Each year at this time it seems just about every writer and publication issues their predictions and resolutions for the year. I have decided to consolidate both into one: I predict in the coming year, Americans will drink more local wine than ever and I resolve to drink more Colorado wine. Note, by “local wine” I mean the definition used by the Drink Local Wine organization: “wines from lesser known areas — not because we don’t like California, Oregon or Washington wines, but they get plenty of coverage in the major wine magazines.”
It wasn’t long ago (as recent as ten years ago) Colorado wine was little more than a curiosity for most people. Something you bought only when you traveled to Grand Junction or occasionally as a novelty gift. That has changed dramatically now. Today Colorado wines regularly win awards at national competitions. And more and more Coloradans are learning just how good our state’s wines can be.
A case in point: The Colorado Wine Board recently released a report by Colorado State University showing Colorado’s wine industry’s economic contribution in 2012 was three times more than it was the last time the study was done eight years prior. The Colorado wine industry, which now has 108 wineries (how many of you would have guessed that?), also has seen an average sixteen percent average annual production growth over the last twenty years. In 2012, the market share of Colorado wine was still only two percent by volume but for the first time passed five percent of sales, indicating consumers are willing to pay a little more for homegrown product.
As a result, the Colorado wine industry’s economic contribution has more than tripled to more than $144 million since the last study was conducted. Two-thirds of this came from wine tourism, which means more of the state’s residents and quite a few tourists from outside the state are attending wine festivals and events or visiting tasting rooms.
And these consumers and tourists increasingly are finding better wines. Recent evidence of this is found in the state earning 20 total medals in the 14th Annual Jefferson Cup Invitational that included wines from 22 states. Colorado was represented in the top category for the fifth year in a row. BookCliff Vineyards took one of 25 Jefferson Cups for their 2011 Cabernet Frank Reserve.
But, of course, that’s only the beginning of the fine wine available from this state. The Grand Valley and the West Elks regions near Grand Junction are increasingly becoming favored destinations. And more wines from such producers as Grand Valley, Anemoi, Canyon Wind, Two Rivers, Mesa Park, and Whitewater Hill can be found on store shelves. There also are many wineries worth attention in the Denver/Boulder area, including Boulder Creek, Creekside, and the Infinite Monkey Theorem.