Why you should visit the wineries Fort Collins has to offer
This blog post covers the best wineries in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fort Collins is a town in northern Colorado known for its Old Town historic district. This district boasts specialty shops, a vintage trolley, and houses from the 1800s.
But Fort Collins has something else that you might not know… wine!
Most people associate Colorado with beer, not wine. But every rule has an exception.
The three wineries Fort Collins offers are proving that Colorado might just be the next big thing in American wine.
Maybe you’re looking for unusual artisan selections. Or maybe you’re looking for a glass of wine paired with live music. Either way, these three Fort Collins wineries have you covered.
One winery makes canned wine that’s perfect for an afternoon spent floating down the river. Another winery has California roots but a Colorado spirit. And the third winery offers something unusual… pepper wine!
All three tasting rooms have outdoor seating. Which makes them a great place to kick back, relax, and enjoy a glass of wine.
How to access wineries in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado is located roughly an hour north of Denver.
Depending on your route the drive from Denver may take between 70 and 80 minutes.
Fort Collins is a 50 minute drive south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. So if you fancy crossing state lines for a glass of wine, it’s a very easy drive.
If you’re from Colorado State you’ll find Fort Collins is accessible. If you’re from out of state you can fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), rent a car, and drive an hour north to Fort Collins.
Once you arrive in Fort Collins, you can easily access the three wineries Fort Collins offers.
One winery is located a short 6 minute drive from the center of town. Another is located a 13 minute drive from downtown Fort Collins. And the third is actually located in the Fort Collins downtown area.
The best Fort Collins wineries for a wine tasting
The OBC Wine Project
The OBC Wine Project makes great wines that are vivacious and fresh.
Fun wines like sparkling rosé and sparkling pinot gris in a can anchor this winery’s offerings.
The OBC Wine Project also makes limited edition spritzes like the Guava Spritz, which combines guava, pineapple and sparkling water.
Their Colorado Fizz is a co-ferment of two cold-hardy varieties suited to Colorado: Vignoles and Aromella.
Many of their grapes come from Oregon, like the Riesling made with Willamette Valley grapes.
But this urban winery is quick to underline how they crush, ferment, and package their wines right in Fort Collins CO.
Their Fort Collins tasting room has a modern interior and a spacious exterior. The OBC Wine Project actually shares their patio with Odell Brewing (which is a fabulous surprise if you ask me).
So you can walk over to the brewery, grab a pint, and enjoy it on the shared patio. This setup is sure to keep both the beer drinkers and the wine lovers in your group happy.
The tasting room is open seven days a week. You can choose between over two dozen wines, the limited edition spritzes, or a wine flight.
Blanchard Family Wines
Blanchard Family Wines is a successful winery with four locations spread across two states.
Their Fort Collins tasting room is located at The Exchange.
This downtown area gathering space boasts dozens of food and beverage businesses (like Blanchard Wines). You can find gourmet food, desserts, beer, and wine (of course).
These unique restaurants and food trucks are all situated around a central courtyard at The Exchange. It’s sort of like a food court… but a fancy outdoor food court.
At the Blanchard Family Wines tasting room at the Exchange you can enjoy wine by the glass, bottle, or flight.
They pour a mix of their own limited-production California fine wines as well as Colorado wines from other producers.
The Blanchard Family Wines tasting room in Fort Collins is open seven days a week. Be sure to check out their tasting room’s rooftop seating area.
Blendings Winery
Blendings Winery makes a unique range of red wines, white wines, rosé wines, fruit wines, and pepper wines. Side note: the only thing they’re missing is honey wine (hint hint).
You’ll find familiar red wines such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, and Malbec.
As well as untraditional pepper wines in flavors like Hatch Chile Wine, Jalapeño Lime Wine, and Mandarin Chocolate Habanero Wine. Pepper wines are definitely for hot sauce lovers!
But who knows… maybe pepper wine will become your favorite new wine.
Blendings Winery has two locations in Fort Collins.
The main tasting room is located at Hillside Vineyard on Bingham Hill Road. The second tasting room is located at Bloom Floral on N College Ave.
The Hillside Vineyard location has a tasting room, vineyards, and a wine bottling facility. They also have an outdoor patio, which is key.
I mean who doesn’t love a glass of wine al fresco?
The Blendings Winery’s Hillside Vineyard tasting room is open six days a week from 12-7 PM. They’re closed Monday.
Similar wine regions to explore
Arizona towns worth a visit
Arizona is another state not often associated with wine. But guess what – Arizona has lots of wineries! We especially like the wineries in Sonoita and Elgin, Arizona. Sonoita and Elgin offer delicious wine and a down to earth attitude much like the wineries Fort Collins offers.
Jerome, Arizona began as a mining town during the California Gold Rush. Today it’s a quirky tourist town with a fun wine scene. The best Jerome, Arizona wineries have colorful backstories. Like the winery founded by a former rock star…
Cottonwood, Arizona is a super short drive from Jerome (just 15 minutes). If you’re already going to Jerome you may as well visit historic Old Town Cottonwood too! We’ve compiled a list of the best Cottonwood wineries for those who’d like to sample local wines.
Off the beaten path wine destinations
Like Colorado, Nevada is another state not known for its wine industry. But that could change in the near future. These wineries in Pahrump, Nevada are conveniently located halfway between the Las Vegas Strip and Death Valley.
