WINES OF THE WEST ELK AVA con't
Alongside the area’s farmers, artisanal cheese-makers, micro-brewers, hard cider producers, chefs, bee keepers, and Slow Foodies, local winemakers hand-craft limited quantity, artisanal wines. Each of the 12 wineries is small and family-owned, with limited production. This, combined with a tenacious devotion to quality, makes wine availability very limited. Many of the wineries offer their cuvees only out of their tasting rooms and sell out of popular vintages early each summer.
Notably, the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA) is home to vineyards planted at some of the highest elevations in the Northern Hemisphere. The intense sunlight, warm days and cool nights produce grapes that are ideally suited for creating distinctive Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cayuga and Chambourcin. Additionally, winemakers craft wines from Colorado-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Carmina, and Tempranillo. Vintners produce wines in all styles from beautifully dry, crisp whites, to robust, meaty reds, sweet and delicious port-style dessert wines, as well as hard apple ciders.
Just a stone’s throw from Grand Junction (1.5 hours) and Montrose (1 hour) a beautiful drive over Kebler Pass from Crested Butte (1.25 hours) or a foray over McClure pass from Aspen (2.25 hours), West Elks wineries offer a refreshing food and wine getaway with plenty of additional diversions to leave you relaxed and rejuvenated. Join us this summer to celebrate our new, limited releases and enjoy warm, down to earth, family-style hospitality.
For general information visit WestElksAVA.com.
Alongside the area’s farmers, artisanal cheese-makers, micro-brewers, hard cider producers, chefs, bee keepers, and Slow Foodies, local winemakers hand-craft limited quantity, artisanal wines. Each of the 12 wineries is small and family-owned, with limited production. This, combined with a tenacious devotion to quality, makes wine availability very limited. Many of the wineries offer their cuvees only out of their tasting rooms and sell out of popular vintages early each summer.
Notably, the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA) is home to vineyards planted at some of the highest elevations in the Northern Hemisphere. The intense sunlight, warm days and cool nights produce grapes that are ideally suited for creating distinctive Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cayuga and Chambourcin. Additionally, winemakers craft wines from Colorado-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Carmina, and Tempranillo. Vintners produce wines in all styles from beautifully dry, crisp whites, to robust, meaty reds, sweet and delicious port-style dessert wines, as well as hard apple ciders.
Just a stone’s throw from Grand Junction (1.5 hours) and Montrose (1 hour) a beautiful drive over Kebler Pass from Crested Butte (1.25 hours) or a foray over McClure pass from Aspen (2.25 hours), West Elks wineries offer a refreshing food and wine getaway with plenty of additional diversions to leave you relaxed and rejuvenated. Join us this summer to celebrate our new, limited releases and enjoy warm, down to earth, family-style hospitality.
For general information visit WestElksAVA.com.