Grande River Vineyards
4.7(113)google
4.2(50)yelp
Scenic LookoutWine TastingWinery
Overview
The Chablis region of Burgundy is classified according to four tiers of Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designation. The top two are the crus of Chablis and include the 7 Grand cru vineyards followed by the lower Premier crus. Wines made entirely from fruit from these vineyards are entitled to list their wines as cru classé Chablis on the wine label.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeAugust through October during the annual grape harvest and crushing season is spectacular. Scheduling a wine-tasting session between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM Thursday through Saturday is highly recommended; the late afternoon sun rays beautifully paint the massive Book Cliffs shale palisades towering directly behind the green vine trellises.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned at 571 31 Rd in Palisade. The drive is exceptionally simple: off I-70 W near Grand Junction, take Exit 42 for Palisade. At the bottom of the off-ramp traffic circle, directly follow the vineyard signs onto 31 Road, driving south for a mere 500 feet to find the estate's grand winery entrance gates and paved lot on your right.
Travel Tips
- Positioned inside the Palisade viticultural core off I-70 Exit 42, the primary brick entryway accommodates standard vehicles but strictly bars extended RVs or overland trailers from squeezing into the tight tasting-room single lanes. Heavy platforms must utilize the expansive rear gravel oversized loops.
- Under Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division regulations, patrons are strictly prohibited from bringing outside alcoholic beverages, unsealed craft cans, or personal spirits onto the agricultural vineyard rows or open-air tasting terraces. Infractions force immediate fluid seizure and property expulsion.
- To experience the vines laden with clusters or view the automated sorting and crushing operations, target your visit tightly between late August and early October's critical Harvest Season. When entering active processing corridors, you must remain behind safety lines and never pick viticultural assets.
Reviews
Positive
- The winery is nestled right beneath the majestic Palisade red rock cliffs, offering a stunning visual backdrop while you sip wine.
- The staff in the tasting room are incredibly warm and welcoming, patiently explaining the craft of high-altitude Colorado winemaking.
- Their white wines and dessert ice wines are phenomenal, and the tasting flights are reasonably priced, offering great value compared to Napa.
- They frequently host outdoor lawn concerts in summer evenings, where you can enjoy music, wine, and a serene, pastoral countryside vibe.
Heads up
- Without driving yourself or paying for a dedicated wine tour shuttle, it's practically impossible to reach this winery via public transit.
- Beyond wine tasting, the food pairings and charcuterie boards available have limited selections, small portions, and high price tags.
- When large tour buses arrive, the tasting room becomes overwhelmed, resulting in long waits for service and attention from staff.
- The outdoor lawn and vineyard areas suffer from quite a few insects and bees in the summer, which can be bothersome during tastings.