Grand Junction: Tours and Tastes in Colorado’s Wine Country

Grand Junction is within the scenic Grand Valley, surrounded by red rock cliffs to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east, with verdant grapevines nestled near the Colorado River. It is home to more than 24 wineries with year-round tasting rooms open to the public. With so many varietals to choose from, plan to drive, bike, take a limousine or even a horse-drawn carriage to ride amongst the vines and sample all the delights.

The area’s prime growing climate also makes it a perfect destination for tasting beer, cider and spirits. Sip cider made from fruit grown on-site at a local farm in Palisade. There are several breweries in the area, so plan to walk Main Street in downtown Grand Junction to experience local hops. Don’t forget to take home some of the handcrafted gin, whiskey, vodka, brandy, eau de vie and more made from local fruit and grain at one of the top craft distilleries in the country.

From you-pick opportunities to guided farm tours, the Grand Valley’s fruit farms and orchards are the perfect way to learn about your food. Jewel-toned peaches take center stage in Palisade, Colorado. The orchards grow those famous, sweet-and-juicy Palisade peaches that attract world-wide attention. The vineyards are home to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet and Malbec vines and so much more. After wandering some of the 38 hectares of orchard and vineyard, grab a glass of your favorite wine in a tasting room.

Surround yourself with the heady scent of lavender near Grand Junction. Many local farms grow the brilliant purple plant and some vineyards even produce lavender wine. Ask about you-pick farm experiences, along with guided tours of the greenhouses and fields. Don’t miss out on the many country stores which sell fresh and dried lavender, plus a wide variety of lavender products such as oils, jams, sachets and more. Don’t think it is simply a bath and beauty product – ask about culinary lavender to create unique dishes at home.

Nowhere is Grand Junction’s diverse bounty more apparent than at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. The market, held every Thursday evening from mid-June to mid-September on Main Street, draws some 5,000 visitors each week. Bring a big basket to pick up signature local foods such as multiple kinds of peaches, sweet corn, greens, jams and jellies.

Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah are ideal international gateways to Grand Junction – just a four-hour drive, 7-8-hour train ride or 50-minute flight away. By car, access Grand Junction via Interstate 70 from the east and west. By air, connect to Grand Junction Regional Airport. By train, Grand Junction is on the California Zephyr route from Chicago to San Francisco.