Colorado Front Range wineries and wine? The answer to that question is yes, but this is not the area that most wine connoisseurs think of when they're thinking Colorado wines. It's the western slope that is thought of because of the many vineyards and wineries found there.
The fact is that even though it is harder to grow grapes along the Colorado Front Range, visitors to this area will find that there are wineries to tour and wine made here that can be bought. Most of the wineries of the Front Range buy their grapes from the western slope. But the wines they make are no less classic. Many of the Front Range wineries have won awards for their wines.
The Front Range can be divided into four regions as far as the wineries found there. If you are traveling to the northern part of this area of Colorado, you'll find a number of wineries and tasting rooms centering around Highway 34 from Loveland to Estes Park. This area is known as the Northern Winery Region. These wineries cater to the vacationers to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Valley of the Wind Winery combines their award winning wines with handmade chocolate and truffles in their tasting room. Located in Loveland's historic train depot, this is one of the first wineries you will encounter on your wine tour of the northern region. The also are a tasting room for the best of the wines of Colorado. These can be sampled while choosing gourmet deli selections to accompany your wine.
Just down the road, you'll find the Trail Ridge Winery. Here you'll find award winning varietal wines produced by winemaster Tim Merrick along with unique, blended wines that have the freshness of the Colorado air. Trail Ridge Winery also has a tasting room located in the Country Harvest Market in Lyons for those visitors that are traveling to Estes Park from that direction. Trail Ridge is noted for their award winning Riesling and Cabernet Franc,. They also provide wine lovers with Colorado Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Lemberger.
The newest of the Colorado Front Range wineries in the area is the Snowy Peaks Winery found in Estes Park. Founded by Eric Mohr and his wife as a tasting room, this endeavor soon became a full fledged winery. Right from the first year they were winning awards for their Reislings. Snowy Peaks also produces Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. One of the highlights of the year at the winery is their spring barrel tasting in April. This is a nice winery to tour while visiting Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park.
In the Boulder Winery Region, you'll find four distinctive wineries. You'll find this wine region just a half hour from Denver and convenient to the hiking, camping, rock climbing, and mountain biking activities that the Boulder area has to offer. As for all the Front Range wineries, their wines are mad from Colorado grown grapes.
Augustine's Winery is a one-woman operation that is dedicated to making Colorado grown wines to accompany backpacking and camping adventures, rowdy pizza parties, and barbecues. Essentially, more vin ordinaire wines, they are refreshing and consistently good. She also makes every wine from Chardonnay to Shiraz. Located in downtown Boulder, this winery is seasonal in its tours and tastings so be sure to call ahead.
Boulder Creek Winery provides you with award winning Colorado wines that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and a unique White Merlot. They offer wine tastings, a self-guided winery tour, and a gift shop for visitors. They are open from April through December.
If you're on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, you might want to stop in at the tasting room for the BookCliff Vineyards. Their tasting room combines their wines with Belgium Chocolate for a unique taste treat.
A truly unique winery in the Boulder area is the Redstone Meadery. Here you will not find grape wines, but Colorado grown honey wines. Mead was the first wine mentioned in the bible and the Redstone Meadery carries on that tradition today. They are an award winning producer of honey wine and you can taste their meads and some world famous honey wines at the meadery.
The Denver Winery Region features six Front Range wineries. Visitors to the Denver Metro area on business or for pleasure can partake in some of the best wines made in eastern Colorado without even leaving the city.
Bellistreri Vineyards is probably the most well known winery in Denver because it truly has its own vineyard associated with the winery. This family owned operation produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and other more dessert type wines.
Spero Winery is also family run and makes its wines in the "old world", Italian tradition that was brought here by the father of Clyde Spero, the winemaker, from Polenza, Italy. They specialize in red wines that go extraordinarily well with Italian food.
Creekside Cellars is a winery and Italian Deli. They proudly offer Bianco, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other wines that compliment the fine deli meals that they offer. Such a celebration of wine and food is rare to find.
Old Town Winery is a boutique winery. They offer fine, hand-crafted wines made from Colorado grown grapes. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon are their specialties.
Tewksbury & Co and Avanti wineries are tasting rooms found in Denver. Tewksbury is actually a western slope winery that offers its wines through its Denver outlet. Avanti offers 29 western slope Colorado wines plus its own labeled wines combined with selections of premium cigars.
The Southern Winery Region, south of Denver, consists of two wineries. The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey is the most famous of these and is the oldest winery along the Front Range. Just 12 miles from Royal Gorge, this is a truly unique winery. It is settled on the grounds of a working monastery at Holy Cross Abbey. While producing the traditional grape wines found in other wineries, Winery at Holy Cross Abbey also makes some delicate fruit wines, including their famous Apple Blossom wine.
Wines of Colorado is located on the mountain side of Cascade, Colorado. Know for offering Colorado's largest selection of wine, you can taste wines of your choice while enjoying dining on the mountainside overlooking the Cascade and Fountain Creeks.
If you're traveling to Denver or the eastern front range, you find that there's wine in those hills and cities. Colorado Front Range wineries offer a wide variety of tastes in wines and experiences. When you're visiting this area of the state and are looking for something unique to do, think winery tour.
