Discover the regions, stories, benefits and offerings of Colorado’s wine scene PLUS learn about an October 2025 special event, Colorado Uncorked, in this In Good Taste Denver Podcast episode with Kyle Schlachter, Executive Director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board. You’ll gain new appreciation for what our state brings to the table, via the glass, and why our local wine scene is something to explore and be proud of. Our thanks to Kyle and Colorado Wine for sponsoring this episode.
Think “wine making regions” and thoughts turn to destinations overseas or, closer to home, like Sonoma, California. But right here, Colorado has its own, thriving wine scene. There’s been an arc to the perception and enjoyment of Colorado as a winemaking region and its many winemakers. It has gone from being rather lackluster and unknown, to gaining a strong, positive reputation.
Every year, wines are submitted and presented to a panel of experienced judges who select the winners that become that year’s Governor’s Cup Collection. This year, the competition was broadened to Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. The winning wines are presented to the public in the most delicious of ways at the annual Colorado Uncorked event. For 2025, it’s happening October 18, 2025, at the History Colorado Center and includes not only tastings of each wine but also bites from some of Colorado’s best restaurants.
Beyond talking about the Colorado Uncorked event in October, Kyle and I discuss a variety of topics including:
- Where our various wine regions are in Colorado, what kinds of grapes they grow and therefore the increasingly wide range of wines that result
- What’s unique about the AVA regions including the benefits of our soil, rocks and weather conditions. Conversely, we talk about what kinds of things can go wrong in any given year
- Who some of the iconic wineries are and which ones are up-and-coming
- How Colorado wines are gaining in popularity, winning awards and holding their own (and exceeding) wines from around the world
- Tips for how to get to know Colorado’s wine from the comfort of home, while at a restaurant or bar or through a scenic road trip.
To learn more about Colorado wine and the Colorado Uncorked event, simply visit the ColoradoWine.com website. Get social with them on Facebook and Instagram.
The In Good Taste Denver Podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and wherever you like to listen.
-By Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher & Managing Editor of the In Good Taste Denver blog and Host of the In Good Taste Denver Podcast
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