When considering the rapidly growing wine regions around the United States, Colorado is definitely one that is making impressive strides. In the last five years, the number of wineries in Colorado has nearly doubled, from 35 to 66, an annual growth rate of over 16.5 percent. Several wineries are on Colorado’s Front Range, around Boulder and Denver. The greater number -- and all but a few of the vineyards -- are to the west on what is known as the Western Slope, a high desert region between ridges of the Rocky Mountains, which is dotted with small communities such as Grand Junction, Palisade and Paonia.