Colorado is well-known for its beautiful mountains, impressive national parks, world-renowned ski resorts, the Royal Gorge, and even Rocky Mountain oysters. But you probably didn’t know that Colorado is also known for its vineyards and wineries!
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, cool nighttime temperatures, and a low-humidity climate, Colorado is the perfect location to grow grapes that can produce a wide variety of spectacular wines.
Vineyards and wineries can be found throughout Colorado, and the state’s wine industry continues to expand. Today, everybody from novices to connoisseurs can sip their way across the state while visiting vineyards and wineries in some of the most unexpected places.
Colorado Wineries & Vineyards
Here’s a list of 10 must-visit wineries and vineyards in Colorado. Cheers!
- Castle Rock
Since 2009, Ruby Trust Cellars has been producing small production hand-crafted Colorado red wine blends that can be found at several local wine festivals – including the annual Castle Rock Wine Fest. The mission of this boutique-style winery is “to raise the bar for Colorado wine.” With its convenient location and picturesque setting in the heart of prime Castle Rock CO real estate, this winery is innovative, and a favorite among Colorado residents.
- Parker
Providing a unique wine experience, Purgatory Cellars Winery uses old-world wine making traditions to create a variety of world-class wines including Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and many more. Currently the only winery in Parker CO, and open since 2015, Purgatory Cellars Winery, is a modern winery with a fantastic tasting room. Located centrally to most Parker CO homes, this winery offers a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for visitors from near and far.
- Cascade
Enjoy complimentary wine tastings of six signature wines when you visit The Winery at Pikes Peak. Tastings include the Parliament Blend, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and the Rosie C – a blend of Merlot and Riesling. Located just 10 miles west of Colorado Springs, this winery is a destination for locals and for visitors looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure.
- Palisade
Enjoy a complete portfolio of wines including traditional, fruit, botanical, and honey wines at Talon Winery in Palisade. One of several well-known wineries in Palisade, Talon Winery has a mission of being Colorado’s premier winery. With three tasting rooms, visitors enjoy a huge assortment of wine, tours, a gift shop, and delicious food. Palisade is known as Colorado’s Wine country – and is home to more than 25 wineries.
- Durango
Using grapes that are sourced from around the world Four Leaves Winery ferments, blends, and bottles wines on-site. When visiting this winery, visitors can partake in wine tastings, design personalized labels for wine bottles, and shop for unique gifts. During your visit, sit down with a wine expert who will help you create a custom-made wine blend that results in a batch of 28 bottles. The experience at Four Leaves Winery is unique, fun, and highly entertaining. Make a weekend of this one.
- Estes Park
Visit Snowy Peaks Winery in Estes Park, and enjoy samples of this winery’s award-winning, handcrafted wines. Also available are tastings of various wines from other boutique wineries located throughout the state of Colorado. Artisan food, including handmade cheese, chocolate, jams, and jellies are available to accompany wine tasting. Enjoy the views at this magnificent winery, or take a bottle with you on your trek through nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Minturn
A winery that opened in 2016 with an old-world philosophy, Monkshood Cellars believes in the cadence of the natural process. Located in Minturn, off Highway 24 and near the Eagle River, this winery provides an opportunity to enjoy various wines that contain a unique, noble, and visceral personality. Be sure to make this winery a destination during your travels through Colorado.
- Olathe
When you think of Olathe, a city in Kansas might immediately come to mind. But, there’s also a town named Olathe in Colorado, and it’s the location of Cottonwood Cellars, a winery and vineyard that has been in operation since 1994. Olathe is on the Western Slope of Colorado – south of Grand Junction. This winery offers tastings at the vineyard in Olathe, and also at a location in Glenwood Springs. This winery produces thousands of cases of premium wine each year.
- Cedaredge
Proud to own the title of one of Colorado’s oldest wineries, Stoney Mesa Winery has been operating in Western Colorado since 1989. A majority of the fruit used in the wine produced by Stone Mesa Winery is harvested from their own three distinctive vineyards which are in Cedarwood, Palisade, and Grand Junction. The tasting room is in a remodeled turn-of-the-century farmhouse – which creates a truly unique experience for visitors.
- Cortez
Located in the southwest part of Cortez, Guy Drew Vineyards was founded in 1998 and sits on a 155-acre property in an area that was formerly an ancient Anasazi trade route and fruit-growing region. The mission of this winery is to create unique wines that accurately represent the beautiful state of Colorado. Enjoy wine tastings every day of the week at the winery, or visit a tasting room located at the Ute Mountain Trading Company & Museum on Highway 160.