Augustina’s Winery

Hidden away in an industrial park on the edge of Boulder, Augustina’s produces the most whimsical of Colorado wines. There’s a WineChick Red (Shiraz blend), a WineChick White (a blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer), and others as the spirit moves the winemaker. Augustina’s wines are intended to be paired with activities more than food – thus, Backpacker red or a Front Porch white. Nothing pretentious, but very drinkable. Labels, set on the bottles in a diamond-shape, feature original art.

The entire operation is the brainchild of owner, winemaker, bottler and labeler, Marianne “Gussie” Walter. She even drives over to the Western Slope to fetch the grapes herself.

Though it’s small and doesn’t have public hours, guests can book tastings by appointment. You’re also likely to find Gussie, who formerly was a geologist and chemist, vending her wines at Denver-area farmers markets and art galleries.

4715 N. Broadway, Unit B3, Boulder
303-545-2047

Avanti Winery

The big sign says “Cigars” but take our word for it – this is a winery. Besides selling wines from more than 30 Colorado wineries (the largest collection of Colorado wines in Denver) Avanti Winery makes a few of its own. We’re talking Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier, port and a red table wine – a blend that changes.

If it’s available, try the Mystique wine – a wine that began as a happy mistake and ended up being a best-seller. The pleasant atmosphere, with a gift shop and wine bar, invites guests to linger to taste the wares. And though they also do sell fine cigars, there’s no smoking in the winery.

9046 W. Bowles Ave, Littleton
303-904-7650 

Balistreri Vineyards

A vineyard in the middle of Denver? Yes. It started as a flower farm in 1969, but in 1998, the Balistreri family decided to plant some grapes. Since then, the Balistreris have been making wines in the Italian tradition. The site includes a tasting room and gift shop and a number of events are hosted on the property.

The award-winning wines at Balistreri include Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Zinfandel, Port and Colorado cherry wines. Whites include Chardonnay, Viognier and Muscat. Their wines are made from 98 percent Colorado grapes, including some grown on site. Balistreri does not add sulfites to its wines, and does not filter them, making them a little hazy sometimes, and vulnerable during shipping. But their numerous awards show taste more than makes up for clarity.

Head winemaker John Balistreri has been making wine for more than three decades, though they just began selling it commercially in 2000. All Balistreri wines are hand-crafted a barrel at a time. The grapes are fermented in their own yeast and aged in American oak.

1946 E. 66th Ave., Denver
303-287-5156
www.balistreriwine.com

Bonacquisti Wine Company

Situated in northwest Denver, Bonacquisti is a relative newcomer to the Colorado wine scene. The two-story space, about two miles from downtown, has a tasting room downstairs and a party room upstairs that can handle small group functions. The works of local artists line the walls, with different artists featured each month. The winery also has special events, such as its annual barbecue. To find out about those, go to the Web site and check out the schedule.

Owner Paul Bonacquisti, formerly a Denver deejay, lives in the neighborhood, and likes having what he calls “an urban winery.” His wines, which include Cabernet, Zinfandel, Moscato, Chardonnay and a Rose – a family blend – are made from75 percent Colorado-grown grapes.

4640 Pecos St., Unit 1, Denver
303-477-9463 

Bookcliff Vineyards

BookCliff Vineyards moved in February of 2009 opening our tasting room in the winery instead of a chocolate shop.

BookCliff Vineyards winery and tasting room are located in North Boulder. BookCliff offers tastings Friday through Sunday year round from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Visitors can choose from 18 different wines including whites, reds and dessert wines. It is the place to come to learn about wine and find the wine you like. During the year BookCliff has a lot of fun events to offer, chef dinners, barrel tasting, release parties, farmers markets and chocolate and wine pairing flights on Valentine's day. Check the website for upcoming events.

1501 Lee Hill Road, Unit #17, Boulder
303-449-9463
www.bookcliffvineyards.com

Boulder Creek Winery

If you want to learn all about wine-making, from growing the grapes to manufacturing the corks, stop by Boulder Creek Winery. You can take a self-guided tour, complete with signs and photos, and learn everything you ever wanted to know about the process. Any questions? Ask owners Jackie or Mike Thompson, who have one of the classiest operations around.

Situated on the edge of Boulder, the winery is known for its white Merlot, Chardonnay and Riesling. Of the 2,000 or so cases of wine they produce each year, about 60 percent is white wine – regaining its former popularity, says Jackie Thompson. They pride themselves on “feminine whites and masculine reds.” They also have a well-stocked gift shop full of goodies.

6440 Odell Place, Boulder
303-516-9031

Creekside Cellars

Plan to hit this winery in downtown Evergreen at about lunch-time and sample the Italian deli specialties that include an antipasto platter, a cheese board, or panini sandwiches made on their own fresh focaccia bread. If the weather is nice, enjoy your repast on the deck overlooking Bear Creek, which goes rushing right by.

Then taste an award-winning Chardonnay, or a Viognier, Riesling, Cabernet Franc or Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah. Also check out the Vintage Port and the Black Muscat Port.

Small private tours can be arranged.
28036 Highway 74, Evergreen
303-674-5460 

Equipment de Vin

A small tasting room of selected Colorado vintages in the back ($1 a pour) isn’t the main attraction here. It’s the vast array of wine-related accessories and accoutrements, from leather-bound tasting journals to fine crystal to unique imported gift items. Located in downtown Denver’s Larimer Square, it’s a great place to shop for the serious oenophile on your gift list any time of year. Small events also can be booked in the shop, which has access to an outdoors space.

Colorado wines are served.
1412 Larimer St., Denver
720-946-3287

Iron Mountain Winery

This franchise micro-winery produces 40 different wines from grapes imported from around the world. One of the few Colorado wineries that does not use Colorado grapes, it nevertheless has a few of its own concoctions, including a Coup d’ Trois (blend of Cabernet, Syrah and Zinfandel) and a Bella Bianco (an oak-y California Chardonnay). House specialties include ice wine or perhaps an orange-chocolate port.

Iron Mountain is a wine bar, not a tasting room. The Flatirons mall location in Broomfield has a light menu – perfect for lunch. You also can order their wines at their new Cherry Creek restaurant by the same name.

1 W. Flatiron Circle, Suite 336, Broomfield
303-464-9463

Redstone Meadery

Tucked into a strip mall on the edge of Boulder, the meadery offers a taste of something different. Take a tour and find out how mead – wine made from honey – is produced. Taste some and decide for yourself if mead is for you.

If you’ve only tasted the very sweet meads, your palate is in for a surprise. There are sparkling meads, fruity meads and even some fairly dry ones. The sparkling nectars are made with Colorado honey and summer fruits (think black raspberries). The meadery’s Sunshine Nectar makes a killer mimosa for Sunday brunch, they claim.

Redstone Meadery is the second largest meadery in the United States and the largest craft meadery (akin to a micro brewery) in the nation. Meads make good dessert wines and some of them come in flavors that taste like, say, Mom’s apple pie.

4799 Pearl St., suite 2A, Boulder
720-406-1215
www.redstonemeadery.com

Spero Winery

Only open Saturday afternoons and for special events, Spero Winery – well hidden in an Arvada neighborhood – is in the throes of a major expansion, which will more than double its size. Meanwhile, a spacious tasting room allows for special events – even weddings.

June and Clyde Spero (she’s John Balistreri’s sister – see above) began making wine commercially in 1999 but didn‘t open for business until 2003.

The Speros age all their reds in oak for four years, which might account for the impressive list of awards they have won. They make wines from both Colorado and California grapes – but never the two shall mix (they’re clearly labeled). Spero has its own vineyard in north Denver, next to Balistreri. A unique offering under the Vino e Buono label is a Cayuga White, made from grapes grown in Pueblo.

3316 W. 64th Ave, Denver
720-519-1506

Tewksbury & Co.

This cigar bar, located in Writer’s Square in downtown Denver, has a tiny tasting table and a huge selection of cigars. Smoking is allowed on premises, so if that bothers you, you might choose another venue for wine tasting. If you like both, however, this is a good place to learn how to pair your cigar with your wine.

1512 Larimer St., Denver
303-825-1880

Turquoise Mesa Winery

This winery prides itself on wines made only from Colorado grapes. A Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier and both white and red blends are offered in the tasting room located in a Broomfield office park.

Owners Tom and Mary Joan Bueb specialize in a Bordeaux-style blend, a hand-crafted boutique wine. They also have a Riesling and a Pinot Noir that have received some praise. They pride themselves on smooth, velvety wines low in tannin. They don’t produce dessert, fruit or port wines.

Tastings often are offered on Saturday afternoons or can be arranged by appointment. They also will do barrel tastings for small groups of up to 25 or 30 people. You also can sample their wines from the menu at Woody’s, a popular pizza place in Golden.

555 Burbank St., Unit Q, Broomfield
303-653-3822