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61-596: 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

122-792: A drainage area of 7,923 square miles (20,520 km ) according to the USGS. The drainage basin of the Gunnison collects water from different habitats, such as forests and alpine meadows, located along the Continental Divide . As the river flows westward, it carves through the San Juan Mountains . It flows into the Colorado River at Grand Junction . The Gunnison River Basin is popular for recreational activities such as fishing, rafting, boating, camping, hiking, and rock climbing. Contamination of

183-622: A wine is labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of the grapes that make up the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located. The boundaries of AVAs are defined by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a component of the United States Department of the Treasury . The TTB defines AVAs at the request of wineries and other petitioners . Prior to

244-401: A wine to be labeled with a state or county appellation, at least 75% of the grapes used to make the wine must have been grown within the boundary of the appellation, and the wine must be fully finished within the state in which the appellation is located. Some states have more stringent rules, such as California , which requires 100% of the grapes used to make the wine be from California and that

305-402: Is 9.06 inches (230.12 mm). This precipitation is well distributed throughout the year but is not sufficient to permit successful dry fanning. The soils support only a scant growth of native grasses and shrubs if they are not irrigated. The average snowfall is 22 inches (56 cm) but usually melts within a few days after it falls. The ground is free of snow most of the winter. Grand Valley

366-526: Is a designated wine grape -growing region in the United States , providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know about the geographic pedigree of their wines, as wines from a particular area can possess distinctive characteristics. Consumers often seek out wines from specific AVAs, and certain wines of particular pedigrees can claim premium prices and loyal customers. If

427-524: Is a tract of almost flat terrace land south of the Colorado River and to the southeast of Grand Junction. The Redlands is a rolling and somewhat hilly area south of the Colorado River and between the mouth of the Gunnison River and Fruita . The Vinelands is a tract of land located southeast of the town of Palisade. The region is home to some of the highest-altitude vineyards in North America. Vineyards in

488-400: Is also distinguishable from surrounding areas by soil differences. In addition to the cliffs and mesas to the north and east of the valley, the surrounding areas to the northwest, west and south contain soils which are usually more alkaline than the soils within the viticultural area. For the most part, these areas are not capable of being irrigated and are suitable only for livestock grazing. It

549-666: 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. James Seewald of Vintage Colorado Cellars Winery, and the first viticultural area registered in the Centennial State. In 2001, the smaller West Elks AVA, located southeast of Grand Valley, became

610-510: Is from the Grand Valley. However, the continental climate somewhat limits the grape varieties and not all varieties produce substantial yields. There are around thirty wineries/vineyards in addition to an abundance of cideries, meaderies and orchards. Grape varieties planted vary widely and average yields are relatively low at about 2.5 tons/acre. Wine styles range from dry white and red wines to semi-sweet, dessert wines; and even ice wine . Due to

671-408: Is low, so 0 °F (−18 °C) weather does not seem so cold nor the summers so hot as in regions where the humidity is higher. The average frost-free growing season is 150 to 182 days. Occasionally, late spring or early fall frosts do some damage to fruits and vegetables on the bottom lands and recent flood plains. On the mesas or higher terraces, frost damage is slight. Frost is especially rare in

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732-551: Is navigable by small craft throughout its course and by larger boats below the Black Canyon. Parts of the Black Canyon are non-navigable by any sort of craft because of giant cataracts. Navigation through the entire canyon is dangerous and for experienced boaters only. The first non-native to see and record information of the Gunnison River was Juan Maria de Rivera , who came to the banks of the river just below its confluence with

793-479: Is not always the case. See map on the right showing the outline of the Paso Robles AVA , California's largest in total area, and the eleven distinct AVAs contained within it. In 2018, the second session of the 115th Congress recognized the contribution of American Viticultural Areas to the economy. The Blunt-Merkley Resolution passed unanimously. It noted that an AVA allows vintners to describe more accurately

854-464: Is relatively long and the distances they travel for migration are especially far. Organizations throughout Colorado are collaborating on pollution remediation in the Gunnison River in order to increase habitat quality for the razorback sucker and the Colorado pikeminnow . Some of these organizations and plans include The Gunnison River Basin's Selenium Management Plan, The Selenium Control Program, and

915-462: Is rocky, often steeply sloped, and the soils are classified from fair to poor, to non-existent. Large areas to the south, along the Gunnison River and Colorado Highway 50 , show extensive evidence of excessive salts and alkalinity. The nearest commercial vineyards outside the viticultural area are located in excess of 50 miles (80 km) from the Grand Valley with mountains, mesas, valleys, canyons, and vast areas of salt, sagebrush and alkali separating

976-512: Is similar to that of most of the intermountain areas west of the Continental Divide in its aridity, wide range of daily temperatures, high percentage of bright sunny days, and high evaporation rate. Where the climate differs, the differences apparently are caused by protective mountain barriers. In the extreme eastern part of the area, the Colorado River enters the Grand Valley through a steep narrow canyon that tends to stabilize air currents in

1037-568: The Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County , California, at only 60 acres (24 ha). The Augusta AVA , which occupies the area around the town of Augusta, Missouri , was the first recognized AVA, gaining the status on June 20, 1980. There are currently 276 AVAs spread across 34 states, with over half (154) in California. An AVA may be located within one or more larger AVAs. For example,

1098-548: The Mancos Shale which is naturally elevated in selenium. The seleniferous soil the shale produces have come to the subsurface due to weathering of the rock and uplift. Agricultural irrigation of seleniferous soils is one mechanism of selenium loading to the Gunnison River. As farmland in the Gunnison River Basin is abundant, the amount of selenium reaches well over the normal concentration in areas from Grand Junction to

1159-633: The Santa Clara Valley AVA and Livermore Valley AVA are located within the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay AVA , which is itself located within the Central Coast AVA . In such cases, the wine may be labeled with any of the relevant AVAs, but winemakers generally label wines with the most specific AVA allowed for each wine. Smaller AVAs are often perceived to be associated with smaller production and higher quality wines, though this

1220-569: The Uncompahgre River in 1761 and 1765. It was again seen in 1776 by Silvestre Vélez de Escalante . At the time the Spanish name for the river was Rio de San Javier (Xavier) ; the Native American name was Tomichi . Escalante noted that Rivera thought it was "the great Rio del Tizon", the long-used Spanish name for the lower Colorado River. Through the mid-1800s, the river was variously named

1281-637: The impact of climate change . These plans for the future hope to strengthen the critical water infrastructure, reduce agriculture water shortages, and encourage the beneficial relationship between agricultural, environmental and recreational water uses. In addition, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund has awarded the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment almost $ 13 million for future research and development along with pollution control and mitigation attempts. Most recently,

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1342-499: The trophic levels of the Gunnison River ecosystem. These concentrations of mercury can be as high as 13% above thresholds set in place by the EPA. Humpback chub , bonytail chub , Colorado pikeminnow , and the razorback sucker are susceptible to elevated concentrations of mercury based on their long distance annual migrations to reproduce. The Colorado pikeminnow is especially vulnerable to high concentrations of mercury as its life cycle

1403-501: The 1960s and the 1970s–are part of the Colorado River Storage Project . Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century the Bureau of Reclamation built multiple dams ( Blue Mesa , Morrow Point , and Crystal ) and reservoirs ( Blue Mesa , Morrow Point , and Crystal ). All of these projects provided the area with large amounts of water which supported local agriculture, recreation, and other industries. Development of

1464-531: The Bureau of Reclamation's Gunnison Basin Selenium Management Program. These programs aim to minimize the impact of selenium and salinity as unhealthy amounts of salinity lead to lower reproduction rates of fish as well as problems with agriculture. Current remediation attempts have led to a 43% reduction of selenium concentrations since the 1980s but additional reductions are needed to ensure the safety of

1525-763: The Colorado River. The Grand River was renamed Colorado River by an act of the Colorado State Legislature , approved March 24, 1921, and made official July 25, 1921 in House Joint Resolution 460 of the 66th Congress . In addition to Grand Junction, the name "Grand" still remains in the Grand Valley between Palisade and Mack ; in Grand Mesa , which stands more than a mile above the Grand and Gunnison Valleys, and in Grand County, Colorado . Viticulture began in

1586-490: The Colorado pikeminnow. Elevated selenium exposure can also cause malformations in adult fish. Mercury in the Gunnison River comes from human activities including surface mining and burning fossil fuels such as coal. As rain water is discharged, it transports mercury to the river where bacteria biotransform mercury into methylmercury . Methylmercury has no biological benefit but rather bioaccumulates and biomagnifies through

1647-708: The Eagle, Eagle Tail, South Fork of the Grand, Grande, and Grand River. Exploration reports and published maps of the 1850s and 1860s most commonly referred to the river as the Grand River. In subsequent years, however, the river was renamed for U.S. Army Captain John W. Gunnison of the Topographic Engineers, who was ambushed and killed by Pahvant Utes while mapping a trail west in Utah Territory in 1853. The lower section of

1708-615: The Gunnison Basin Selenium Management Program continues its efforts to "develop and implement a Selenium Management Program (SMP) in cooperation with the State of Colorado and Gunnison River basin water users to reduce adverse effects of selenium on endangered fish species in the Gunnison and Colorado rivers." The Gunnison River is threatened by climate change , demand for water resources, and ongoing challenges regarding selenium contamination. Because of these factors

1769-637: The Gunnison River is designated as Gold Medal Water and Wild Trout Water. The designated area begins 200 yards below the Crystal Dam and stretches through the Black Canyon to the confluence of the North Fork and Gunnison rivers. Part of the river's water is diverted to irrigate the Uncompahgre Valley via the 5-mile-long (8 km) Gunnison Tunnel , which was built between 1905 and 1909. The Blue Mesa Dam , Morrow Point Dam , and Crystal Dam –built between

1830-456: The Gunnison River prompted concerns from those wanting to preserve the scenic beauty of the river (especially the Black Canyon of the Gunnison ). In the 1930s President Herbert Hoover designated the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River a national monument in order to protect "the roar of the river". By the end of the 20th century the Black Canyon received more protections when Congress declared

1891-673: The Gunnison River rise in April until they peak in August due to irrigation drainage. These peaks in selenium concentrations coincide with the reproduction events of the Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker . High amounts of selenium are deposited into the yolk by the mother and juvenile fish eat algae that is highly concentrated with selenium in August. Effects of high selenium concentrations in fish include reduced oxygenation rates and lowered total energy capacity used for movement and reproduction, with fitness consequences for migratory fish such as

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1952-508: The Gunnison River with selenium and mercury results from irrigation of high-selenium soils derived from the Mancos Shale and from mineral mining. The region surrounding the Gunnison River is part of the Colorado Mineral Belt . Contamination of the Gunnison River with selenium and mercury is a conservation concern for the bonytail chub , Colorado pikeminnow , humpback chub , and razorback sucker , whose critical habitat includes

2013-654: The North Fork River, and then downstream, near Delta , it is joined by the Uncompahgre River . It then winds through desert canyonlands, where it receives Kannah Creek . It then empties out of the Dominguez Canyon into the Colorado River at Grand Junction , where some years it rivals the Colorado River in volume. The Gunnison River ranges in width from 100 to 1,000 feet (30 to 305 m) and in depth from 3 to 50 feet (1 to 15 m). The river's powerful current and many rapids make upstream travel nearly impossible. It

2074-472: The Park." The condition of the Gunnison River continues to improve with increased protections for Black Canyon National Park and as stakeholders, scientists, and natural resource managers continue their efforts to protect the Gunnison. Their efforts include conducting scientific research and publishing information that informs the general public how they can protect the river. According to a progress report from 2019,

2135-762: The TTB regulations (27 C.F.R. § 9.12) prescribes the standards for petitions for the establishment or modification of AVAs. Petitions to establish an AVA must include the following: Once a petition is accepted as complete, the TTB may choose to seek public input on the proposal and at its sole discretion may approve the proposed AVA. Before the AVA system, wine appellations of origin in the United States were designated based on state or county boundaries. All of these appellations were grandfathered into federal regulations and may appear on wine labels as designated places of origin in lieu of an AVA, such as Sonoma County . In order for

2196-468: The TTB's creation in 2003, the Treasury’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) received and handled petitions for viticultural areas, wine production and labeling. Section 4.25(e)(2) of the regulations (27 C.F.R. § 4.25(e)(2)) outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and provides that any interested party may petition the TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 of

2257-524: The Valley, to a distance of about 3 or 4 miles (4.8 or 6.4 km) west of Palisade, has a climate particularly suitable for orchard fruits and grapes. Summer temperatures rise to a maximum of about 105 °F (41 °C). Several days in summer may have temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) with cool nights. The winters are mild with temperatures usually above zero, though an absolute minimum of −21 °F (−29 °C) has been recorded. The average humidity

2318-415: The Valley. During the day, the air tends to move up the slopes that confine the Valley at its eastern end. Then, at night, the air moves down again. This air movement, spoken of as air drainage , affords a more limited daily range in temperature and less danger from frost, particularly at the eastern end of the Grand Valley where the majority of the vinifera plantings are located. Hence, the eastern section of

2379-526: The abundance of orchards in the area many growers will incorporate local fruits, such as peaches, plums and cherries, into the sweet wines. However, traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah are the most popular and easily grown fruit in this dry, high-altitude terroir. In 2018, Grand Valley AVA received international acclaim as one of the 'Top Ten Wine Getaways” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine . Palisade hosts its annual Colorado Mountain Winefest which

2440-427: The amount of runoff into the Gunnison. By reducing the amount of runoff being directed into the Gunnison, less selenium has been deposited into the river by irrigation drainage. As climate change reduces stream flow in the Gunnison River, future concentrations of both selenium and mercury will continually rise. This has led water managers and stakeholders from the Gunnison River Basin to review options in order to reduce

2501-432: The area during the late 19th century. Settlers brought vine rootstock to the region, named it Vineland, and had their first crush of grapes flowing by 1885. In 1890, State Governor George A. Crawford planted a 60-acre (24 ha) vineyard in the Grand Valley. By 1900, there were over 1,000 farms growing wine grapes and local sales tax records showed that 1,744 US gallons (6,600 L) of wine were sold that year. However,

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2562-464: The canyon a national park . In 2008 the Black Canyon Decree was passed which resolved legal disputes over water resources in Colorado and protect the Black Canyon of the Gunnison . The decree set a flow regime that "will protect the water-dependent resources of the Black Canyon and help restore the ecological balance in the river system disrupted by three federal dams immediately upstream of

2623-458: The climatically protected areas around Palisade and along the bluffs bordering the Redlands. High winds are unusual, and cyclones are unknown. Light thundershowers are common during summer. Hail damage is localized and usually slight. Summer showers are frequently more detrimental than beneficial, especially those that come during the harvesting season. The average annual precipitation at Grand Junction

2684-484: The day while far cooler at night due to the arid environment. This makes for ideal fruit-growing conditions. The AVA enjoys the most temperate climate within the state of Colorado, with the USDA plant hardiness zone ranging from 6 to 7. Elevations in the Grand Valley viticultural area rise from 4,500 feet (1,400 m) at the western end near Fruita to 4,573 feet (1,394 m) at Grand Junction, and 4,729 feet (1,441 m) at

2745-410: The eastern end of the Valley near Palisade. Deep canyons flank the Valley to the southwest. A sharp escarpment, Book Cliffs , rises to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above the Valley to the north and northeast. The Grand Mesa stands more than a mile above the eastern edge of the Valley, and steep, hilly land borders the high terraces and mesas to the south. The climate of the Grand Valley viticultural area

2806-427: The ecosystem. These attempts include giving funding to farmers of the Gunnison River Basin to reduce the amount of sedimentation deposited back into the river and therefore lower the overall amount of selenium being loaded into the river via tributaries. Salinity is being addressed by implementing local investments into the water use infrastructure by converting old systems to direct pipeline and sprinklers to help reduce

2867-435: The future of the Gunnison River is uncertain. Selenium and mercury contamination of the Gunnison River results from irrigation of soils that are naturally high in selenium, mining activity, and atmospheric mercury deposition. Selenium and mercury contribute to concerns about conservation of resident biota. Four fish species - the humpback chub , bonytail chub , Colorado pikeminnow , and the razorback sucker - are endemic to

2928-651: The lower Gunnison River. The Gunnison River is formed by the confluence of the Taylor and East rivers at Almont in eastern Gunnison County, Colorado . Just past the town of Gunnison , the river begins to swell into the expanse of Blue Mesa Reservoir , a 36-mile-long (58 km) reservoir formed by Blue Mesa Dam, where it receives the Lake Fork of the Gunnison . Just downstream, it is dammed again to form Morrow Point Reservoir and then dammed again to form Crystal Reservoir . The reservoirs produce hydroelectric power and supply

2989-476: The most part, are not suitable for grape growing. Grand Valley, particularly the eastern area, is unofficially considered 'Colorado Wine Country' and a popular destination for enotourism because of the growing interest in wine tasting and the abundance of natural recreational activities and scenery surrounding the area including Colorado National Monument and the Book Cliffs . Most of Colorado's grape production

3050-404: The origin of their wine, while helping vintners to build and enhance the reputation and value of the wines produced. AVAs also allow consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic to a wine made from grapes grown in an AVA. AVAs also help consumers identify what they purchase. Gunnison River The 180-mile long (290 km) river flows east to west and has

3111-406: The region. Critical habitat for these species includes the lower Gunnison River. Elevated salinity concentrations are also a problem for the river and its users. Soils derived from the Mancos Shale , east of the Uncompahgre River , are naturally high in both selenium and salinity. Elevated selenium in the Gunnison River Basin reflects the underlying geology. The Gunnison River Basin sits atop

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3172-529: The state's second federally-designated AVA. The name "Grand Valley" has been associated with the area since the mid-nineteenth century. The present Colorado River above Grand Junction was known as the Grand River as early as 1842. The city of Grand Junction was so named because of its position at the juncture of the Gunnison and Grand Rivers. The confluence of the Green and Grand rivers occurred in eastern Utah and formed

3233-565: The state. A year later, Colorado Mountain Vineyards opened in Palisade and now operates as Colorado Cellars being the state's oldest operating winery. The Colorado wine industry has been steadily growing especially in Grand Valley. Grand Valley viticultural area includes, within its boundaries, three areas which are locally known by the names of Orchard Mesa, the Redlands, and the Vinelands. Orchard Mesa

3294-409: The surrounding areas with water for both municipal and irrigation use. The reservoirs are located along the upper part of the Gunnison River. Below Crystal Dam, the Gunnison River begins to roar through massive cataracts. The Gunnison River then flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison , one of the longest, narrowest, and deepest gorges in the world. At the outlet of the Black Canyon, it receives

3355-461: The thriving wine business diminished in 1909 when Mesa County abolished alcohol and Colorado later enacted a statewide prohibition in 1916. Furthermore, the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919 and federal enforcement of Prohibition caused farmers to rip out their grape vines in favor of peaches, now one of the state's most important fruit crops. Palisade is known for its peaches as well as plums, pears, cherries and apples. Although Prohibition

3416-529: The tributaries in the upper Gunnison River. Some of the most concentrated tributaries of the Gunnison, namely the Uncompahgre, load large amounts of selenium to the Gunnison River. Selenium concentrations in the River can be as high as 11 ppm during peak times. Agricultural areas in the Gunnison River Basin are heavily farmed and provide large amounts of sediment during the growing months. Concentrations of selenium in

3477-416: The two. Grapes within the AVA are adapted to the medium textured to sandy Genola, Hinman, Mayfield, Mesa, Ravola, and Thoroughfare soils, especially where these soils are in areas where peaches are grown, since grapes and peaches tend to do well in the same type of environment. In contrast, soils to the west of the viticultural area are predominantly Billings, Chipeta. Fruita. Mack and Persayo-Chipeta which, for

3538-400: The valley are planted at elevations as high as 4,700 feet (1,400 m) above sea level . The terrain is varied, ranging from alluvial soils along the Colorado River to stony and loamy soils on mesas. Climate is high desert, subject to swings of temperature and wide diurnal variation of up to 30 °F (17 °C). During a typical growing season, the valley is hot, dry and sunny during

3599-670: The wine be fully finished within the state. Washington requires 95% of the grapes in a Washington wine be grown in Washington, although notably the Columbia Valley AVA , Columbia Gorge AVA , and Walla Walla Valley AVA are shared with Oregon. AVAs vary widely in size, ranging from the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA , at more than 19 million acres (29,900 square miles (77,000 km )) across four states ( Illinois , Iowa , Minnesota , and Wisconsin ), to

3660-627: Was repealed in 1933 , the Great Depression sapped farmers of the funds to restart wine production. The development of cold-hardy hybrids sparked a resurgence of winemaking in the 1950s. Colorado's first modern winery was not started until 1968 when a Denver periodontist, Gerald Ivancie, established Ivancie Cellars in the city. In 1977, the General Assembly enacted the Colorado Limited Winery Act, permitting small “farm wineries” in

3721-492: Was named the 'Best Wine Fest in the Nation' by USA Today's "10Best" in 2017. Over 6,000 attended the sold-out event which exhibits several hundred local wines, meads & ciders from dozens of Colorado wineries, meaderies and cideries. 39°07′01″N 108°21′44″W  /  39.1169264°N 108.3621737°W  / 39.1169264; -108.3621737 American Viticultural Area An American Viticultural Area ( AVA )

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