19 Jul Wine and Cider Tastings
THE NORTH FORK VALLEY HAS BECOME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR WINE CONNOISSEURS. TASTE OUR WONDERFUL LOCAL WINES AT THE VINEYARDS ALL WEEKEND!
The West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA) spreads throughout Delta County on the Western Slope of Colorado. It boasts some of the highest elevation vineyards in North America and some of the best Colorado wine. This high mesa area in the Colorado Rockies seems an unlikely place to grow grapes and make wine, but here you will find some of the best wine produced in the state.
Our local North Fork Valley wineries & cideries are open during Mountain Harvest Festival weekend – please check each location for specific open hours during the weekend!
For more info, visit West Elks AVA Wineries
2026 Wine Tours
5680 Vineyards
Rob Kimball
14652 Peony Ln
Paonia, CO 81428
970.270.7471
robkimball7@hotmail.com
5680wines.com
Open Friday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm
5680′ Vineyards is located in Paonia, Colorado and is the product of years of hard work and dedication. Owner and winemaker, Rob Kimball, has been tending to his vines since 2003, producing some of the finest Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Tempranillo and Merlot in the West Elks AVA. With grapes grown at an altitude of over one mile, every cork is labeled “Wine With Altitude” and it’s a reminder of the diligent work and passion that goes into each bottle. From the unique terroir to the flavor, every wine from 5680′ Vineyards is sure to please.
Visit us and experience the beauty of the Colorado Rockies through the lens of our wines. Open for tastings Friday to Sunday 11am to 6pm.
Alfred Eames Cellars
Eames & Devin Petersen
11931 4050 Rd
Paonia, CO 81428
970.361.5630
alfredeamescellars@gmail.com
alfredeamescellars.com
Open Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 6pm
The Alfred Eames Cellars vineyard was planted in 1992, Winery opened in 1998. All our wines are made with Colorado grapes. Stop on by – we are offering wine tastings, guided cellar tours, and cheesecakes during Mountain Harvest Festival! Open Saturday September 26th and Sunday September 27th from 11am to 6pm.
Azura Wine Cellars
Thomas Murphy & Gail Saxton
16764 Farmers Mine Rd
Paonia, CO 81428
970.822.5910
azurawinecellars.com
Open Daily 11am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays
Set above the North Fork Valley with sweeping views, Azura Cellars was made for gathering – where a tasting becomes an afternoon, and an afternoon becomes a memory. Azura is a relaxed, unhurried wine experience with outdoor seating throughout the property and space designed for gathering. Wine is meant to be enjoyed at your own pace, with food pairings available to complement the tasting. Offering wine flights and gourmet charcuterie. Open Daily 11am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays.
Big B’s Delicious Orchards
Jeff Schwartz
39126 HWY 133
Hotchkiss, CO 81419
970.527.1110
info@bigbs.com
bigbs.com
Open Daily
Big B’s Delicious Orchards, the home of Big B’s Juices and Hard Cider, offers a full cafe, hard cider and wine bar, camping, live music, certified organic U-pick orchard, and chemical-free garden. Certified CO Dept of Ag Organic. Live music with Link&Chain Band, a dynamic Reggae quartet from Jamaica, with Denver based artist San Leandro at 6:30pm on Friday night September 25th!
Store Open Daily: Mon to Thurs 10am to 8pm; Fri 10am to 10pm; Sat 9am to 10pm; Sun 9am to 8pm.
Cafe Open Daily: Sun to Thurs 11am to 8pm, Fri & Sat 11am to 9pm.
Black Bridge Winery/Orchard Valley Farms
Lee & Kathy Bradley
15836 Black Bridge Road
Paonia, CO 81428
970.527.6838
orchardvalleyfarms.com
Open Daily 10am to 6pm
Our farm market and winery is located in Paonia, Colorado – the 55 acre farm was established in 1976 as a grower supplier for wholesale fruit packing houses in western Colorado. Visit the Farm Market and Tasting Room for exciting wines, locally grown produce, and our own beef that is raised on North Fork pastures. An amazing variety of balsamic vinegars, olive oils, estate-grown and made wines, dressings, sauces, pickled items, jams, jellies and more! Come try our 25 different flavors of balsamic vinegars, olive oils, and apple cider vinegar, while finding the perfect pumpkin.. Visit Orchard Valley Farms & Black Bridge Winery during Mountain Harvest Festival for a weekend of pumpkin picking, chili roasting, wine tasting, and food. Open Daily 10am to 6pm.
Ride the Pumpkin Express Train to our pumpkin patch Saturdays & Sundays beginning Sept 26th & 27th from 10am to 4pm. The U-Pick Pumpkin Patch is open daily 10am to 4pm beginning Saturday September 26th.
Clear Fork Cider
Jay Kenney
Paonia Books: 234 or 232 Grand Ave
Paonia, CO 81428
970.525.2000
jay@clearforkcider.com
clearforkcider.com
Open Friday, 3pm to 7pm | Saturday, 2pm to 5pm
Clear Fork Cider makes small batch cider from heirloom, wild and cider-specific apples and domestic and wild pears. Slowly fermented, usually dry, and aged for a minimum of 5 months. Open for tastings and sales during Final Friday September 25th from 3pm to 7pm and Saturday September 26th from 2pm to 5pm at Paonia Books on Grand Ave! Closed Sunday. Clear Fork Cider will also be available for purchase all weekend in Paonia Town Park during Mountain Harvest Festival.
Mesa Winds Farm & Winery
Angelina Rice & Dan Matuszak
31262 L Rd.
Hotchkiss, CO 81419
970.399.7491
mail@mesawindsfarm.com
mesawindswinery.com
Open Wednesday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm | Sunday, 10am to 2pm | Closed Saturday
Mesa Winds is a 36 acre organic farm and vineyard located at the base of the majestic West Elks Mountains. Taste award winning Colorado wine alongside dishes crafted with the freshest ingredients harvested straight from the farm. Member of Colorado Certified Organic Farmers.
Open for Mountain Harvest Festival weekend: Wednesday to Friday 4pm to 8pm and Sunday 10am to 2pm, closed Saturday September 26th. Serving small plates, tasting flights and Sunday Brunch. Visit the website for event details and menus.
Painted Vineyard
Jeff & Karen Schiros
15805 Black Bridge Rd
Paonia, CO 81428
970.471.2145
paintedvineyard@gmail.com
paintedvineyard.org
Open Friday to Sunday, 11:30am to 6pm
Nestled in the heart of Paonia, Colorado, the Painted Vineyard is a testament to passion, hard work, and the love of exceptional wine. What started as a dream in 2015 has blossomed into a thriving vineyard and winery, offering a unique and unforgettable experience to all who visit. We take pride in producing a diverse range of wines that reflect the unique terroir of Paonia. From robust reds to crisp whites, our wines are a true expression of the land’s character and our dedication to winemaking. We invite you to explore our selection, discover your favorites, and experience the flavors that make our vineyard so special. Open for tastings Friday to Sunday 11:30am to 6pm.
Peony Lane Vineyard
Ben Justman
14652 Peony Ln
Paonia, CO 81428
Sheltered between the ragged alpine peaks of The Rockies and barren red-rock landscapes that stretch deep into Utah, the Peony Lane Vineyard grows at the edge of possibility. The West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA) is not only the highest elevation AVA in the country, but is also the only region in Colorado to successfully cultivate Pinot Noir. Capturing the fruitful and delicate balance between these climatic extremes provides the unique character to our wines. With a deep connection to the water table, we farm without irrigation and embrace natural and sustainable growing practices without pesticides or herbicides. We humbly accept our role as stewards and look to produce wine that fully expresses the natural complexity of our world.
Tastings available at 5680’ Vineyards: Open Friday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm. Email Ben if you would like to schedule a private tasting.
Qutori Wines
Julie, Richard & Kyle Bennett
40823 HWY 133
Paonia, CO 81428
970.527.3236
qutoriwines@gmail.com
qutoriwines.com
Open Daily 12pm to 6pm
At Qutori Wines, our farm, winery, and tasting room work in harmony to create an authentic ground-to-glass experience. Just across the street, our naturally farmed vineyard and orchards infuse every bottle of wine with their unique character. We welcome you to our establishment daily from 12pm to 6pm to unwind and savor our award-winning wines and food in a serene and picturesque setting. For a relaxing moment, join the Bennett family on our patio and enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the breathtaking views of the West Elk Mountains.
Live Music featuring David Snider and 3 piece band on Friday September 25th from 5pm to 8pm.
Stone Cottage Cellars
Brent & Karen Helleckson
41716 Reds Rd.
Paonia, CO 81428
970.527.3444
info@stonecottagecellars.com
stonecottagecellars.com
Open Daily, 11am to 6pm
Stone Cottage Cellars has been growing high elevation grapes since 1994. Chardonnay, Merlot, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Handbuilt stone winery buildings and beautiful views. Open Daily for Wine Tastings 11am to 6pm.
Barrel Tasting, Gourmet Food and Wine Pairing at the Vineyard – Friday September 25th and Saturday September 26th at 6pm, reservations required: https://www.stonecottagecellars.com/events/
The Storm Cellar
Jayme Henderson & Steve Steese
14139 Runzel Gulch Rd.
Hotchkiss, CO 81419
970.589.3142
hello@stormcellarwine.com
stormcellarwine.com
Open Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 7pm
Founded by two sommeliers, The Storm Cellar is a boutique winery, located on Sunshine Mesa in Hotchkiss at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level. Jayme and Steve produce dry, aromatic expressions of white, rosé, and sparkling wines, while simultaneously farming a 23-acre vineyard, planted with Chardonnay, Riesling, Albariño, Itasca, and Pinot Noir. Their award-winning wines have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Food & Wine. The Storm Cellar actively connects their Colorado winery with the state’s flourishing farm-to-table culinary scene, while supporting local water systems, increasing soil health and biodiversity, and becoming a 100% solar-powered farm and winery by summer 2026. Open for Wine Tastings Thursday to Sunday 12pm to 7pm.
ZenZen Gardens
Tasting Room for Alfred Eames Cellars
Cindie Sorensen
12498 3790 Rd
Paonia, CO 81428
970.260.0552
cindie@cindiesorensen.com
zenzengardens.com
Open Daily, 12pm to 6pm
Zenzen Gardens is proud to be the Tasting Room for award winning Alfred Eames Cellars. Come enjoy a glass of wine, sit under the veranda and take in the majestic mountain views of the West Elks. Experience a serene and relaxing atmosphere while enjoying the lush green fields, beautiful flower gardens and the relaxing pond. Come stay on the property in one of our glamping tents, the original farmhouse or the Violet Cottage.
Enjoy live music on our stunning stage or in our historic barn. Please visit our website to learn more about our concerts, farm-to-table dinners, and events. We look forward to meeting you. Proudly serving Alfred Eames wine Daily 12pm to 6pm!
