At the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition—widely regarded as one of the most influential and competitive wine judging events in the world—Colorado wineries delivered a resounding message: the state’s wine industry has entered a new era.

Denver, tucked at the feet of the Rocky Mountains, is hitting its stride for wine and dining. The Colorado capital boasts one of the highest restaurant densities per capita in the United States, with increasing culinary diversity and a booming wine industry alongside.

The 6th annual “Sip into Spring” is a celebration of Colorado wine, presented by Grand Valley Bank, held on Saturday, May 2nd, at Palisade’s scenic Orchard River View, a breathtaking venue, overlooking the Colorado River, at the mouth of the De Beque Canyon.

I had fun learning about a unique collaboration between Colorado Mesa University, CMU Tech, and Carlson Vineyards. They have created a delightful red wine blend called “Rowdy Red” in honor of CMU’s mascot, Rowdy. CMU Tech has the state’s first winemaking program and a new Director — Garrett Portra.

A pair of Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers is reviving a proposal to raise money for addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery programs by imposing new fees on alcoholic beverages. The bill places a tax of 26 cents per bottle of spirits, 5 cents per bottle of wine, and about 3 cents per six-pack of beer.

When Kaibab Sauvage started farming at 20, he wasn’t thinking about disrupting preconceptions of Colorado wine. He was simply following an instinct. “I believe that you don’t pick farming. I think farming picks you,” Sauvage said. “You’re either bitten by the bug or not.”

A Washington winemaker is countersuing Carboy Winery that has accused it of unsanitary wine practices, arguing those are “pretextual” allegations meant to justify a contract breach. In its countersuit, Alexandria Nicole Cellars of Prosser, Wash., claims that Carboy Winery has raised “supposed quality concerns” to renege on bulk wine and grape supply agreements.

Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE) recognized the Winery of the Year, Grape Grower of the Year, and Friend of the Colorado Wine Industry at its annual awards banquet. Aspen Peak Cellars, owned by Julie and Marcel Flukiger, was recognized as Winery of the Year for 2025. Palisade winemaker Kaibab Sauvage took home the Grape Grower of the Year award.

Colorado native Jesse Katz, who sold a single bottle of wine for a record $1 million in 2021, has accumulated 41 perfect 100-point scores for his wines and was named Winemaker of the Year. Colorado is ​known for its many breweries, but a favorite son has made his mark in another liquor-related pursuit: winemaking.

Carboy Winery of Littleton, CO, is accusing a Washington winemaker of concealing from clients that it produced contaminated wine due to gross mismanagement and unsanitary practices. The winery has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Alexandria Nicole Cellars of Prosser., Wash., violated a contract by supplying substandard “polluted” wine.

At the Western Colorado Research Center near Orchard Mesa, a new experiment is underway that could change how vineyards operate in sunny regions. Colorado State University is leading research on agrivoltaics—the practice of combining agriculture with solar power generation.