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Get to Know Colorado Wines

Grand Valley AVA vineyard with Mt. Garfield.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to tour around Colorado’s wine regions, visiting some wineries and vineyards in Denver, Boulder, Palisade, and Grand Junction. I enjoyed every wine I tried, surprised at the variety. I was told numerous times that, years ago, Colorado’s wine scene just wasn’t all that impressive and wasn’t holding up against California’s or France’s. But things had come a long way in the last 10-15 years but there was still a reputation to overcome among Colorado’s wine drinkers. I’ve often been to restaurants where they tout their Colorado beers and spirits but have few, to no, Colorado wines. When I asked why, they’d repeatedly tell me they just hadn’t tried any! For shame! To help encourage In Good Taste Denver’s readers to try local “fruit of the vine,” and, in turn, encourage our local restaurants to stock it, we wanted to share this list, especially since National Drink Wine Day is February 18: 

Governors Cup winners - Colorado wine
2021 Colorado Governor’s Cup winners. Photo courtesy Colorado Wine and Colorado’s Governors Cup.
The winners of the 2021 Governor’s Cup Competition are a great place to start in getting to know some new options. There are winning wines from wineries in Boulder, Denver, Littleton, Fairplay, Gunnison, and the Western Slope.
Grand Valley AVA vineyard with Mt. Garfield.
A Grand Valley AVA vineyard with Mt. Garfield in the distance. Photo courtesy Colorado Wine.
Here’s a list of Governor’s Cup Competition winners for 2021: 
  • BookCliff Vineyards (Boulder) – 2018 Graciano, Colorado
  • BookCliff Vineyards (Boulder) – 2018 Syrah Reserve, Colorado
  • Redstone Meadery (Boulder) – 2019 Tupelo Mountain Honey Wine
  • Turquoise Mesa Winery (Broomfield) – 2018 Merlot, Grand Valley AVA
  • Continental Divide Winery (Fairplay) – 2019 Gewürztraminer, Grand Valley AVA
  • Buckel Family Wine (Gunnison) – 2019 Cinsault, Colorado
  • Buckel Family Wine (Gunnison) – 2020 Pétillant Naturel Rosé, Colorado
  • Carboy Winery (Littleton, Breckenridge and Denver) – 2019 Teroldego, Grand Valley AVA
  • Carlson Vineyards (Palisade) – Cherry Wine, 100% Grand Valley Montmorency cherries
  • Carlson Vineyards (Palisade) – 2019 Tyrannosaurus Red (Lemberger), Grand Valley AVA
  • Plum Creek Winery (Palisade) – 2020 Palisade Festival (Aromella/ Riesling/ Chardonnay), Grand Valley AVA
  • Sauvage Spectrum (Palisade) –  Sparklet Candy Red (Verona), Grand Valley AVA
  • The Storm Cellar (Paonia) – 2020 Rosé of St. Vincent, Grand Valley AVA
  • Whitewater Hill Vineyards (Grand Junction) – 2019 Chambourcin, Grand Valley AVA

What else is In Good Taste? Read about the wine and chocolate-tasting experience at BookCliff Vineyards with Moksha Chocolate.

Colorado wine's Alfred Eames Cellars cellar
Alfred Eames Cellars wine cellar in Paonia. Photo courtesy Colorado Wine.

Learn more about Colorado’s wine scene on the Colorado Wine website.

What else is In Good Taste? This interview with the owners of Carlson Vineyards on our sister outlet, RealFoodTraveler.com.

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