September is harvest time for the grapes. The third week
in September is also the height of the fall color season in Colorado, when the
aspen and cottonwood trees change many brilliant colors of yellow, red and
orange. October is a shoulder season where the weather is usually decent, but
minus the crowds and high hotel prices. November through February are the slow
months, when the Grand Valley shuts down for the winter. Bargain hunters can
still book hotel rooms at drastically reduced prices, while a majority of the
wineries and tasting rooms remain open. Be sure to call ahead, however. Western
Colorado is home to an oil shale and natural gas boom, and many hotels are
already full of energy workers needed to work the fields
