7 Minute Read
Two Rivers Winery & Chateau
Photo: Visit Grand Junction
Not only a destination for sampling award-winning wine in the luxurious tasting lounge, Two Rivers Winery and Chateau offers an enhanced Colorado experience. This Grand Junction winery, set at the base of Colorado National Monument, offers tours of the vineyard and the winemaking facility. Experienced event professionals can plan your wedding or corporate meeting. The gorgeous scenery and idyllic setting, along with classic flavors of noble wine varieties, make this Grand Junction winery the highlight of your vacation. Bonus tip – breakfast is included.
Carlson Downtown Tasting Room
Photo: @carlsonvineyards
If you’re looking for all the delicious flavors of decadent wines but don’t want to leave Downtown Grand Junction, head on over to Carlson Vineyards Downtown Tasting Room. Enjoy award-winning wines by the glass, by the bottle or a sampling flight, all without reservations.
Shiras Winery & The Zesty Moose
Also located in Downtown Grand Junction, Shiras Winery offers a unique wine tasting experience. The winery sources its high-quality grapes from the West Coast and parts of the Grand Junction area. After being destemmed and crushed, they are delivered to the craft brewery-style winery to be fermented, aged, filtered, bottled and labeled all onsite. Being a small-scale winery allows the owners to be more versatile with their winemaking, so it’s no surprise there are over 30 varietals to choose from. The winery and tasting room is perfectly paired alongside the Zesty Moose, a gourmet marketplace offering cheese, hand-crafted spices made in-house, mustard, hot sauces, and more. The perfectly designed space compliments this historic building complete with brick walls. This is a must-stop.
Maison la Belle Vie Winery
Photo: @texanclimbingcolorado
Beginning in 2002 and offering many different varietals, Maison la Belle Vie Winery carefully crafts and emphasizes taste, quality, and elegance into every last drop. Try their small batches of reserve wines such as the Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot, or test out an age-old recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation in their famous Vin de Peche, which is made from Muscat grapes and the famous Palisade peaches.
Grande River Vineyards
Photo: @starlitgalaxy
Nestled at the base of the Book Cliffs, Grande River Vineyards is rooted in the viticulture history of the Grand Junction area. After being purchased in 2021 by Richard and Jean Tally, Grande River continues to pay homage to the varietals loved by many while also bringing a new flair to the GRV brand. Keep an eye out for some new varietals that are set to enter the mix!
Ordinary Fellow
Known as the new kid on the block, Ordinary Fellow is quickly making a mark on the Grand Junction area wine scene. The tasting room is a nod to history, having transformed an old peach packing shed into a trendy hip space that draws crowds from across Colorado and beyond. The owner, Parsons, made a name for himself in Denver at the Infinite Monkey Theorem wine bar.
Sauvage Spectrum
Photo: @sarahhhhkidd
Turning winemaking into science and perfecting each varietal to produce the best vintages possible, Sauvage Spectrum continues to define the future of Colorado wine. As an estate-grown winery, Sauvage is pushing the boundaries of Colorado grape growing and perfecting it in every bottle. Try their sparkling wine, Sparklet, for a spritzy fruit-forward approach to wine.
Vines 79 Wine Barn
Named after section 79 of the original peach orchard, the grapes are now grown on, Vines 79 Wine Barn offers exceptional wine best enjoyed in their outdoor seating areas. Owner, Juliann Adams, was included as one of seven women winechangers in Colorado by Colorado Biz. Keep an eye on their Facebook page as they sometimes host Facial & Wine Nights for the perfect girl’s night out.
Bookcliff Vineyards
Photo: @mountainmixmatch
The owners, John & Ulla, began their wine-making journey with a collective love and appreciation for wine. John, a civil engineer, and Ulla, a high-tech software developer, brought their passions together to build and craft their very own work of art. Join them every Saturday night at Bookcliff Vineyards from June through October for sunset views, a food truck, and live music.
Whitewater Hill Vineyards
Whitewater Hill Vineyard is known for their Reisling, which speaks to subtle notes of jasmine, pear and honey. It pairs perfectly with spicy and Asian foods and fresh fruit or desserts. Melanie and Jeff, owners of Whitewater, have degrees in medicine and chemistry. Melanie later earned her Certificate in Winemaking from UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. Whitewater Hill has a loyal following, including a wine club that keeps their devotees happy and well stocked. It’s the perfect gift that keeps on giving.
Grand Junction Wine Tours and Experiences
With all these wonderful wineries in mind, you may be asking yourself how can I safely visit multiple wineries in a day? Well, Grand Junction has a few different wine tour options.
Grand Valley Grapes & Grains Adventures
Photo: @gvgrapesandgrains
Grand Valley Grapes & Grains Adventures offers a variety of tour options that safely transport you from your lodging property in Grand Junction to different wineries in the area.
JR’s Carriage Service
Photo: @jrscarriage
Slow down and take in the beauty of the Grand Junction area with a horse-drawn carriage wine tour from JR’s Carriage Service. Create a memorable experience alongside some of nature’s most gentle giants. JR’s Carriage Service offers customized tours and experiences to sunset, wine and bachelor and bachelorette tours - all led by the strength and power of these magnificent creatures.
Grand Junction Tours
Photo: @tonyreedphotography
If you are looking for a fully customized and personal tour of the Grand Junction area, check out Grand Junction Tours. They offer tours of Grand Junction’s most popular destinations such as the Colorado National Monument, the Grand Mesa, Downtown Grand Junction, lavender farms, wineries, breweries and distilleries. Just tell them what you’d like to see and do, and they will be more than happy to arrange a tour customized just for you!
Colorado Mountain Winefest
Photo: Claire Codling
Looking to spend a day filled with wine? Well, gear up for Colorado Mountain Winefest on September 16, 2023, from 10:30 pm – 5:00 pm. From wine tasting to artsy vendors who craft wine-inspired products – this award-winning festival is a big deal. Get your tickets now because there are not many left!
Don’t worry if wine isn’t your forte. The craft beverage scene in Grand Junction does not disappoint. From distilleries and breweries to expertly designed cocktails and varietals, Grand Junction boasts some of the most amazing liquid crafts in the state.
For more ways to experience Grand Junction, check out pages 16-23 of the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide.