As we head into another summer of road trips, the Colorado Wine Board is encouraging wine-lovers to get out and explore the more than 170 wineries and meaderies found in our backyard. This year, winemakers are confidently welcoming visitors into their tasting rooms with socially-distant seating, outdoor tasting options, and a plethora of ways to enjoy Colorado wine without drones of people.
Colorado’s plateaus, valleys and mountain runoff mixed with low humidity and sunshine create the perfect conditions for growing world-class grapes. Whether in the mountains, on the plains, or in a city, there’s likely a handful of wineries nearby to check off the list.
We’ve taken the leg work out of researching where to go. We have mapped out a variety of our state’s wine regions and made suggestions of wineries found in each. Our state’s two American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) are some of the highest in the county.
Front Range:
There’s no need to travel far with the plethora of wineries found across Denver’s Front Range. Create an urban wine tour throughout Denver or head to the foothills where wineries stretch from Arvada down to Bailey. These winemakers grow their grapes out on Colorado’s Western Slope and bring them to the Front Range to blend and bottle in tasting rooms open to the public:
Central Front Range
· Creekside Cellars, 28036 CO-74, Evergreen
· Colorado Sake Company, 3559 Larimer St, Denver
· Balistreri Vineyards, 1946 E 66th Ave, Denver
· Aspen Peak Cellars, 60750 US Hwy 285, Bailey
· Silver Vines Winery, 7509 Grandview Ave, Arvada
Northern Front Range
· BookCliff Vineyards, 1501 Lee Hill Dr. Unit 17, Boulder
· Redstone Meadery, 4700 Pearl Street, Suite 2A., Boulder, CO 80301
· Settembre Cellars, 1501 Lee Hill Dr. Unit 16, Boulder
· Turquoise Mesa Winery, 11705 Teller St., Broomfield
· Snowy Peaks Winery, 292 Moraine Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517
Plains:
Wine-seekers surely won’t hit any traffic jams when heading east. Colorado’s Eastern Plains offer wineries that brew in small batches. These highlighted hidden gems are all family-run:
· Red Wine Boutique, 112 S 3rd Ave, Sterling
· Claremont Inn & Winery, 800 Claremont St., Stratton
· Mummy Hill Winery, Hwy 385, Holyoke
Pikes Peak & South
After hiking The Incline or exploring Garden of the Gods, visitors (or locals) can sip on local flavors while taking in views of Pikes Peak from these Colorado wineries:
· Vino Colorado Winery, 2502 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs
· D’Vine Wine Manitou Springs, 934 Manitou Ave STE 108
· Black Forest Meadery, 6755 Shoup Rd., Colorado Springs
· The Wines of Colorado / The Winery at Pikes Peak, 8045 West US Hwy 24, Cascade
· Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 3011 E. Us Hwy 50
