Hilltop is centrally located and offers easy access to Denver’s growing collection of local wineries. While Colorado is often associated with beer culture, the city includes an expanding list of wine producers who manage production, tastings, and retail within the metro area. Many offer food pairings, club memberships, and events that make return visits worthwhile.
These wineries use grapes sourced from within the state and beyond, offering tasting room experiences without needing to leave town.
Fast Facts about Wine
- Ancient Greek winemakers often added honey, herbs, and spices to their wines, experimenting with flavors long before modern techniques were developed.
- In 1880, over 80% of Italy’s population earned a living through winemaking or related trades, showing how central wine was to the country’s economy.
- Drinking red wine in moderation may help lower the amount of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, in your bloodstream.
- The compounds resveratrol and tannin found in red wine are polyphenols that support cardiovascular health.
Wineries and Tasting Rooms Near Hilltop
Blanchard Family Wines
Blanchard Family Wines is located inside the Dairy Block in downtown Denver. The tasting room focuses on small-production wines sourced from California and Colorado, including Sonoma County varietals and limited local releases. The space includes a well-lit bar area and table seating for groups or casual drop-ins. Small plates and cheese boards are available for pairing. The winery’s central location and balance of California and Colorado wines make it a consistent stop for wine tasting close to Hilltop.
Carboy Winery Denver
Carboy Winery operates in the Capitol Hill area on Logan Street, just minutes from Hilltop. The winery blends grapes from Colorado’s Western Slope with others from around the U.S. and South America. The Denver location features a large tasting room with both indoor and patio seating. The wine selection includes traditional varietals and experimental options like orange wine and wine on tap. Carboy also serves a food menu with flatbreads, salads, and small plates designed to complement their wines. The winery offers membership perks; bottles can be filled and refilled through a growler program.
BiroWine
BiroWine is in the Santa Fe Arts District, featuring natural and low-intervention wines in small batches. The winery operates a minimalistic tasting room where staff walk guests through each vintage’s background, fermentation style, and sourcing. The focus is on natural fermentation and minimal additives. Wines are made in small production runs, and the menu changes frequently. Visitors can order by the glass, enjoy a curated flight, or purchase bottles. The space occasionally hosts local artists and pairing events that link to the neighborhood’s arts programming.
Bonacquisti Wine Company
Located in the Sunnyside neighborhood, Bonacquisti Wine Company is a long-standing winery that operates in a converted industrial space. It offers a laid-back tasting room with counter service, barrels on display, and rotating food trucks on select evenings. The winemaking is done onsite; many wines are blends using Colorado grapes. The tasting flights cover a mix of red, white, and rosé options, and wines are available by the glass or bottle. Bonacquisti frequently hosts live music, release parties, and special events tied to its wine club.
Tuscan Sun Wines
Tuscan Sun Wines operates in Denver’s Cherry Creek North district. It specializes in wines imported from Italy under its own label, offering a curated selection that reflects regional Italian styles. The tasting room includes seated service and a menu of small bites like olives, cheeses, and paninis. The indoor atmosphere is quiet and geared toward longer tasting sessions. The location’s focus on Italian wines distinguishes it from other area tasting rooms.
Water 2 Wine
Water 2 Wine is a custom winery in South Denver that allows visitors to bottle their wines after selecting a style. The business uses global grape must to produce wines onsite, offering over 50 varietals from which customers can choose. Guests can taste existing options or schedule bottling appointments. The tasting room includes a bar area and small tables; this setup allows for a more interactive experience, especially for groups interested in selecting and naming their wine batches.
Silver Vines Winery — Arvada
Silver Vines Winery maintains its production facility and main tasting room in Olde Town Arvada. The space includes a long bar and additional seating with a rotating selection of reds, whites, and dessert wines. Wines are made onsite, and the tasting room offers flights, glasses, and snacks. The winery often includes live music on weekends, and its walkable downtown location supports foot traffic from nearby shops and markets. It’s a practical destination for those in Hilltop looking for an afternoon outing without needing to leave the metro area.
Spero Winery
Spero Winery is a family-run operation located in northwest Denver. It produces all its wines on-site and offers tastings by appointment or during scheduled open house events. The tasting room is compact, focusing on direct service from the winemakers themselves. The wine list includes traditional red varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel, along with white wines like Chardonnay and Riesling. The small-batch approach and local sourcing give the wines a distinct regional character.
Balistreri Vineyards
Balistreri Vineyards is located north of downtown Denver and includes an indoor tasting room, outdoor seating area, and a full-service lunch restaurant. The winery is known for its unfiltered and naturally fermented wines produced without added sulfites. It produces reds, whites, and dessert wines, many using Colorado-grown grapes. Tastings are available daily and include a guided experience through multiple wines. The adjacent wine cellar and production area are often open for casual tours. Its food menu includes Italian-inspired dishes designed to pair with current releases.
Replica Wine
Replica Wine is based in Boulder but has distribution and tasting access throughout the Denver metro. The company recreates high-end wines using chemical and sensory analysis to produce cost-effective matches. While it does not operate a traditional tasting room in Hilltop, its presence in retail outlets and wine bars makes it widely available for comparison tastings. Wine drinkers interested in identifying subtle differences between originals and replicas will find this option especially engaging.
The Wine Room — Kingman Estates Winery
Kingman Estates Winery operates The Wine Room tasting space near Park Hill, offering house-made wines produced with Colorado-grown grapes. The tasting room includes a minimalist interior with standing and seated areas for flights, glass pours, and bottle sales. Wines are made at Kingman’s central facility and regularly delivered to the tasting location. Tastings typically feature five to seven wines, including red blends, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, and others. Art shows and wine education sessions are held on-site throughout the year.
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