cellars in the city. In 1977, the
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Elevations in the Grand Valley viticultural area rise from 4,500 feet (1,400 m) at the western end near Fruita to 4,573 feet (1,394 m) at Grand
Junction, and 4,729 feet (1,441 m) at the eastern end of the Valley near Palisade. Deep canyons flank the Valley to the southwest. A sharp
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of up to 30 °F (17 °C). During a typical growing season, the valley is hot, dry and sunny during the day while far cooler at night due to the arid environment. This makes for ideal fruit-growing conditions. The AVA enjoys the most temperate climate within the state of
Colorado, with the
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on
December 26, 1991, upon the petition submitted by Mr. James Seewald of Vintage Colorado Cellars Winery, and the first viticultural area registered in the Centennial State. In 2001, the smaller West Elks AVA, located southeast of Grand Valley, became the state's second federally-designated AVA.
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The climate of the Grand Valley viticultural area is similar to that of most of the intermountain areas west of the
Continental Divide in its aridity, wide range of daily temperatures, high percentage of bright sunny days, and high evaporation rate. Where the climate differs, the differences
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The name "Grand Valley" has been associated with the area since the mid-nineteenth century. The present Colorado River above Grand Junction was known as the Grand River as early as 1842. The city of Grand Junction was so named because of its position at the juncture of the
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For the most part, these areas are not capable of being irrigated and are suitable only for livestock grazing. It is rocky, often steeply sloped, and the soils are classified from fair to poor, to non-existent. Large areas to the south, along the Gunnison River and
401:. The Vinelands is a tract of land located southeast of the town of Palisade. The region is home to some of the highest-altitude vineyards in North America. Vineyards in the valley are planted at elevations as high as 4,700 feet (1,400 m)
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caused farmers to rip out their grape vines in favor of peaches, now one of the state's most important fruit crops. Palisade is known for its peaches as well as plums, pears, cherries and apples. Although Prohibition was
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509:"10Best" in 2017. Over 6,000 attended the sold-out event which exhibits several hundred local wines, meads & ciders from dozens of Colorado wineries, meaderies and cideries.
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288:. The river valley encompasses 75,990 acres (118.73 sq mi), with an average elevation between 4,000 and 5,000 feet (1,200–1,500 m)
732:(Hearing Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, Sixty Sixth Congress, Third Session, on HJ 460)
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because of the growing interest in wine tasting and the abundance of natural recreational activities and scenery surrounding the area including
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stands more than a mile above the eastern edge of the Valley, and steep, hilly land borders the high terraces and mesas to the south.
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Grand Valley, particularly the eastern area, is unofficially considered 'Colorado Wine Country' and a popular destination for
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to the region, named it Vineland, and had their first crush of grapes flowing by 1885. In 1890, State Governor
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505:. Palisade hosts its annual Colorado Mountain Winefest which was named the 'Best Wine Fest in the Nation' by
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alcohol and Colorado later enacted a statewide prohibition in 1916. Furthermore, the ratification of the
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334:. In addition to Grand Junction, the name "Grand" still remains in the Grand Valley between Palisade and
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330:, approved March 24, 1921, and made official July 25, 1921 in House Joint Resolution 460 of the
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rolling and somewhat hilly area south of the Colorado River and between the mouth of the
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435:, rises to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above the Valley to the north and northeast. The
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880:"Colorado Mountain Winefest named Best Wine Festival - Best Wine Festival (2017)"
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342:, which stands more than a mile above the Grand and Gunnison Valleys, and in
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and Grand rivers occurred in eastern Utah and formed the Colorado River. The
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and stretching 24 miles (39 km) east-west between the municipalities of
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on mesas. Climate is high desert, subject to swings of temperature and wide
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850:"Wine Enthusiast Magazine Names Grand Valley a Top 10 Wine Getaway in 2018"
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and is defined by an irrigated agricultural area served by canals in the
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began in the area during the late 19th century. Settlers brought vine
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280:. It lies approximately 200 miles (320 km) west-southwest of
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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sandy Genola, Hinman, Mayfield, Mesa, Ravola, and Thoroughfare
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644:"What to Know About Colorado's Grand Valley AVA"
725:United States House of Representatives (1921).
617:"Colorado's Unique American Viticultural Areas"
708:"Why Is Colorado Called the Centennial State?"
547:"The Grand Valley Viticultural Area (89F197P)"
783:
781:
765:"Remembering Gerald Ivancie, Amazing Vintner"
562:Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
302:Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
8:
790:"Colorado's wine industry green and growing"
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550:(27 CFR Part 9 RIN 1512-AA07, Final rule)
422:plant hardiness zone ranging from 6 to 7.
300:. Grand Valley AVA was established by the
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595:"Grand Valley (AVA): Appellation Profile"
318:and Grand Rivers. The confluence of the
980:American Viticultural Areas of Colorado
688:Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
517:
892:from the original on November 29, 2023
860:from the original on November 29, 2023
706:Doss-Knight, Bonnie (April 15, 2022).
409:along the Colorado River to stony and
405:. The terrain is varied, ranging from
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142:75,990 acres (118.73 sq mi)
7:
788:Havlen, Naomi (September 20, 2005).
768:(The Grapevine: Stories of the Wine)
605:from the original on April 25, 2016.
774:. Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction.
763:Buchanan, Dave (January 26, 2016).
642:Dossier, Ava (September 21, 2023).
365:in 1919 and federal enforcement of
985:Geography of Mesa County, Colorado
14:
752:. City of Glenwood Springs. 2022.
568:: 59213–59217. November 25, 1991.
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326:Colorado River by an act of the
250:American Viticultural Area (AVA)
990:1991 establishments in Colorado
810:"USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map"
746:"Prohibition Beginning in 1916"
728:Renaming the Grand River, Colo
662:"Wineries & Tasting Rooms"
233:
121:Precipitation (annual average)
1:
126:snow: 22 in (56 cm)
124:9.06 in (230.12 mm)
16:Viticultural area in Colorado
912:"Colorado Mountain Winefest"
798:. Swift Communications, Inc.
828:"Colorado Grape Statistics"
680:"Grand Valley AVA Petition"
260:located in a high-altitude
1006:
956:39.1169264°N 108.3621737°W
683:(Vintage Colorado Cellars)
491:Colorado National Monument
328:Colorado State Legislature
56:American Viticultural Area
832:Colorado State University
147:Size of planted vineyards
35:
26:
961:39.1169264; -108.3621737
503:Wine Enthusiast Magazine
324:Grand River was renamed
150:800 acres (320 ha)
750:Visit Glenwood Springs
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344:Grand County, Colorado
116:Continental, Semi-arid
70:Years of wine industry
838:on December 13, 2013.
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856:. January 30, 2018.
695:. November 17, 1990.
666:Visit Grand Junction
952: /
888:. August 18, 2017.
599:Appellation America
468:Colorado Highway 50
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358:George A. Crawford
167:Cabernet Sauvignon
712:United States Now
415:diurnal variation
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381:General Assembly
376:Great Depression
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264:surrounding the
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62:Year established
42:Vineyards below
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215:Sauvignon blanc
155:Grapes produced
131:Soil conditions
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270:Grand Junction
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450:air drainage
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431:escarpment,
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294:Grand Valley
262:river valley
246:Grand Valley
245:
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159:Black Muscat
44:Mt. Garfield
27:
22:Grand Valley
18:
959: /
947:108°21′44″W
933:TTB AVA Map
896:December 1,
864:December 1,
507:USA Today's
495:Book Cliffs
433:Book Cliffs
411:loamy soils
367:Prohibition
350:Viticulture
266:county seat
254:Mesa County
236:of wineries
46:in Palisade
29:Wine region
974:Categories
944:39°07′01″N
513:References
487:enotourism
437:Grand Mesa
426:Topography
340:Grand Mesa
211:Sangiovese
207:Rkatsiteli
199:Pinot gris
171:Chardonnay
139:Total area
885:USA Today
354:rootstock
890:Archived
858:Archived
692:Treasury
603:Archived
601:. 2015.
566:Treasury
499:ice wine
493:and the
384:Valley.
316:Gunnison
274:Palisade
258:Colorado
227:Viognier
219:Semillon
203:Riesling
175:Cinsault
100:Colorado
92:Colorado
690:(ATF),
560:(227).
443:Climate
388:Terroir
309:History
296:of the
252:within
88:Part of
78:Country
623:. 2019
399:Fruita
374:, the
284:along
282:Denver
278:Fruita
248:is an
187:Merlot
183:Malbec
338:; in
320:Green
223:Syrah
898:2023
866:2023
814:USDA
629:2019
461:Soil
420:USDA
397:and
336:Mack
276:and
65:1991
52:Type
268:of
234:No.
73:134
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
