Wine Tours
NOTE: Adventure Center is closed for the winter season. We will re-open on April 1, 2012.
The staff at Gateway Canyons would be happy to arrange a guided wine country tour of several Colorado wineries in our vicinity, or help plan a custom do-it-yourself Colorado wine country tour through the rolling hills of Western Colorado.
Climate
Climate
Because of our area’s warm days and cool nights, growing a variety of fruits from peaches to grapes had helped elevate the production of our small but active region. A tasting at any of the numerous vineyards nearby will reveal a varied style and approach to wine. In terms of what is grown, Merlot is the most widely planted varietal, accounting for 20 percent of the state’s acreage. Chardonnay follows closely at 18 percent. And while Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurztraminer represent smaller plantings, these are often our most celebrated vintages.
Where to Begin
Where to Begin
The Colorado Wine Room in Fruita is a great place to start your Colorado wine tour adventure. Here you can sample a handful of wines from the around state. Or experience harvest time while tasting a variety of vintages from throughout the region at the Colorado Mountain Winefest, held in Palisade, annually in September. This is Colorado’s largest wine festival and offers a great opportunity to meet with winemakers and taste their vintages with beautiful late summer weather.
Other nearby Colorado wineries worth a visit include Grande River Vineyards in Palisade, S. Rhodes Vineyard in Hotchkiss, Alfred Eames in Paonia and Sutcliffe Vineyards in Cortez.