Grand Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Mesa County, Colorado located in a high-altitude river valley surrounding the county seat of Grand Junction and stretching 24 miles (39 km) east-west between the municipalities of Palisade and Fruita.

Grand Valley AVA was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on December 26, 1991, upon the petition submitted by Mr. James Seewald of Vintage Colorado Cellars Winery,[6] and the first viticultural area registered in the Centennial State.

Settlers brought vine rootstock to the region, named it Vineland, and had their first crush of grapes flowing by 1885.

However, the thriving wine business diminished in 1909 when Mesa County abolished alcohol and Colorado later enacted a statewide prohibition in 1916.

[9] Furthermore, the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919 and federal enforcement of Prohibition caused farmers to rip out their grape vines in favor of peaches, now one of the state's most important fruit crops.

Although Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the Great Depression sapped farmers of the funds to restart wine production.

Orchard Mesa is a tract of almost flat terrace land south of the Colorado River and to the southeast of Grand Junction.

During a typical growing season, the valley is hot, dry and sunny during the day while far cooler at night due to the arid environment.

The AVA enjoys the most temperate climate within the state of Colorado, with the USDA plant hardiness zone ranging from 6 to 7.

Hence, the eastern section of the Valley, to a distance of about 3 or 4 miles (4.8 or 6.4 km) west of Palisade, has a climate particularly suitable for orchard fruits and grapes.

Occasionally, late spring or early fall frosts do some damage to fruits and vegetables on the bottom lands and recent flood plains.

Large areas to the south, along the Gunnison River and Colorado Highway 50, show extensive evidence of excessive salts and alkalinity.

[1] Grand Valley, particularly the eastern area, is unofficially considered 'Colorado Wine Country' and a popular destination for enotourism because of the growing interest in wine tasting and the abundance of natural recreational activities and scenery surrounding the area including Colorado National Monument and the Book Cliffs.

Due to the abundance of orchards in the area many growers will incorporate local fruits, such as peaches, plums and cherries, into the sweet wines.

However, traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah are the most popular and easily grown fruit in this dry, high-altitude terroir.

[14] Palisade hosts its annual Colorado Mountain Winefest which was named the 'Best Wine Fest in the Nation' by USA Today's "10Best" in 2017.

[15] Over 6,000 attended the sold-out event which exhibits several hundred local wines, meads & ciders from dozens of Colorado wineries, meaderies and cideries.