Colorado’s elevation is the key to its success. The state boasts an average altitude of about 6,800 feet above sea level, making it the highest contiguous state in the United States. It follows that wineries in the Centennial State are similarly elevated—in both the literal and figurative sense. Colorado has long been associated with craft beer, but over the last decade, the region’s vineyards have earned notable accolades. Now, a united effort by the state’s winemakers to navigate challenges and elevate—pun intended—their offerings seems to be paying off.
“We can afford to be innovative because we’re not pigeonholed,” says Barbie Graham, sommelier and tasting room supervisor at Carboy Winery, which has tasting rooms across the state. “It really allows winemakers to focus on terroir.”
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For the state’s vineyards, go west. Grand Junction is a gateway for Colorado’s two AVAs—Grand Valley and West Elks—and is only an hour’s flight from Denver. Palisade has over 30 wineries, surrounded by mesas, cliffs and the Colorado River. West Elk Mountains can be reached in just one hour.
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