There’s not much to whine about when you visit Colorado – especially our wine! Get to know the Colorado wineries of the Rockies, including one in Estes Park, and plan ahead for the Estes Park Wine Festival, August 12 – 13!
Snowy Peaks Winery
Based in Estes Park, Snowy Peaks is a great place to spend an afternoon in town. On Friday nights, you can also catch live music from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. or attend the annual SnowyGrass festival that’s held on July 22. The winery gets its grapes from the Western Slope and Colorado’s Eastern Plains to produce exceptional white, red, and dessert wines.
Visit the tasting room to try one of the three Rieslings, the Oso rose, the classic pinot noir, a syrah or petite syrah, and finish with the black muscat!
Aspen Peak Cellars
Aspen Peak Cellars, located in Bailey, CO, specializes in traditional styles with a few unique bottles thrown into the mix. Stay classic with the pinot grigio, riesling, or cabernet franc, or try something more daring with the Strawberry Rosé, Pomegranate Rouge, or Mocha Zinsation!
Decadent Saint
Decadent Saint is the nearest Estes and located in Boulder. They not only have wine but also create Ultimate Mixers to take your cocktail to the next level. Make sure to taste the Sangria! For its wines, try the Honest Sin or Faithful Red.
Maison La Belle Vie Winery
This winery calls Palisade, CO home and though that area is known for its peaches, Maison La Belle Vie is making a name for itself in the wine industry. The winery touts elegance and quality in every bottle and in its tasting room you can sample the merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, rosé, and muscat! If available, you have to try the Vin de Peche – a blend of muscat grapes and peaches – or, go for a “nuttier” flavor with the fortified walnut wine.
Mountain View Winery
From the southwestern part of the state comes Mountain View Winery, near Montrose, CO. They also operate an orchard where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables before or after your wine tasting! This winery offers excellent after-dinner sherry and port, like the Cherry Decadence, and sweeter wines like the Rapid Red vintage which is 60% syrah and 40% pomegranate. You’ll find classic styles like chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, syrah, and zinfandel too.
Red Fox Cellars
Another Palisade winery, Red Fox Cellars bottles traditional vintages as well as its own crafty take with whiskey and bourbon barrel-aged wines, like the Bourbon Barrel Merlot and the Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Cabernet Franc (a favorite from our tastes at the past Estes Park Wine Festivals!). You might be interested in the Long Day Tempranillo Rosé as a refreshing blend on a hot summer’s day.
Spero Winery
Passing through Denver on your way to Estes Park this summer? Be sure to visit Spero Winery if you can’t make it to the festival! Their slogan is “vino é buono” which is “wine is good” in Italian – and Spero knows good wine. Their cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, sangiovese, and zinfandel wines are award winners in multi-state competitions.
Vino Passarelli
As one of the newest Colorado wineries, Vino Passarelli is quickly gaining attention. Though new to Denver, the Passarelli family is most definitely not new to wine as the family has been stomping grapes and making wine in Italy’s Calabria region since the turn of the 19th century. Sample the red zinfandel, merlot, or unique Splash wines created by this winery.
Wild Cider
If you need a little break from the vino, stop by Wild Cider to enjoy gluten-free and flavorful ciders. Try the traditional apple or something sweeter like the agave peach.
Discover these Colorado wineries and more at the Estes Park Wine Festival. Want a little extra cash to buy some great bottles at the festival? Be sure to check out our online specials before making your reservations for your Estes Park vacation to see if you can save a few dollars on your cabin!
