The fat, purple, just-picked grape clusters filling a bin on the loading dock at Sauvage Spectrum Estate Winery were full of juicy promise. They had just come from the vineyards, and they were headed to a crusher and fermentation tank.

It was a big night for Colorado wine on Oct. 17 at Colorado Uncorked in Denver, where the 12 wines awarded the Colorado Governor’s Cup were finally unveiled. I had the privilege of serving as one of the judges back in September, and I’ve been sitting on the results ever since. Keeping quiet is harder than it sounds. And the winners are…

When you think of a West Coast wine country getaway, your mind probably instantly goes to famous spots like Napa and Sonoma. But what about the Rocky Mountain region? Although it is known for its towering snowy peaks, the area actually has its own thriving wine industry.

When most travelers think of Colorado, the glittering peaks of Aspen or the urban sprawl of Denver often come to mind. But for those who venture west, past the Continental Divide and into the heart of the high desert, a different kind of magic awaits – stirring vistas, wine country, and more.

We’re in that time of year when Colorado restaurants celebrate some of the state’s most iconic crops. But Colorado wine? Not so much. Finding Colorado-produced wine at Denver restaurants is a far greater rarity, and the state’s wine industry has had enough.

When Colorado’s stunning landscapes are illuminated in shades of yellow, orange and red with the changing color of leaves, it’s hard to argue that there’s a better time of year in the state than fall. Especially if traveling to Colorado’s wine country.

Colorado might be famous for its mountains, but the state has a growing wine scene that surprises a lot of visitors. Many of the best spots sit near Grand Junction and Palisade, where warm days and cool nights help grapes thrive.

The West Elks American Viticultural Area, which encompasses Paonia and Hotchkiss, is the No. 2 wine region in the U.S., according to USA Today’s 10BEST ranking. he company’s recurring best-of lists are essentially popularity contests where the public gets to decide the winners.

People outside of Colorado might be surprised to learn that this mountainous state makes wine. A tiny wine industry has grown up in a few river valleys and plateaus away from the towering 14,000-foot peaks of the Rockies, based on 800 acres of wine grapes and some 150 small wineries.

The Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) has officially launched a nationwide search for its next Executive Director, seeking an experienced and visionary leader to guide Colorado’s wine industry into its next chapter.