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West Elks named No. 2 wine region in the U.S.
National recognition for a place worth getting to know. Discover the Colorado wine region that earned No. 2 in USA TODAY’s 2026 Readers’ Choice awards.
Read the storyThe Western Colorado local guide
Good days begin with knowing where you are.
Stories, local discoveries, and happenings from Paonia and the North Fork Valley.
From the Journal
A useful way into the region.
Three useful perspectives: understand the West Elks AVA, plan a wine-tasting day, or build a relaxed weekend around Paonia.
A harvest weekend in the North Fork Valley
Make room for a market morning, a wine-country afternoon, and an evening in Paonia. Here’s how to bring the valley’s harvest season into your next visit.
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West Elks AVA guide: Paonia's high-elevation wine country
Learn where the West Elks AVA is, what makes its North Fork Valley setting distinctive, and how to plan a thoughtful winery day around Paonia.
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How to plan a Paonia wine-tasting day
A practical guide to timing, winery stops, transportation, pickup, food, and the details that make a West Elks wine day feel easy.
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Things to do in Paonia, Colorado: a relaxed wine-country weekend
Build a Paonia weekend around wine tasting, orchards, art, seasonal food, and enough unplanned time to enjoy the North Fork Valley.
Read the storyLet the guide become the day
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