One of the World’s Biggest Wine Events Is Coming to Denver This Month

The culinary spotlight shining on Denver continues to grow brighter. Along with the recent expansion of the Michelin Guide’s coverage to include the entire state, and the highest number of James Beard Award nominations yet, now even the wine world is turning its attention to the city. 

On Saturday, April 18, some 230 wineries from all over the world will gather at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Denver to pour samples of their highest-rated wines in one of only three stops of Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour this year.

The tour and the participating wineries visit only three cities a year, with different locations selected annually. Along with Denver, Tampa and San Diego are included this year. This is only the second time the event has passed through Denver since it started in 2002. The previous stop was in 2024.

According to Wine Spectator senior editor and tasting director Alison Napjus, the entire point of the tour is to bring wines the magazine has rated 90 points or higher (out of 100) to cities that have robust culinary scenes but may not be considered traditional wine markets. 

“There are traditional markets for wine that get a lot of attention from winemakers and events,” she says. “We’re trying to get to other regional markets and engage with the wine lovers there who want a chance to taste all these great wines. We want to put these wines that we’re always talking about and recommending into the hands of wine lovers.”

That makes Denver a prime location, combining three trends important to the wine industry: a robust restaurant scene, a younger-leaning demographic and a population not shy about consuming alcohol. 

What Makes Denver Different

Denver is home to thirteen Wine Spectator Restaurant Award recipients, including Barolo Grill, the only Grand Award winner. 

“Where there’s an engaged wine and food scene, that is a sign to us that this might be a city that would welcome the Grand Tour and where the event could be a good success,” Napjus says. 

Also enticing is our younger population, with the Colorado State Demography Office reporting that one in five residents in the state is 18-24 years old, and one in four is 25-34. Wine Spectator is anxious to attract more younger people to not only attend the event, but also engage in wine, which is why, for the first time, it’s offering a special discount for attendees under 30. The Young Connoisseurs pass gives anyone between 21 and 30 more than half off the entry fee. 

“We need to get more younger consumers engaged,” says Napjus. “Let’s get some vibrancy to this event. When we look at the younger generation of consumers, we see that they’re not focusing on just one product. It could be beer one day, it could be wine the next day, it could be a cocktail the next day. I think to make it interesting to them, we have to become more accessible. So bringing that price point down to something that might be more affordable is important.”

Aiding that effort is Colorado’s bucking of the national trend towards less alcohol consumption in general. According to a recent study, Colorado ranks third in alcohol consumption, spending an average of $1,202 a year on booze. While some lawmakers see this as a call to place unnecessary fees on alcohol sales, Wine Spectator sees it as an opportunity to introduce a new generation to wine. 

How To Navigate the Grand Tour

With 230 wines on site (no, none from Colorado), it’s impossible to taste them all in one night. But it’s a unique opportunity to sample some rarely available wines. We’re talking older vintages that are difficult to find on retail shelves and extremely expensive bottles out of the price range of most consumers. In fact, if you were to buy one of each bottle available on the tour, you’d spend $23,000. 

As such, there’s a little strategy involved. The event’s floorplan is laid out in the traditional tasting progression, starting off with sparkling wines, to lighter whites, to more full-bodied whites, roses, reds and finally dessert wines. 

The event also groups similar types of wines, such as Barolos, in one section, allowing attendees to taste side-by-side comparisons of wine from the same region. But you don’t need to stick to the floor plan. One of the benefits of an event like this is an opportunity to sample wines not normally available in Denver stores or restaurants, so making a beeline to the wines you’re most interested in first is equally viable. 

Of the wineries attending, over a third come from Italy, with eighty pouring on site. That’s the largest contingent overall, and 20 percent more than the next-largest country represented, the U.S., at 66. 

We asked Denver’s local Italian wine expert Scott Thomas, founder of the Grappolo Wine School and wine director at both Restaurant Olivia and Dear Emilia, for some tips on the standouts. Among the more rarely available options, he highlights:

• Ferrari Trento Extra Brut Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2012: “This will be my first stop,” he says. “If you love Champagne, it’s a must-try.”
• Villa Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Villa Bucci Riserva 2021:  “One of the greatest Italian white wine producers with serious ageworthyness.”
• Benanti Etna White Superiore Contrada Rinazzo 2022: “Super high quality from the family who started Etna’s revival.”
• Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015: “A rare bottle from a super traditional producer.”
• Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Terlaner I Primo Grande Cuvée 2022: “Also super rare. If you like white burgundy, go here.”
• Col D’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Vento Riserva 2016: “A rare example of one of the great vintages of the 2010s.”

Meanwhile, Scott Mattson, owner of Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club — which, along with Guard and Grace, will be serving small plates at the event — highlighted some additional wines of interest to seek out:

• Bergström Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains Silice: “This has been on our list for three vintages now. It’s a spectacular wine.”
• Elena Walch Beyond the Clouds: “This wine is rich, layered and ridiculously good. Every damn year it crushes.”
• Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne Palmes d’Or: “Champagne is what I would drink on my deathbed. Or for breakfast tomorrow. Or for breakfast and lunch and dinner the next day.”

The Wine Spectator Grand Tour takes place Saturday, April 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. General Admission tickets are $250, or $100 for attendees aged 21 to 30; for tickets and more info, visit grandtour.winespectator.com/denver.