Team Thirst took a whirlwind trip through Colorado Wine Country last week, visiting old friends and making new friends in Palisade, Grand Junction, Hotchkiss and Paonia.

I remember the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen before it was a classic. It was more of a social gathering. It was started by longtime local, Gary Plumley of Grape & Grain local fame, whom I didn’t know at the time because I was only two years past age 21.

Snow Capped Cider, led by owner and head cidermaker Kari Williams, continues its streak of excellence by being named Midsize Cidermaker of the Year for the second consecutive year at the 2025 GLINTCAP. In an unprecedented achievement, Snow Capped Cider also took home 10 Best in Class awards.

WineAmerica, the National Organization of American Wineries, has released its 2025 Economic Impact Study of the American Wine Industry, which estimates the economic contributions made by the wine industry in each state. The Study concluded that the production, distribution, sales, and consumption of wine in Colorado generates nearly $5.72 billion in total economic activity.

“This isn’t an attack on the countries that it’s coming from, it’s a tariff attack on U.S. small businesses that are working very, very hard to make America a great country,” says Bobby Stuckey, Master Sommelier and co-founder of Frasca Hospitality Group, talking about how President Donald Trump’s tariffs have affected Denver’s wine importers and sellers.

The 2025 Colorado celebrations of beer, wine and spirits heat up along with the weather starting next month in April. See the following festival list covering events till the start of summer.

Let’s face it: Your first glass of wine was probably Barefoot pink moscato, not a Chateau Lafite Rothschild. But when you are ready to reach for wine on a higher shelf, it can be difficult to decide what bottle is best. Googling your way to wine knowledge can feel futile. Instead, let the professionals guide you through the vast world of vino at one of these Denver-area classes.

There’s no getting around it; Napa is popular. Due to its amazing reputation, it’s a busy wine region to visit.. If you don’t fancy fighting the crowds of Northern California’s Wine Country, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Colorado Rockies has a “Napa Valley” all of its own. The best part? It has a fraction of the crowds.