Total alcohol sales volume is down 6 percent through the first six months of this year, compared to the same time period in 2023, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Every major segment of alcohol — beer, wine, hard liquor spirits — are down. Wine, though, has been hit the hardest, with sales volume down 16 percent.

The Western Slope of Colorado is known for its kicked-backed attitude, sprawling farms, rodeos, and good hearty food. Now the area is also becoming known for a surprising new distinction: some of the best wines in the country. Dotted all over the Western Slope, vineyards can be found at some very high elevations–anywhere from 4500 to 6900 feet.

Whenever I visit a winery, I sigh deeply and say, “I wish I never had to leave.” The wine’s delightful taste, the vineyards’ scenic beauty, and the warm hospitality make me content. Some Colorado wineries do want you to make yourself right at home — albeit not forever. Many now offer on-site lodging through vacation rentals, guest houses, inns, campsites, and more.

USA Today 10Best is a travel and lifestyle website that provides advice from experts around the world. The Grand Valley was nominated as part of their Reader’s Choice Awards, where USA Today 10Best’s travel experts will select their top 20 nominees in categories ranging from food & lodging to destinations and things to do.

You can’t visit the Western Slope without experiencing the impact of its local agriculture. The North Fork Valley, roughly comprising the towns of Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Crawford, is an especially ripe area for agritourism (i.e., recreational activities on farms and ranches).

While Denver has long been celebrated as a haven for beer lovers, with its thriving craft brewery scene, there’s another beverage quietly making waves in North Denver—wine. North Denver boasts a growing number of tasting rooms, tucked away amid the bustling urban landscape. One of these is Bonacquisti Wine Company.

“This was a very big project, and I’m proud of it,” says Snow Capped Cider owner Kari Williams. On July 4, the brand will celebrate the grand opening of its new taproom at 105 Grand Mesa Drive in the heart of Cedaredge, which Williams hopes will become a regional destination for cider and wine lovers alike.

North Fork ranchers move their stock between pastures in early summer, so don’t be surprised if cowboys are leading cattle drives the very same weekend local winemakers are kicking off their 2024 season with North Fork Uncorked, a series of viticultural events held June 8 to 9.