I’ve had the opportunity to experience wonderful wines from around the world. And there are certain places that everyone associates with great wine such as California, France, and Italy. But in my home state, there’s a wonderful, somewhat unsung wine region too. Colorado’s reputation as being able to play with “the big boys” is gaining ground so I’m happy to tell RealFoodTraveler.com readers about an upcoming event that should be on your to-do list when visiting the state – the Colorado Wine Walk. 

Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan your trip to attend the Colorado Wine Walk. Photos by Jeff Fierberg. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Hungry for more? See what else there is to do in Colorado.

Despite the fact that winemaking began on Colorado’s Western Slope more than a century ago, the industry has had a hard time getting people, and restaurants for that matter, to give Colorado wines the attention they deserve. That has been changing in the past few years with Colorado wines going head-to-head (or bottle-to-bottle?) in competitions with wines from all over the world. We have a great climate for winemaking with the perfect combination of warm days + cool nights + low humidity. The Colorado Wine Walk festival is an excellent and fun way to get to know our local offerings. Here’s everything you need to Know Before You Go to the first Colorado Wine Walk, in April. BONUS: Use our exclusive discount promo code below for VIP tickets!

What:
Sip, savor, learn, and have fun with Denver’s premiere wine festival on the Front Range. Get to know 12 of the best Colorado urban and Western Slope wineries, hosted by Blanchard Family Wines in the historic, and totally cool, Dairy Block alleyway.

In addition to sipping unlimited wine samples from your commemorative wine glass, you’ll be able to meet representatives from Colorado wineries, including top winemakers. As you discover wines you simply have to have, you’ll be able to purchase them to take home. There’ll also be food, live music, and a fun vibe to enjoy.

Sample wines from various Colorado wineries and meet the winemakers too.

Why:
Colorado has a stellar wine scene that has been flourishing in recent years. According to James Blanchard, owner of Blanchard Family Wines, the event hosts, “The Colorado Wine Walk festival focuses on the highest quality wines in our state to showcase the world class products coming out of Colorado.”

While you have fun attending the festival, you’re also helping small wineries across the state flourish. Way to support “local”!

When:
This is the first of three Wine Walk events coming up in Colorado. The first is at the Dairy Block, April 14, followed by a Fort Collins event at The Exchange on June 23. And then it’s back at the Dairy Block again, August 24. We recommend getting a jump on the fun by attending this first event.

There are two Grand Tasting sessions during which you can enjoy unlimited wine samples. One is from 11am-2pm and the other is from 3-6pm. At 2pm, there’s a “Colorado vs. The World” Seminar that examines Colorado wines alongside those from around the world, looking at what makes our growing region so unique.

Where:
The Dairy Block Alley at 1800 Wazee St. in downtown Denver.

Hungry for more? Learn about the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival in Maui.

Who:
Wineries present include your host, Blanchard Family Wines, Carboy Winery, Carlson Vineyards, Chill Switch Wines, Infinite Monkey Theorem, La Noue Dubois, The Ordinary Fellow and The Storm Cellar.

How:
Tickets can be purchased on the Colorado Wine Walk website. There is a small service charge applied to each. Here’s the breakdown of tickets:

General Admission Early Session (11am-2pm) includes unlimited wine samples and a commemorative glass. $50.

VIP Early Session (11am-2pm) gets you live music, VIP lounge comfort, a fast check-out when purchasing bottles, a spot at the “Colorado vs. The World Seminar,” 10% savings on Wine Walk purchases plus valet parking! ($90 or $85 with promo code VIP5)

Colorado vs The World Seminar (2pm) $15.

General Admission Afternoon Session (3-6pm) includes unlimited wine samples and a commemorative glass. $50.

VIP Afternoon Session (3-6pm) gets you live music, VIP lounge comfort, a fast check-out when purchasing bottles, a spot at the “Colorado vs. The World Seminar,” 10% savings on Wine Walk purchases plus valet parking! ($90 or $85 with promo code VIP5)

The Dairy Block in downtown Denver is a great setting for enjoying the Colorado Wine Walk.

Tips for making the most of the Colorado Wine Walk:
Be age 21 and over to attend and have your ID ready to show.

Plan to take a ride share or public transportation. Light Rail at Denver’s Union Station is just a short walk away. As a bonus, you can go straight from the airport to Union Station on the light rail.

If you’re visiting from out of state and wanted to get to know Colorado’s wine scene, good for you! Take bottles home and spread the word that Colorado wines are awesome.

For additional information about the Colorado Wine Walk, visit their website, here. Get social with them on Facebook, tiktok, and Instagram.

 -Story by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor of RealFoodTraveler. Photos by Jeff Fierberg (@jfierberg).

Hungry for more? Learn about the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience.