The 35th Anniversary Festival Introduces an Elevated, Intimate Format Featuring Unlimited Culinary Pairings, Colorado’s Premier Wineries and a Reimagined Guest Experience
July 29, 2026 (Palisade, CO) — With less than two months until the 35th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest, anticipation is building for the festival’s most exciting transformation yet. Colorado’s signature wine celebration returns with an exciting new vision. The 35th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest, taking place Saturday, September 19, 2026, has been reimagined as an elevated Food & Wine experience that’s designed for true wine enthusiasts. Guests will enjoy a more intimate, refined festival environment centered on exceptional Colorado wines, chef-crafted cuisine, and meaningful connections with the people behind every bottle.
This year’s event marks the most significant evolution in Winefest’s 35-year history. Attendance has been intentionally reduced to just 1,400 guests, allowing for a more spacious and unhurried experience, shorter lines, more personal interactions with winemakers, additional seating, and a relaxed atmosphere designed for savoring every pour and every bite.
“After 35 years, we challenged ourselves to create an experience that truly reflects where Colorado wine is today,” said Cassidee Shull, Executive Director of the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE). “Guests will discover an event that’s more curated, more immersive, and more focused on celebrating the incredible quality of Colorado wines alongside outstanding local food.”
Unlike previous years, food is now included with every ticket. Throughout the festival, guests will enjoy unlimited culinary offerings from the CMU Tech Culinary Department, each thoughtfully designed to complement Colorado wines and encourage exploration of unique pairings.
Additional enhancements include:
An intentionally limited attendance of only 1,400 guests for a premium experience.
Unlimited culinary tastings included with every admission.
A curated selection of Colorado wineries showcasing award-winning wines from across the state.
More shaded seating, gathering spaces, and opportunities to connect directly with winery owners and winemakers.
On-site priority parking and complimentary shuttles throughout Palisade.
A completely digital event guide through the Drink Colorado Wine mobile app, providing winery information, tasting notes, event maps, schedules, and more while reducing paper waste.
Wine enthusiasts will have the opportunity to taste wines from many of Colorado’s premier wineries, including producers from the Grand Valley, West Elks, Four Corners, and other wine-growing regions across the state. From crisp whites and vibrant rosés to elegant reds and innovative blends, Winefest offers one of the largest showcases of Colorado-grown wines anywhere in the country.
Participating wineries may be viewed at ColoradoWinefest.com.
This year, guests may also enjoy tastings of Colorado Cru wines at the festival. Colorado Cru was launched earlier this year and is a winemaker-led collection of 100% Colorado-grown blends, highlighting the distinctive character of Colorado’s viticultural landscape and signature winemaking style. Colorado Cru aims to elevate recognition of Colorado wine, strengthen the region’s wine identity, and foster local pride in the state’s rich viticultural heritage.
To learn more about Colorado Cru, please visit WineColorado.org/colorado-cru.
More than just a wine festival, Colorado Mountain Winefest celebrates the people, agriculture, landscapes, and craftsmanship that make Colorado wine unique. Guests can expect live entertainment, interactive experiences, educational opportunities, artisan vendors, and countless opportunities to discover why Colorado continues to gain national recognition as one of America’s emerging wine regions.
With attendance capped at its lowest level in decades, organizers anticipate tickets will become increasingly limited as the event approaches.
35th Anniversary Colorado Mountain Winefest
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Riverbend Park – Palisade, Colorado
Reserved Experience: 11:00 a.m.
Signature Experience: Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets are available now at ColoradoWinefest.com.
About Colorado Mountain Winefest
Presented by the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE), Colorado Mountain Winefest is the state’s premier celebration of Colorado wine and one of the longest-running wine festivals in the state. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026, the festival showcases Colorado’s wineries, culinary talent, and agricultural heritage while supporting the continued growth of the state’s wine industry.
About the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology
The Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Colorado’s grape growers, winemakers, and wine industry through advocacy, education, research, marketing, and community engagement. For more than four decades, CAVE has served as the unified voice of Colorado’s wine industry, supporting its growth while promoting Colorado wines and wine tourism throughout the state and beyond.
