Colorado may not be the first state you think of when you think about wine regions in the United States. It might not have the name recognition of Napa, or even Temecula, but the Centennial State was in fact once a respected winemaking area before Prohibition (when the vineyards were ripped out and replaced with orchards), and today it produces excellent, award-winning wines that are worth a taste. 

More than 1,000 acres of grapes are grown throughout the state of Colorado, where vineyards range in elevation from 4,000 to 7,000 feet—making these some of the highest growing wine producers in the world. It also means winemakers and winery owners must learn how to work with and accept the unique challenges of Colorado’s growing conditions. 

“The first thing that I let people know when they’re trying Colorado wine is forget everything you think you know about what wine should be,” says CEO of Carboy Winery Kevin Webber. “What you get with our wines is a sense of place, of what makes Colorado wines unique. We grow so many different things here, and because we’re not in a traditional wine establishment, we can be innovative with the varieties and the styles that we make, so that we don’t have to be fettered by convention.”

The Colorado wine industry is expanding, and with that comes challenges (like unpredictable weather) and growing pains, but a sense of openness to change, the desire for an adventure, and a feeling of community is what bonds the wineries together. 

“I think my favorite aspect of Colorado wine is that it is unpretentious,” says Restoration Vineyard’s Stephanie Brauns. “The approachable nature of being in a farming community, being around a bunch of down-to-earth Coloradans and tasting people’s passions makes for an unforgettable experience.”

Today, there are more than 170 successful wineries in the Centennial State. Here’s why vino lovers shouldn’t sleep on Colorado’s growing wine scene, and where to enjoy some quality wine adventures across the state.