Grand Valley AVA
Grand Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Mesa County, Colorado located in a high-altitude river valley surrounding the county seat of Grand Junction and stretching 24 miles (39 km) east-west between the municipalities of Palisade and Fruita. It lies approximately 200 miles (320 km) west-southwest of Denver along Interstate 70. 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) above sea level and is defined by an irrigated agricultural area served by canals in the Grand Valley of the Colorado River. Grand Valley AVA was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on December 26, 1991, upon the petition submitted by Mr. Jim Seewald of Vintage Colorado Cellars Winery, and was the first viticultural areas registered in Colorado. In 2001, the smaller West Elks AVA, located southeast of Grand Valley, became the state's second federally-designated AVA.
| Wine region | |
Vineyards below Mt. Garfield in Palisade | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1991 |
| Years of wine industry | 134 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Colorado |
| Other regions in Colorado | West Elks AVA |
| Climate region | Continental, Semi-arid |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 9.06 in (230.12 mm) snow: 22 in (56 cm) |
| Soil conditions | sandy Genola, Hinman, Mayfield, Mesa, Ravola, and Thoroughfare |
| Total area | 75,990 acres (118.73 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 800 acres (320 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Black Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Ottonel, Orange Muscat, Pinot gris, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Viognier |
| No. of wineries | 23 |