Colorado Wine News

Napa Valley has beautiful vineyards, stunning scenery, award-winning restaurants and hotels, and top-notch wines. But not everyone can afford a Napa wine country getaway. There are 10 affordable wine regions, including Palisade in Colorado.

Qutori Wines at the Root & Vine Market, nestled in the North Fork Valley, has produced award-winning, handcrafted wines since 2017. Visitors are drawn to the valley for the exquisite wines and the breathtaking scenery. Qutori Wines capitalizes on both, offering pristine views of the vineyards and Mount Lamborn from their outdoor patio.

While the fall harvest season in the Napa Valley has already begun for early-ripening fruit, the late summer sun continues to linger into the evenings here in the Roaring Fork Valley. And that sun sets the stage for one of The Little Nell hotel’s great, late summer traditions: The Ride + Dine Series.

Fads come and go. But some stick in the memories of a generation, evoking a sense of nostalgia that gets entrepreneurs thinking. Consumers love a throwback; we see it in fashion, entertainment, and even beverages. Two Colorado wineries make this list, Infinite Monkey Theorem and Centennial Cellars.

A 70-acre estate winery, called The Aboretum, is coming to La Plata County courtesy of EsoTerra Ciderworks owners Elizabeth Philbrick and Jared Scott. The cider maker has begun a crowdfunding campaign to raise $100,000 to build the winery’s infrastructure at 270 County Road 303 on Florida Mesa, southeast of Durango.

As millennial women of color, Taylor and Mincey would ensure their product appealed to young, diverse populations that the industry, with its pretentious sniff-and-swirl culture, had long ignored. When Taylor finished her spiel, the potential investor didn’t inquire about the company’s profit margins or advertising plan. Instead, he asked, “What about Dad Juice?”

Jayme Henderson and Steve Steese have been working with wine for a long time. However, around eight years ago, after years of experience in the Front Range hospitality industry, the pair of sommeliers decided they wanted to make a change.

All eyes are on France this week. A historic Tour de France finished yesterday, and the Paris Olympics opens Friday. Whether you are hosting a watch party or just want a taste of Paris while you watch all the events, here is our guide to Colorado-crafted French wine and food experiences.