West Elks AVA

West Elks
Wine region
North Fork Valley vineyard
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2001[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofColorado
Other regions in ColoradoGrand Valley AVA
Climate regionContinental
Precipitation (annual average)rain: 12.7 inches (322.6 mm) snow: 41.4 inches (105.2 cm)[2]
Soil conditionsGranite, Sand, and Loam, some lime, alkaline soils.[3]
Total area48,000 acres (75 sq mi)[4][1]
Size of planted vineyards84 acres (34 ha)[1]
No. of vineyards10[5]
Grapes producedCabernet Franc, Cayuga, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Marechal Foch, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot noir, Riesling[6]
No. of wineries12[5]

West Elks is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Delta County on the Western Slope of Colorado within the North Fork Valley surrounding the towns of Cedaredge, Hotchkiss and Paonia. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) effective May 7, 2001 and is the latest of the two registered viticultural areas in the "Centennial State."[7] The viticultural area takes its name from the nearby West Elk Mountains. The area is located on mesa lands with 48,405 acres (76 sq mi) expanding along the North Fork Gunnison River from the historic mining town of Bowie, through Paonia and Hotchkiss. Its borders are the West Elk Range to the east and the higher Grand Mesa to the north. To the south, Crawford and Fruitland Mesa have higher elevations and the plateau climbs until it reaches the north rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison. To the west lies the barren Adobe Badlands which has little plant growth. State Highway 133 bisects the AVA in a north–south direction. The high-altitude vineyards are situated mostly at 5,400 to 6,400 feet (1,600–2,000 m) above sea level.[1] The USDA plant hardiness zone is 7a.[8]

The surrounding mountains limit access to the area, resulting in a far more secluded wine industry, when compared to its neighbor to the northwest, the Grand Valley AVA. The highest altitude AVA in the United States also boasts the highest altitude vineyards in the Northern hemisphere. Due to the elevation, the mild growing season starts about two weeks later and has 30% fewer days between the last spring frost and the first fall frost than the Grand Valley. Consequently, the valley features many of the central European grape varieties quite successfully, such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and other lesser-known whites as well as red varieties Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chambourcin.[1][6]

  1. ^ a b c d e "West Elks Viticultural Area (2000R-257P)" (27 CFR 9 [T.D. ATF-445 RE: Notice No. 904] RIN 1512–AA07 Final Rule). Federal Register. 66 (44). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Treasury Department: 13429–13431. March 6, 2001.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Climate in Hotchkiss, Colorado". Best Places.
  3. ^ "Spotlight: Emerging Wine Regions". Sommeliers Choice Awards. Beverage Trade Network.
  4. ^ "American Viticultural Areas by State". Wine Institute. 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "The Wineries". Colorado Wine.
  6. ^ a b "West Elks (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  7. ^ Doss-Knight, Bonnie (April 15, 2022). "Why Is Colorado Called the Centennial State?". United States Now.
  8. ^ "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". USDA.gov.