Innovation defines the sixteen years of the Infinite Monkey Theorem’s existence as a Colorado winery. Founder Ben Parsons bottled his first wines in 2008 and sold them from an old warehouse near West Fifth Avenue and Santa Fe Drive. The business would still have been a trailblazer even without those innovations.
Colorado may not be the first state you think of when you think about wine regions in the U.S. It might not have the name recognition of Napa, or Temecula, but the Centennial State was in fact once a respected winemaking area before Prohibition (when the vineyards were ripped out and replaced with orchards), and today it produces excellent, award-winning wines that are worth a taste.
Colorado may not have the reputation (yet) of California’s viticultural industry, but wine grapes have been grown in the Centennial State for more than a century. Prohibition essentially halted the state’s wine production but after a revival in the 1960s, wine now contributes more than $300 million to the economy. The Western Slope has become a legitimate tourist destination for wine lovers and Colorado’s picturesque vineyards consistently produce great fruit.
Colorado wine is climbing, rising in production and quality, and gaining national attention for doing what the state does best – pulling off elevated feats. Deeply drawn to this terrain, producers across the state join the broader industry’s conscientious drive to protect natural resources through land management.
Colorado is renowned for its Rocky Mountains, world-class ski resorts, and vibrant craft beer scene that’s home to 400 breweries. Colorado is also home to two designated wine regions, American Viticultural Areas and more than 170 licensed wineries to explore.
Bruce Talbott’s great-great-grandfather Joseph Evan Yeager planted one of Palisade’s first orchards in 1907; today, family-owned and operated Talbott Farms is the largest peach producer and largest wine grape producer in the state.
The Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB), part of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, proudly announces the 14 wines selected to represent the Colorado wine industry as the 2024 Governor’s Cup Wine Collection. This year’s competition included 302 wine submissions from 52 Colorado wineries.
The 2024 Colorado Mountain Winefest is coming up. It has become such a major draw that it inspired a signature wine. Talon Wines in Palisade said the Riverbed Red made for the festival is “inspired by the many years of festivals we have attended at Riverbend Park as well as the vibrant community we’re so lucky to be a part of.”
Total alcohol sales volume is down 6 percent through the first six months of this year, compared to the same time period in 2023, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Every major segment of alcohol — beer, wine, hard liquor spirits — are down. Wine, though, has been hit the hardest, with sales volume down 16 percent.
The Western Slope of Colorado is known for its kicked-backed attitude, sprawling farms, rodeos, and good hearty food. Now the area is also becoming known for a surprising new distinction: some of the best wines in the country. Dotted all over the Western Slope, vineyards can be found at some very high elevations–anywhere from 4500 to 6900 feet.
Whenever I visit a winery, I sigh deeply and say, “I wish I never had to leave.” The wine’s delightful taste, the vineyards’ scenic beauty, and the warm hospitality make me content. Some Colorado wineries do want you to make yourself right at home — albeit not forever. Many now offer on-site lodging through vacation rentals, guest houses, inns, campsites, and more.
USA Today 10Best is a travel and lifestyle website that provides advice from experts around the world. The Grand Valley was nominated as part of their Reader’s Choice Awards, where USA Today 10Best’s travel experts will select their top 20 nominees in categories ranging from food & lodging to destinations and things to do.
