Colorado Wine, Vineyards

Colorado wine and vineyards are not what people associate when thinking about wine produced in the United States. When you think of Colorado regarding beverages, you probably think of beer. Colorado is famous for its number of craft breweries and beer brands. However, you will be surprised to learn that Colorado has plenty of wineries worth checking out!

Colorado Wine Country

Colorado’s “wine country” exists on the state’s Western Slope. As you venture past the busy towns on the front range, cross the continental divide, and pass by the attractive ski resort towns, you will reach the beautiful desert mountains of the western slope. Palisade and Grand Junction are the main cities in Colorado’s desert landscape. The unique climate of Colorado’s Western Slope paves the way for beautiful wineries and delicious wine!

Great Colorado Wine on the Western Slope

There is a surprisingly high number of wineries in Colorado. The nutrient-rich soil in the Grand Valley and local irrigation are ideal for winemaking. Below are some of our favorite Colorado wineries located on the Western Slope.

Carlson Vineyards Colorado

Carlson Vineyards is located in Palisade, Colorado. It was started in 1988 and remains family-owned today. Carlson Vineyards is best known for making easy-drinking regional wines. Palisade is located just about four hours west of Denver and is definitely worth the visit if you are in the mood to get out and explore something new!

More Carlson Vineyards and Palisade Peaches

Carlson has more than one vineyard. Their original winery is in Palisade, and it is open for tastings and tours. They also have a location in Grand Junction, where you can do tastings and purchase the wine directly from the Vineyard. While driving from one vineyard to the other, look for the famous Palisade peaches. During the season, they are sold along this route at local farmers’ markets and just about every farmers’ market across the state.

Colorado Wine – Whitewater Hill

Whitewater Hill is located in Grand Junction. According to the founders, Nancy James and John Behrs, their wine is unique because their grapes are grown in mineral-rich limestone soils at 4,600 feet. The high elevation, paired with warm days and cool nights, creates a unique wine flavor.

Unique Colorado Vineyards

They plant a combination of familiar grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay with more unique ones like Chambourcin and St. Vincent. This repertoire of grapes means that there is something for every kind of wine drinker. At the winery, the views of the Grand Valley and the surrounding desert mountains are stunning.

The Storm Cellar’s Colorado Wine

The Storm Cellar was founded in 2017 by Denver sommeliers Jayme Henderson and Steve Stesse. Located in Hotchkiss, Colorado, the Storm Cellar’s grapes are planted at a high elevation, which creates a unique flavor profile. Grapes planted at a high elevation build a thick skin to protect themselves from intense UV exposure. This leads to an extreme juice concentration and aromatic intensity, making delicious wines.

The Storm Cellar’s Tasting Room

The Storm Cellar’s tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 7:00 pm through the end of October. Located in Hotchkiss, Colorado, you won’t just be traveling here to taste some great wine but expect to enjoy the stunning views in and around Hotchkiss. If you can’t make it out to the tasting room, they are sold in plenty of liquor stores around Colorado!

Colorado Wines on the Front Range

The Western Slope is not the only ideal location in Colorado for vineyards. Parts of the Front Range and southern Colorado are also perfect for vineyards. Here are some great wineries along the front range.

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey is located in Cañon City. This winery has a long and rich history that begins with two Benedictine monks coming to Colorado from Pennsylvania. Once they arrived, they built a boarding school and established the winery. The boarding school closed in 1985, forcing the monks to start building the winery’s business further. In 2002, they opened a tasting room at Holy Cross, making their wines popular and providing feedback for perfecting them. This paved the way for them to win Winery of the Year in Colorado in 2019.

Holy Cross Tasting Room

The tasting room at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey is open daily and designed to make your wine experience memorable. If you visit in the spring and summer, you will enjoy the outdoor garden seating with a perfect view of the sprawling vineyards. If you go in the winter, you can enjoy a cozy indoor setting next to the warm fireplace. In addition to an extensive wine-tasting list, you can also enjoy some food prepared by partnering restaurants of the winery.

Black Forest Meadery, Colorado Vineyard

Black Forest Meadery is located near Colorado Springs in the Black Forest of Colorado. The grapes are grown at 7,500 feet in elevation, causing the vines to grow extremely fast and develop a thick skin and aromatic taste.

Black Forest Meadery can be a nice day trip from Colorado Springs or even Denver. Located conveniently in southern Colorado, there is so much to see and do! Black Forest Meadery does not only offer its visitors a tasting room. They do provide tours of a full farm with farm animals to look at!

Explore Colorado Wine and Vineyards, a Tasteful Journey

While exploring Colorado, take the opportunity to enjoy Colorado wines, local vineyards, and tasting rooms. The grapes grown in Colorado produce flavor profiles unique to this area. If you’re planning a trip to the western slope or looking for something new to do while in the front range, a trip to a local winery is well worth it. The interesting flavors of Colorado native wines are a real testament to our producers. You will surely enjoy the experience. Bring some varieties home as additions to your wine cellar and purchase a few extra bottles for your wine connoisseur friends as gifts.

By Emma Parker