Despite cooling temperatures and snowy mountaintops, Colorado’s food and wine festival circuit stays in full swing year-round. In fact, the chillier seasons offer an authentic mountain town experience and make for breathtaking scenery regardless of where in the Rocky Mountain range you find yourself. Here are some autumn and winter festivals with a focus on tasty eats and refined drinks.
Colorado Mountain Wine Fest
When: 9/18 – 9/19
Where: Palisade, Colorado
If you’ve never experienced Colorado’s wine country, it’s about time you took a short road trip to Palisade, Colorado. Nestled outside of Grand Junction on the Western Slope, this charming town abounds with vineyards, orchards, and wineries. The rich soil and microclimates that occur throughout this valley give way to delicious, bright wines that reflect the minerality of our state’s fertile soil. Spend the weekend at Colorado Mountain Wine Fest swirling, sipping, and selecting some of your favorites to take home.
Telluride Wine Festival
When: 9/23 – 9/26
Where: Telluride, Colorado
With views that rival Napa Valley, Telluride Wine Festival features rare varietals, well-known vintners, and all the sweeping vistas one could ever need. This year mark’s the festival’s “ruby” anniversary. To celebrate reaching the 40-year mark, this year’s festivities will feature classic cars, antique airplanes, elite wines, and rare motorcycles. There’s no better way to experience this gorgeous mountain town than during this epic wine fest.
Autumn Gold Festival
When: 9/25 – 9/26
Where: Estes Park, Colorado
This low-key festival celebrates all things fall. Estes Park boasts one of the best places to catch the aspen trees turning from a light green to bright gold in anticipation of winter. Head up early to hike Rocky Mountain, then satisfy a healthy appetite with tasty brats, local craft beer, and sweet treats from a number of fun food booths. Just a short drive from Boulder, Estes Park’s Autumn Gold Festival provides an easy weekend activity to enjoy our state’s cooler weather.
Boulder Burgundy Festival
When: 10/22 – 10/24
Where: TBD, Boulder, Colorado
This year welcomes back an in-person Boulder Burgundy Festival. Wine enthusiasts and Francophiles can take this opportunity to sip rare vintages from famous French appellations, learn more about Old World wines, and mingle with other Coloradans who enjoy a good glass or two of well-aged Burgundy. Stay tuned for additional information regarding location and registration dates.
Denver Holiday Food & Gift Festival
When: 11/19 – 11/22
Where: National Western Complex, Denver, Colorado
This annual market flaunts an entire gourmet food section where gift-seekers can stock up on specialty items for the foodies in their lives. Now in its 34th year, the Denver Holiday Food & Gift Festival features hundreds of vendors, food tents, and activities for the kids. To support local business, taste one-of-a-kind culinary items, and find the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for individual on your list, spend a day or two at this Denver fest.
Creede Chocolate Festival
When: 11/26 – 11/27
Where: Creede, Colorado
What started as a way for Creede to kick off the holiday season has transformed into a highly anticipated, annual chocolate festival. Each year, Creede Chocolate Festival welcomes numerous chocolate vendors to craft up specialities that delight and innovate. From chocolate covered oddities to authentic tiramisu, bring your sweet tooth to this mountain town event.
Wintersköl
When: 1/13 – 1/16/2022
Where: Aspen, Colorado
The town of Aspen celebrates its Norwegian history each year with its Wintersköl festival. Over the weekend, a bounty of snow-focused activities accompany authentic Norwegiaein food and drink. From ice carving to soup making competitions, bundle up and take a road trip to one of Colorado’s most stunning mountain towns.
Put a few of these Colorado culinary and wine festivals on your calendar for the autumn and winter to stave-off the stir craziness that can come with this time of the year. Enjoy the outdoors, meet new people, and expand your palette in new and exciting ways.