October 23, 2026 — The Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) is pleased to announce that tickets for VinCO are now on sale as the conference returns to Grand Junction this January for its 17th year. The event is expected to convene winemakers, grape growers, and partners from across the state for three days of high-impact programming during an inflection point for Colorado’s wine industry.
Colorado wine’s annual production volumes have nearly doubled over the last 20 years to 145,635 cases. Perception and performance have also improved – Americans now agree that the quality of Colorado wines match the quality of where they’re produced. In 2026, Colorado wines earned top scores from national wine publications, including James Suckling (36 wines at 90+), Wine Enthusiast (31 wines at 90+), and the San Francisco Chronicle (2 wines at Double Gold).
Despite these advancements, Colorado brands only capture 2% of the state’s market share for wine, indicating further changes are needed. CAVE’s Board of Directors recently hired a new Executive Director to usher in the industry’s next chapter and secure Colorado’s reputation as a distinctive American wine region. This year’s VinCO attendees can expect to see her vision incorporated throughout the event’s agenda, including sessions dedicated to:
- Legislative reforms needed to help Colorado wine’s small businesses compete
- Strategic collaboration with wholesalers, restaurants, and off-premise retailers
- Consumer trends, including sustainability, packaging, and low/no ABV drinks
- Elevating Colorado wine’s tourism experience
- Supporting Colorado grape growers
VinCO’s Trade Show also plans to bring in more national exhibitors than previous years to increase attendees’ connections to best-in-class suppliers powering winery and vineyard operations across other well-known American wine regions.
These updates complement VinCO’s longstanding programming around CAVE initiatives like Colorado Cru, Amateur Winemaker Competition, and Awards of Excellence, as well as its networking receptions that build community among the state’s leading winemakers, growers, and industry partners.
“VinCO is where education, community, and opportunity meet,” said Ali Mize, CAVE’s new Executive Director. “We’re proud to create a space that supports Colorado’s wine professionals and connects them to people, products, and ideas that will become part of our industry’s next chapter.”
Online registration for VinCO 2027 is open now via Eventbrite and closes on January 4th.
To learn more, visit https://www.winecolorado.org/vinco-conference-trade-show/
