|
| 1873: |
English travelor Isabella Bird first discovered the lush
lanscape of the Grand Valley during her ascent up St. Vincent Canyon
on her way to Estes Park. She later shared her love for the area in her
book A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains she later published. |
| 1882: |
Gravity canal irrigation is introduced into the Grand
Valley. Colorado River water is diverted into gravity canals at the
mouth of De Beque Canyon near Palisade. |
| 1883: |
Arthur E. Pabor first recognizes the fruit producing
potential of the Grand Valley and plants grapes, apples, pears, peaches,
cherries, and plums near Fruita. |
| 1890: |
Governor George A. Crawford, who founded Grand Junction
in 1881, plants sixty acres of grapes and other fruit on Rapid Creek
above Palisade. |
| 1899: |
U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of the United States
- Agriculture reports a Colorado grape harvest of 586,300 pounds and
wine production of 1744 gallons. |
| 1909: |
U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of the United States
- Agriculture reports a Colorado harvest of 1,037,614 pounds from
254,292 vines of bearing age and 101,332 vines of pre-bearing age.
1034 Colorado farms are involved in grape production. |
| 1916: |
The General Assembly of Colorado enacts a prohibition
statute. Colorado goes "dry" four years before the passage of the
18th Amendment which creates national prohibition. Commercial winemaking
ceases in Colorado and wine grape vineyards are uprooted. |
| 1933: |
The 18th Amendment is repealed and national prohibition
ends. |
| 1968: |
Gerald Ivancie opens Ivancie Winery, the first modern
Colorado winery. Ivancie also develops experimental plantings of premium
wine grapes in and around the Grand Valley. |
| 1974: |
Colorado State University's Orchard Mesa Research center,
located in Grand Junction, begins vineyard research. |
| 1977: |
The General Assembly enacts the Colorado Limited Winery
Act which creates a special permit for small "farm wineries" currently
the backbone of the Colorado wine industry. |
| 1978: |
Jim and Ann Seewald open Colorado Mountain Vineyards. (Closed in 1988.) |
| 1982: |
Rocky Mountain Association of Vintners and Viticulturists,
an association of winemakers and grape growers, is formed. |
| 1983: |
Pikes Peak Vineyards opens. |
| 1984: |
Plum Creek Cellars opens. |
| 1988: |
Carlson Vineyards opens.
Colorado Cellars registered by the Vineland Corporation on July 22, reopens Colorado Mountain Vineyards. |
| 1990: |
The General Assembly enacts the Colorado Wine Industry
Development Act which creates the Colorado Wine Industry Development
Board.
Grande River Vineyards opens.
Grand Valley designated a Federal Viticultural Area.
|
| 1992: |
Columbine Cellars opens. (Closed in 1995) |
| 1993: |
Minturn Cellars opens.
Rocky Hill Winery opens. (Closed in 2003)
Terror Creek Winery opens.
|
| 1994: |
Cottonwood Cellars opens.
Shadow Mountain Cellars opens. (Closed in 2001)
Stoney Mesa Winery opens.
Trail Ridge Winery opens.
|
| 1995: |
Mountain Spirit Winery opens.
Rocky Mountain Meadery opens.
Record wine grape harvest - 560 tons.
|
| 1996: |
Canyon Wind Cellars opens.
Creekside Cellars open.
|
| 1997: |
Aspen Valley Winery opens. (Closed in 2003)
Augustina's Winery opens.
DeBeque Canyon Winery opens.
Old Town Winery opens.
Record wine grape harvest - 752 tons.
|
| 1998: |
Amber Ridge Winery opens.
Balistreri Winery opens.
S. Rhodes Vineyards opens.
Surface Creek Winery opens.
|
| 1999: |
Baharav Vineyards opens. (Closed in 2004)
BookCliff Vineyards opens.
Colorado Wine Festival license created.
Redstone Meadery opens
St. Kathryn Cellars opens.
Sutcliffe/McElmo Winery opens.
Two Rivers Winery opens.
|
| 2000: |
Garfield Estates Winery opens.
Guy Drew/Crooked Creek Winery opens.
Puesta del Sol Winery opens.
Reeder Mesa Winery opens.
|
| 2001: |
Avanti Winery opens.
Graystone Winery opens.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey opens.
Mountain View Winery opens.
Hermosa Vineyards opens.
Record wine grape harvest - 856 tons.
|
| 2002: |
Barton Creek Winery opens.
Black Canyon Winery opens.
|
| 2003: |
Medovina Meadery opens.
Jack Rabbit Hill opens.
Boulder Creek Winery opens.
Woody Creek Cellars opens.
Spruce Mountain Meadery opens.
|
| 2004: |
Whitewater Hill Vineards opens.
Turquoise Mesa Winery opens.
|
| 2005: |
Valley of the Wind Winery opens.
Snowy Peaks Winery opens.
Winter Park Winery opens.
The Inn at Rock'n River becomes Ciatano's.
The General Assembly ammends the limited winery statute, replacing the requirement to use 75%
Colorado fruit with a more informative labeling regulation for Colorado wine.
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