DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18665344
title: Colorado Wine Prices, Quality Signals, and Awards (2013–2023)

description: Dataset Description

This dataset documents retail and producer pricing, wine characteristics, critical ratings, and award outcomes for wines produced entirely from Colorado-grown grapes. The data capture a cross-section of Colorado’s wine market as observed through brick-and-mortar retail environments, direct-to-consumer producer channels, professional critic evaluations, and results from the Colorado Governor’s Cup competition.

The dataset is designed to support analysis of price formation, quality signaling, and market positioning in an emerging wine region, with particular attention to the relationship between prices, expert evaluations, and institutional recognition.

Data Collection

Price and product data were collected in 2023 from two primary sources:





In-store retail collectionData were gathered through visits to more than ten wine shops across Colorado’s Eastern and Western Slopes. Stores were selected to provide broad market coverage, including urban, suburban, and rural locations, independent retailers, and regional chains known to carry Colorado wines. All Colorado wines available in each store were recorded, provided they were produced entirely from Colorado-grown grapes. Wines labeled under the broader American AVA were excluded, even when produced in Colorado. Prices were recorded as observed at each retail location without averaging or adjustment.




Producer website collectionComplementary digital data extraction was conducted for 79 Colorado wine producers using information published on official winery websites. This ensured comprehensive coverage of available wines and captured direct-to-consumer pricing alongside retail prices.



Critical rating data were collected from professional wine reviews and retail shelf materials. Ratings were sourced from Wine Enthusiast and cross-referenced with shelf-displayed ratings in retail stores. Wine Enthusiast reviews are conducted blind using a 100-point scale and include only wines scoring 80 points or higher; wines below this threshold are not reviewed and therefore not rated in the dataset.

Award data were compiled for all Colorado Governor’s Cup winners from 2014 through 2023, excluding 2020 when no competition was held. The Governor’s Cup is judged blind by a panel of sommeliers, wine writers, Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and other wine professionals, and includes only wines produced from Colorado-grown grapes.

Scope and Coverage





Number of wines: 391




Number of producers: 79




Geographic coverage: Colorado (Eastern Slope and Western Slope)




Time frame:





Price and product data: 2023




Governor’s Cup awards: 2014–2023 (excluding 2020)





The dataset intentionally excludes wines produced from non-grape fruits (e.g., ciders, meads) and wines made from grapes or bulk juice sourced outside Colorado. This focus is intended to represent the agricultural and economic footprint of Colorado’s grape-based wine industry and to reflect prevailing market prices for wines made entirely from in-state fruit.

Variables

Primary variable





PRICE: Retail or producer price in U.S. dollars for a 750 ml bottle.



Quality and recognition indicators





CRITIC_RATING: Expert score on a 100-point scale when available.




NICHE, BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD, DOUBLE_GOLD: Count of Colorado Governor’s Cup awards earned by the producer in each category between 2013 and 2023.



Binary indicators





CRITIC: 1 if the wine has a recorded critic rating; 0 otherwise.




GOVERNOR: 1 if the producer has won at least one Colorado Governor’s Cup award; 0 otherwise.




WINERY: 1 if the producer is a winery; 0 otherwise.




RED, WHITE, SPARKLING, OTHER: Wine style indicators.




GRAND_VALLEY: 1 if sourced from the Grand Valley AVA; 0 otherwise.




WEST_ELKS: 1 if sourced from the West Elks AVA; 0 otherwise.




SUTCLIFFE: 1 if produced by Sutcliffe Vineyards; 0 otherwise.



Data Structure

Each row represents an individual wine. Producer-level variables (e.g., award counts) are associated with each wine produced by that winery.

Intended Use

This dataset is intended for research on wine economics, price signaling, quality assessment, agricultural policy, and regional development in emerging wine regions. It may also be useful for comparative studies of regional wine markets and analyses of institutional recognition and expert evaluation.

Limitations





Prices reflect observed retail and direct-to-consumer listings in 2023 and may vary across time and sales channels.




Wines without professional critic reviews are included but lack rating values due to reviewer selection thresholds.




The dataset does not represent the full universe of alcoholic beverages produced in Colorado, focusing exclusively on grape-based wines made from Colorado-grown fruit.