WHITEWATER, Colo. (KKCO) - In a very unforgiving wine business, Colorado not only holds its own, but it's also been a growing industry over the past 10 years. So, how big is it going to get?

In the movie “Bottle Shock”, a California wine upends the French viticultural world when a Napa Valley chardonay wins in a blind taste test against the French.

Similarly, at this year's wine competetion at the Colorado State Fair, Colorado's Reeder Mesa Winery took *best in show* against some California entrants.

"My first batch was Reisling – put a bottle in everybody's mailbox up and down the road,” says Doug Vogel, owner of Reeder Mesa Winery. “Next day, the phone was ringing. Everybody wanted more. That was the beginning of my wine."

This isn't the first time a Colorado wine has done well against the big boys.

"If you look at the record – Colorado's done very well over the past 5 – 10 years,” says Steve Menke, associate professor of enology at Colorado State University.

In 2007, Two Rivers Winery took top awards at the San Fransisco International Wine Competition.

That same year, Colorado wines shut out California during a blind taste test in Denver.

"Colorado has come a long way in the last 10 years. As the winemakers gain more skill and the vines get older," says Mike Chariton, owner of Planet Wines, who keeps a section devoted to Colorado wines at his downtown Grand Junction store.

So is the Grand Valley the next Napa Valley?

"I don't know if we'll ever be that big," says Vogel

"Do you want another Napa Valley?" says Menke.

There are about 2,800 wineries in California, and, well, about 84 in Colorado, but it has been growing.

Over the past decade, Colorado has more than tripled its sales volume.

According to the Colorado wine industry development board, wine sales have fermented up from 279,000 liters sold in 1999/2000 to 994,000 liters sold last year.

Logistically, experts say, it doesn't make sense to be the next Napa Valley.

Colorado has less land and less water than the golden state. And because Colorado irrigates, growers here have more control over watering their vines.

And beyond logistics? Many say Colorado should just stay unique to what it is.

"Culturally, we're still pretty down to earth, pretty unpretentious here," says Chariton.

"My wife and I really are family run, because we do it all ourselves," says Vogel

Another plus? There's a better value with Colorado wines because there isn't the name recognition of Napa Valley.

And good luck getting your hands on that 2007 Reeder Mesa cab. Its limited supply is already half gone, but there'll be a new batch to enjoy in 2010.