West Elks AVA
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) on March 6, 2001, and is the latest of the two registered viticultural areas in the "Centennial State."
The viticultural area takes its name from the nearby West Elk Mountains. The area is located on mesa lands with 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 above sea level. The USDA plant hardiness zone range is 6a to 7a.
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.
Terroir
Topography
West Elks viticultural area is known for having some of the highest altitude vineyards in North America. The elevation, along with very low humidity and cool nights, produces quality fruit with good flavor. The area is completely protected and sheltered by lofty mesas and mountain ranges as the surrounding areas help protect the viticultural area from severe storms and climatic disturbances which often injure or destroy fruit.The boundaries of West Elks are defined by elevated geography. The far eastern boundary, Juanita Junction, sits at. The eastern line projects mainly at. The southern border of the viticultural area follows section lines of the U.S.G.S. maps with elevations that range from. The northern border rises from.
The elevations surrounding West Elks AVA are much higher where the eastern elevations reach. Grand Mesa is located to the north and rises to about. To the south, Crawford and Fruitland Mesa have higher elevations and the plateau climbs until it reaches the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. To the west, the Adobe Badlands, on which there is very little growth, and the Redlands Mesa sit above separating West Elks AVA from Delta, Cedaredge and the Surface Creek areas. The fertile farming area to the east of Delta lies under the level, resulting in a longer growing season than West Elks.