For 33 years, the Wine Festival of Colorado Springs has been expanding the city’s palate and pouring into the community. The annual festival returns this year on Feb. 26 to March 1 at the Broadmoor Hotel and other locations including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. The four-day celebration features educational seminars, paired lunches, a gourmet winemaker dinner, live auction and the popular Grand Tasting.
What began in 1992 as a modest gathering in a tent at the Colorado Springs School has matured into one of the region’s premier wine events. Co-founder Jim Little, who owns Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits with Peggy McKinlay, recalls the festival’s first year surpassing all expectations by raising $16,000 — 50% more than what they had anticipated.
Today, the four-day wine festival pairs philanthropy with pleasure, supporting the Colorado Springs Conservatory’s performing arts programs. The partnership, established in 2014, has been particularly meaningful for participating winemakers who witness firsthand the impact of their contributions through student performances.
“The visiting winemakers are absolutely blown away when they first visit the Conservatory and hear the students perform,” Little says. “They instantly know their time and donations are going to a worthy cause.”
Whether you’re a novice still learning to tell your merlots from your malbecs or a seasoned oenophile ready to debate the merits of California’s Central Coast vintages, the wine festival offers something for every palate. Educational seminars like Wine 101 provide a solid foundation for beginners, while specialized tastings, such as the Ultimate Match, delve deeper into specific regions and varieties.
The wine festival’s crown jewel, the Grand Tasting, is an evening of wine exploration and celebration where guests can swirl, sip and savor more than 300 wines from around the world. Plus there are plenty of local beers, spirits and foods to sample. And as glasses clink and wine flows, the dance floor pulses with energy, creating an unforgettable evening.
Strong community partnerships have been integral to the festival’s success. Through collaborations with local culinary talents, brewers and distillers, the event showcases the best of the Pikes Peak region alongside international wines. Award-winning catering collective The Picnic Basket, led by Michelle Talarico and Kathy Dreiling, has been a cornerstone partner from the start. Others, such as notable local chefs Jay Gust, James Africano and Supansa Banker
Each year the Colorado Springs Wine Festival focuses on a particular region. This year marks a historic thematic return to California’s Central Coast as the featured region — it’s the first time the festival has revisited a wine region in its 33 years. “It is going to be fascinating to see how this region has grown exponentially, changed and evolved,” Little says.
Through the years, the Wine Festival of Colorado Springs has brought to town approximately 150 vintners from around the globe, showcasing wines from traditional powerhouses like France, Italy and Spain as well as emerging regions in New Zealand, South Africa and Chile.
Little says the most rewarding aspect for the organizing committee has been the enduring friendships formed over decades with fellow committee members, attendees, winemakers, chefs and industry professionals. The festival has also succeeded in inspiring wine enthusiasts to explore beyond their comfort zones.
“We hear all the time from attendees about how the introduction of specific regions or countries has inspired them to travel and get outside their usual consumption zones,” Little says. “Some of them even go visit the wineries we have featured. That is very satisfying.”
You can find details and purchase tickets for one or all the events at winefestivalofcoloradosprings.com.
Explore More Wine
Want to discover Colorado wineries close to home? Find them in Touring Colorado Wineries Near the Springs.
