GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO,USA - A backdrop of mountains turned a fiery yellow from autumns frost offsets rows upon rows of plump grapes hanging off vines on cool dewy morning. Country roads lined with farm houses re inhabited by folks eager to give you a wave and good morning smile.

This could be a picture taken in the California wine country or even somewhere in France. But the times they are a changin'. Grape growing and wine making is quickly becoming a popular business all over the world. Anywhere there are hot days and cool nights, grapes are being planted, harvested, pressed, fermented and bottled.

Growing Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet and most other popular varitels, the Grand Valley located in Grand Junction, Colorado is one up and coming wine region to take a look at.

Nearly all the wineries in the Grand Valley are family owned mom and pop establishments, making them an inviting stop when visiting the area. Walking into a tasting room with the proprietor pouring you a glass of his or her own hand crafted wine is a refreshing departure from the corporate wine making outfits where the pourer barely knows the facts about the wine being served.

These are hard working people with a desire to succeed and it shows in the wines they produce. Most of the area wineries output between ten to twenty thousand cases per year -- asmall amount by California standards but quite enough to supply Colorado restaurants and specialty stores with respectable libations.

One of the wineries I most enjoyed was Colorado Cellars. Besides producing quite drinkable wines, this winery has a beautiful stretch of grass leading to a covered gazebo with a backdrop of Mount Garfield. This is a wonderful place to stop for a picnic when it's not being used for concerts or weddings.

Driving further up the road, you pass by orchards of apples and peaches on the way to the Carlson Winery. Be sure to taste their Gewurtztraminer, an award winning wine that's not too sweet and not too dry. It's difficult for anyone to leave Carlson without at least one bottle.

One winery, that really isn't a winery in the classic way, is Confre Cellars.Which is not to say they don't producer a wonderful drink. Confre specializes in mead, a beverage produced from distilling honey. The many different fruit meads produced here are a departure from traditional wines and something that you'll want to try.

Western Colorado has a perfect climate for growing grapes. With warm sunny days and cool nights, the fruit matures nicely. Many wineries are producing wines that are meant to by opened only a few years after bottling -- perfect for everyday drinking.

Canyon Wind Cellars has a different approach. The wine maker here is attempting to produce a wine that will age and mature for years, similar to a fine California vintage. Their first wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon, is two years off the vine and should be ready for drinking in 1998. The wine maker assured me that this wine can be stored for many years more and after tasting the young wine, I agreed.

If you find yourself traveling anywhere near eastern Utah or Colorado, take a little time, relax and unwind on a trip through the Grand Junction wine country. Youre taste buds will be happy you did.

Be sure to also read:

• Grand County - Colorado's Best Kept Winter Bargain Secret
• Grand Junction, Colorado - Where Do You Want To Go Today?