I love the Palisade/Grand Junction Colorado Area for the many fun events, scenery, agriculture and especially wine. Palisade started growing grapes for wine just twenty years after Napa Valley. In 1881 George A. Crawford (founder of Grand Junction) planted 60 acres of mostly grapes in Palisade on Rapid Creek. When alcohol production was made illegal the farmers switched to peaches. 1968, 35 years after prohibition ended Gerry Ivancie opened Invancie Winery. The Ivancie Winery was Colorado’s first modern winery. Gerry Ivancie developed experimental premium wine grapes. In 1990 “the Grand Valley” was awarded the government term “American Viticultural Area” which denotes a specified grape-growing region that meets certain standards.
There are now over 100 wineries in Colorado 75% of which are in the Grand Valley. The Grand Junction and Palisade Colorado area experiences hot and dry days with lots of sunshine during the growing season which with the nighttime drop in temperature gives the grapes a high acid content. High acidity is essential to quality wine.
The Colorado Mountain Wine Fest starts September 15 with wine in the park on September 18, 2011. The Colorado Mountain Fest had humble beginnings starting out at the Community Park in Palisade and moving to the larger Riverbend Park in 2005. 57 wineries will be represented this year. More than half of the wineries in the state are participating in this year’s wine fest.
In addition to wine merchants there will be vendors selling wine related gourmet food and gifts.
Click here for the Colorado Wine Fest website.
http://www.coloradowinefest.com/index.html
Click below for a map of the local wineries.
http://find.mapmuse.com/associations/map/colorado-wine-industry-development-board
To see available homes in Palisade listed by EB Realty click below
http://www.askforelizabeth.com.z57preview.com/professional25.shtml
Comments (3)Subscribe to CommentsComment