Colorado may have a reputation for being a beer state—but that doesn’t mean wine drinkers are out of luck. On the contrary, the Centennial State hosts a wide variety of festivals and events, all centered around reds, whites, rosés and other styles of vino. If you’re looking to learn more about wine or simply enjoy drinking it, this is the place be.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite festivals and winery events in the upcoming year.
Mile High Wine and Chocolate Festival
When: February 15
Where: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E Quincy Ave., Aurora
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by taking your sweetie to the Mile High Wine and Chocolate Festival, featuring unlimited tastings, wine by the glass and take-home bottles. This one-day fête includes more than 20 Colorado wineries, plus enjoy chocolatiers, retailers, artisans and more.
Ouray Winter Wine Festival
When: February 15
Where: Wright Opera House, 472 Main St., Ouray
Think wine festivals are just a summer thing? Think again. Back for its third year, the Ouray Winter Wine Festival has cozy, intimate vibes. It’s held inside the historic Wright Opera House, which dates back to 1888, and features seven wineries, one cidery and two distilleries from the Western Slope. Choose from one of two tasting sessions and, while you’re there, enjoy tasty bites like oysters on the half shell and handcrafted cheesecakes. You can also shop , watch glassblowing demonstrations an d enjoy the company of fellow oenophiles.
Wine Festival of Colorado Springs
When: February 26-March 1
Where: Various locations in Colorado Springs
No need to travel to California to experience the best Central Coast wines. Head on down to Colorado Springs for this mid-winter bash, which features wineries from Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.
Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival
When: June 7
Where: Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs
Colorado wines are the star of the show at the Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival—hence the name. While you sip some of the state’s best pours, enjoy live music, food trucks and gorgeous June weather.
Telluride Food & Vine Festival
When: June 13-15
Where: Various locations in Telluride
Venture down to the gorgeous San Juans for a weekend filled with wine dinners, brunches, tastings and more.
Food & Wine Classic
When: June 20-22
Where: Various locations in Aspen
If you can get tickets, this is a can’t-miss Colorado wine and culinary gathering. This buzzy annual affair includes cooking demonstrations, visits with chefs and celebrities, tastings, parties and more.
Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival
When: July 12-13
Where: River Run Village, Keystone
You’re outside on a beautiful June day, there’s a glass of wine in your hand and you’re listening to smooth jazz. This fantasy could become your reality, but only if you attend the Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival. Along with two dozen wineries and a stacked live music lineup, patrons can enjoy food from delicious local eateries, seminars and other activities.
Crested Butte Wine and Food Festival
When: July 13-20
Where: Various locations around Crested Butte
Wildflowers will be at their peak during this festival, which includes a full week of culinary-focused activities. Bar takeovers, summer dance parties, guided hikes, seminars, mixology classes, fly fishing outings and more lead up to the Grand Tasting on Saturday night.
Castle Rock Winefest
When: TBD (usually the second weekend of July)
Where: Butterfield Crossing Park, 3952 Butterfield Crossing Dr., Castle Rock
Enjoy unlimited tastings of vino from more than two dozen Colorado wineries. There’s also food trucks, artisan vendors, live music and more.
Breckenridge Food & Wine
When: July 25-27
Where: Main Street Station and The Village at Breckenridge
You don’t need to travel far to experience wines from around the world—you only need to head to Breckenridge. Enjoy more than 300 wines (pace yourself, please) from California, Italy and beyond. Additionally, you can take a break from wine and enjoy pours from spirits vendors, too.
Telluride Reserve
When: July 31-August 2
Where: Mountain Village, Telluride
Back for its fourth year, this relatively new Colorado wine event features chefs, winemakers, sommeliers, mixologists and purveyors for gourmet experiences. Telluride. telluridereserve.com/
Vail Wine Classic
When: August 7-10
Where: Various locations in Vail
As if you need an excuse to plan a trip up to Vail in the summer, the Vail Wine Classic is the perfect reason to head up the hill. Enjoy tastings, paired dinners, seminars, paired wine events and other activities.
Estes Park Wine Festival
When: August 9-10
Where: Bond Park, 170 MacGregor Ave, Estes Park
Help the Estes Park Wine Festival celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, by sipping unlimited wine tastings, listening to live music, shopping from local artisans and enjoying tasty bites.
Front Range Wine Festival
When: August 16
Where: Main Park, 300 Locust St. Windsor
Head to Windsor for the Front Range Wine Festival, which is now in its 13th year of bringing Colorado wine to Main Park. Enjoy unlimited sips of more than 300 wines from more than 35 Colorado wineries while listening to live music.
Breckenridge Wine Classic
When: August 21-23
Where: Various locations in Breckenridge
Breckenridge is absolutely gorgeous in the summer. Make the most of the sunshine by attending the Breckenridge Wine Classic, an annual fête with seminars, tastings and paired wine dinners and lunches.
Denver Food & Wine Festival
When: September 3-6
Where: Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St., Denver
Help support the Colorado Restaurant Foundation by attending this four-day bash, which includes seminars, a cocktail competition, an auction, a grand tasting and more.
Snowmass Wine Festival
When: TBD, usually in mid-September
Where: Snowmass Village
Now here’s a wine festival you can feel good about: The annual Snowmass Wine Festival helps raise money for scholarships offered by the Rotary Club of Snowmass Village. This two-day event includes a wine dinner, a grand tasting and great camaraderie.
Colorado Mountain Winefest
When: September 20
Where: Riverbend Park, 451 Pendleton St., Palisade
Colorado’s wine scene is heating up—and there’s no better place to see (and taste!) for yourself than the Colorado Mountain Winefest. Held toward the end of the grape harvest, this gathering has been showcasing the state’s best wines and producers since 1992. It’s the largest fundraiser of the year for the nonprofit Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE), which supports Colorado wineries and grape growers. Enjoy unlimited tastings, plus fun activities like the “Grape Stomp” competition, ice carving demonstrations, a silent disco, educational demos and chef demonstrations.
