Colorado Cellars Winery

Situated at the extreme western edge of Colorado, the Grand Valley of the Colorado River has long been famous for it's production of premium quality fruit. Although wine grapes have been grown in the Grand Valley off and on for over fifty years, they have only been grown commercially since 1978, and the Grand Valley of Colorado has been designated a viticultural area only since 1991.

Since the winery's beginning, wine grape acreage has increased steadily to a total of about 450 acres today. The original winery has also grown and expanded to what is known today as Colorado Cellars Winery - the state's oldest and largest family operated winery.

Owners Richard and Padte Turley have each been associated with the wine business for nearly three decades.

In 1988 the winery was completely renovated and expanded in order to accommodate the fermentation and storage of more than 10,000 cases annually. The original winery building, however, remains nestled in the same hillside overlooking the Bookcliff Mountains, with the Grand Valley and the Colorado River stretching out below.

Colorado's cold winter months dictate that only those micro-climates situated within our Grand Valley appellation will support vines capable of producing premium varietal wines.

Although these are some of the highest altitude vineyards in the world, the vines thrive on our gentle slopes overlooking the valley floor.

Here, they are sheltered from the prevailing western winter winds and storms, due also in part to the inversion effect created by the 10,000 foot high Grand Mesa dominating the eastern end of the valley. To the north and south are the Bookcliff and Umcompahgre mountain ranges which complete the climatic scheme by further fostering the inversion effect. With the valley open only to the west, the worst summer winds and storms are driven up and over the valley, leaving us with cool, dry nights and hot, dry days.

Our soils consist mostly of deep clay-loam layers with underlying seams of sand which facilitate drainage. Throughout the clay layers are liberal quantities of rock in all sizes which help to keep the clay loosely packed and capable of excellent heat retention. Virtually all Grand Valley vineyards are irrigated, thereby allowing us added control over vine vigor and fruit maturity.

We truly believe in "hand made" wines and insist upon minimal handling and processing, thereby allowing our premium grapes distinctive qualities to emerge in our wines.