Colorado Mountain Winefest

Colorado Mountain Winefest is a grand tasting wine festival held annually in Palisade, Colorado — now in its 35th year, it is Colorado's longest-running wine festival, scheduled for September 19, 2026. Organized by the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE), the event draws on the Grand Valley AVA, the state's most established wine-producing region, where high-altitude vineyards and a semi-arid climate produce the fruit behind Colorado's most recognized bottles.

For its 35th anniversary, Colorado Mountain Winefest has been substantially redesigned. Capacity has been reduced to fewer than 2,000 guests — a deliberate choice to eliminate crowded tents and long lines in favor of a more spacious, unhurried format. Reserved ticket holders gain early access from 11:00am to 12:00pm, a full hour before general entry, allowing direct conversation with vintners and vendors before the main session begins. The event features live music in shaded lounges, concierge wine storage, and interactive activities within what the organizers describe as an elegant, open-flow setting. All gourmet food, drinks, and seating are included with every ticket.

Before attending, visitors should know that Colorado Mountain Winefest is strictly 21 and over — infants, young children, and strollers are not permitted on the festival grounds. All bags are subject to search, and magnetometer screening is in place at entry; small or clear bags are recommended to speed up the process. The festival is wheelchair accessible, with a dedicated handicap entrance gate, handicap restrooms throughout the grounds, and a limited number of accessible parking spaces in the festival lot. Group discounts are not offered given the limited-capacity format, so purchasing early is the most reliable way to secure a spot.

Palisade sits at the heart of the Grand Valley AVA, Colorado's largest designated wine region, where Bordeaux and Rhône varieties perform particularly well in the high-desert conditions along the Western Slope. Colorado Mountain Winefest has been recognized by USA Today's 10 Best as the best wine festival in the U.S., a distinction that reflects the event's long-standing role in connecting growers, winemakers, and the public across 35 years of Colorado wine history.