Colorado Wine Festival returns to Manitou Springs with bold new flavors and climate challenges

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. — The 22nd Annual Colorado Wine Festival is set to return Saturday at Memorial Park, bringing together more than 30 wineries from across the state for one of Colorado’s largest celebrations of locally made wine.

While the festival promises unique tastings and live music, winemakers say it also reflects a deeper story about the realities of producing wine in Colorado’s unpredictable climate.

Manitou Winery owner and winemaker Eric Wilkes plans to debut several experimental wines, including a Pueblo chili Viognier and lavender Moscato. He says the state’s high-altitude growing conditions and recent swings in temperature and humidity have changed the way he approaches each season.

“I’ve got, you know, some wines exploding because they’re extra fermenting. At the moment, I’ve had one issue even with those Pueblo chiles. I didn’t really have them as ready till far later in the season, because I like them when they’re red, a little sweeter,” Wilkes said.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes performances by New Vintage Jazz, The Cat’s Glasses, Jason Greenlaw and Halle Tomlinson. Tickets, shuttle schedules, and vendor details can be found here.

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