Colorado wine industry grows

(CJ) - A Colorado State University study found the wine industry contributed $144 million to the state’s economy in 2012, a figure that has more than tripled since a similar study was conducted in 2005.

Colorado wine sales surpassed $28 million during the most recent fiscal year, up from $11 million in 2005.

Though many of Colorado’s wineries are along the Front Range, Fox Fire Farms, Sutcliffe Vineyards and Guy Drew Vineyards make wine in Southwest Colorado.

Richard Parry, who owns Fox Fire south of Ignacio with his wife, Linda, said the state’s wine industry should continue to grow.

“I think it’s going to keep growing because the technology is there, and the cold, hearty varieties are there to grow,” he said.

Fox Fire produces wines such as Colorado Riesling and Colorado cabernet sauvignon.

Fox Fire is a relatively small winery, producing about 500 cases per year. The winery operates seasonally and has up to eight part-time employees.

Sutcliffe and Guy Drew are near Cortez. Another nearby winery, Wines of the San Juan, is near Navajo Lake, east of Aztec, N.M.