Denver’s wineries offer a vibrant wine scene with a focus on locally-sourced grapes and innovative blends. These urban wineries provide a unique experience with tastings, tours, and events that highlight Colorado’s burgeoning wine industry. Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or a casual wine lover, Denver’s wineries are a must-visit for their quality wines and inviting atmospheres.
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What Are Wineries In Denver Known For?
What makes the best wineries in Colorado and Denver unique is there is no tradition holding vintners back or stuffy rules of the game. A winemaker can choose to blend apples and Chardonnay. An urban winery can decide to make a top-flight wine out of a Quonset hut (a type of hut which looks like a round-topped air hangar in cross-section used for agricultural stores) in down-town Denver.
This thumbing the nose to stuffy wine traditions translates into great prices for the punter. Wine tasting in Denver doesn’t cost what the Californian wine scene in Napa charges tourists and locals alike.
So take a tour of the capital city’s growing wine scene. All of the wineries in Denver and the surrounding metropolitan area have superb tasting rooms to sample their wines and some even offer tours of their facilities.
How Many Wineries Are There In Denver?
Apparently around more than 110 strong. In the state, Colorado’s 156 wineries produced about 217,490 gallons of wine. On average, the economic impact of wine production and sales in Colorado was valued at $3.2 billion in 2021.
The oldest winery in Colorado is technically not in Denver. Carlson Vineyards is a small farm and has been producing wines just above the town of Palisade since 1988. One of Colorado’s oldest vineyards and biggest fruit wine producers, it produces 10 000 cases a year, a third of which are fruit wines and made entirely of Colorado fruit.
But let’s move back to Denver and its hip and fun wine scene as we look at 7 kick-ass wineries in Denver.
7 Best Winery Denver Destinations
The Wine Barrel
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Thirty wines, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and special blends.
- Grapes: Multiple vendors.
- Food: Yes, small plates.
- Wine club: Yes, called a VIP club.
- Extras: Bob and Cordy Coady, daughter Kristie and son-in-law Eddie Ashley run this micro-winery that uses stainless steel vats and carboys. Quarterly parties for members of the wine club. Custom labels and merchandise are available.
Wild Women Winery
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Naked Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Big Girl Barbera.
- Grapes: Seventeen varietals of juice are shipped from California’s Central Valley.
- Food: Light fare. But punters can bring food in (or order pizza to be delivered).
- Wine club: Yes.
- Extras: Winemakers Ross and Charlene Meriwether make their wines in vats and carboys because there isn’t a way to get oak barrels into the small storefront. Bottling parties and custom blends are offered. The bar is comfy, with light jazz piped in and live music (R&B, jazz) on Fridays and Saturdays from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
Waters Edge Winery
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Fifty wines including Merlot’s, Cabernet’s and Chardonnay’s, plus Barolos, Gewurztraminers, Pinotage’s, Petit Verdot and Ports.
- Grapes: From California, the Western Slope, Washington state, Chile, Germany and elsewhere.
- Food: Full menu of appetisers, flatbreads, salads and sandwiches. Catering menu available.
- Wine club: Yes.
Water 2 Wine
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Seven different series, like Estate, Island Mist, Jolly Ranchers; international wines. Ports.
- Grapes: Grape juice bought from more than 100 vineyards in 13 countries.
- Food: Complimentary snacks, but customers are welcome to bring their own food.
- Wine club: Yes.
- Extras: Music from local bands every Friday 6-8pm.
Turquoise Mesa Winery
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Fourteen different wines, with blends, Rhone, and Bordeaux specialities.
- Grapes: 98% from Palisade, the remainder from West Elks or Cortez area.
- Food: Complimentary snacks. Guests are welcome to bring their own food or order in.
- Wine club: Yes.
Augustina’s
- Hours: Check the website for details and annual closures.
- Wines: Colorado grown Sauvignon Blanc, White Chick White (a blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer), Venus de Vino Red (blend of Boulder-grown Noiret and Frontenac). Wine Chick Red (Colorado-grown Shiraz and Malbec).
- Grapes: Most from the Western Slope, others from Boulder County and the Eastern Plains.
- Wine club: No.
- Extras: Winemaker Marianne “Gussie” Walter runs a one-woman operation, even driving over to the Western Slope for her grapes.
Bigsby’s Folly Craft Winery & Restaurant
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Fifteen wines currently available for wine tasting in Denver include Rosé of Grenache, Chardonnay Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and Pinot Noir. 80% of the grapes are from Napa Valley, and the rest are from Palisade and the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Much of the production is in California, but some wines are made in Denver.
- Food: Full menu includes flatbreads, salads, small plates and more.
- Wine club: Yes.
- Extras: A striking winery with a blend of the Roaring 20s and industrial chic. Their chief winemaker is Brian Graham in Napa; Chad Yetka is the assistant winemaker and is based in Denver. Private tastings and tours are available.
Black Arts Cellars
- Hours: Check the website for details.
- Wines: Rhone-style premium (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedré, Petite Syrah), Cabernet Franc.
- Grapes: Central California coast (Paso Robles) and Palisade on Colorado’s Western Slope.
- Food: No, but customers are urged to bring in their own and “there is lots of soft seating,” according to owner John Cowperthwaite.
- Wine club: Yes.
- Extras: John and Liz Cowperthwaite have owned this boutique craft winery for 8 years, and produce about 850 cases per year. A two-person show.
Wineries In Denver On The Way Up
While many of the grapes used to make wines in these listed Denver wineries come from elsewhere, the wines are damn fine with a growing reputation.
So, what do you fancy for a wine tasting in Denver? Peach or viognier, raspberry-honey blend or cabernet franc? The mile-high city has numerous unique and interesting wines that are not only drawing recognition and accolades throughout the US but in some cases, in the wider world.
It’s a well-kept secret that locals have known for a long time.
Born amidst the rolling vineyards of Napa Valley, Chloe’s love for wine was instilled from a young age. This passion led her to the picturesque wine regions of France, where she immersed herself in the rich wine culture and traditions.
Chloe’s dedication to the craft culminated in her becoming a wine sommelier, a testament to her deep knowledge and appreciation for wines.