a very colorado thanksgiving
I try to support my fellow small businesses year-round, but the holidays are an especially important time to spend our dollars locally. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite Colorado-owned wineries to support this Thanksgiving! From bubbles to reds, these local sips are sure to bring extra cheer to your holiday!
Blanchard Family Wines Sparkling Brut, 100% Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California
I know what you’re thinking-Sonoma isn’t local! However, Blanchard Family Wines IS locally owned and operated. It’s truly a family winery, with Mark Blanchard at the helm at the original location in Healdsburg, California, and his brother James overseeing the Colorado locations (Downtown Denver in the Dairy Block and The Exchange in Fort Collins).
But let’s get to the bubbles! This one is 100% Chardonnay, made in the traditional Champenoise method. At 12.6% ABV, this bubbly *probably* isn’t going to get you too tipsy before the meal even begins, so it’s perfect for day-sipping! It’s fresh and light, with notes of citrus and pear. Pair with charcuterie and other appetizers, or sip on its own. Get festive and add a little cranberry juice and some fresh cranberries for a pretty welcome cocktail for your guests!
Blanchard Family Wines 2020 Gewürztraminer 100% Gewürztraminer, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California
It’s no secret that I love Blanchard Family Wines, so here’s another favorite from their lineup! Gewürztraminer and turkey are a classic pairing, and this beauty is perfect for your Thanksgiving table. Aromatic on the nose, with notes of grapefruit, white peach, and lychee, this expression is on the more dry side of Gewürz, so it’s very food-friendly. At a sneaky 15% ABV, this easy drinker pairs perfectly with awkward family dinners and guests that overstay their welcome!
Pro Tip: Blanchard has a growler program for their wines on tap, and this Gewürz is available for fill-ups. Plus, they just got in some snazzy new growlers, so fill up now, and then come back for a refill and save 20%!
Pick up both of these wines in Downtown Denver in the Dairy Block, or online. Shoutout to Nic, Beverage Operations Manager at BFW, for the assistance on the wine notes!
Attimo Rosato: Nebbiolo, Arneis, Bombino Bianco, Italy
Rosé isn’t just for summer porch pounding! It is delicious year-round, and is an excellent pairing for turkey! We love this beautiful expression from Colorado-owned Attimo Wine. Attimo means “moment,” and this rosé is definitely having a moment on my Thanksgiving table this year! It’s a very approachable, medium-bodied rosé, with notes of strawberry, grapefruit, and wildflower. At just $15 retail, snag a few bottles to share with your guests, and maybe even an extra for a post-Black Friday shopping treat!
Stop into their downtown Denver tasting room to pick up your Thanksgiving Rosato, and while you’re there, try one of their bolder reds, perfect for cold winter nights. And be sure to check out Attimo’s cool story, including how Snooze founder Jon Schlegel decided to bring a piece of Piedmont to Colorado.
The Ordinary Fellow 2021 Pinot Noir: 100% Pinot Noir, Cortez, CO
This isn’t your ordinary Pinot Noir! Ben Parsons’ latest project, The Ordinary Fellow, is anything but! Named after an old English Pub, Ben opened his doors in Palisade in 2021, and is continuing to produce amazing wine! This Pinot is no exception. This is a very limited-production wine, with the grapes sourced from Cortez. It’s bright, savory, and will be just gorgeous paired with Thanksgiving fare. Think tart, sugared cranberries and forest floor and you’ll start to get an idea of how complex and elegant this wine is. It’s super light in the glass, almost the color of a deep rosé, and will be stunning on your table!
Pro Tip: Take this bottle for a spin-literally! The super cool packaging is designed to be spun around, revealing fun illustrated tidbits about the winemaker’s life and influences. It’s a great icebreaker for those awkward, long-lost-relative-who-randomly-showed up, moments! (don’t we all have a Cousin Eddie?!)
Extra Pro Tip: Make the trip to Palisade and check out the tasting room. It’s roomy, funky, and stylish, and there’s usually a delightful food truck parked right outside for your snacking pleasure! Then sneak over to Peach Street Distillers for your whiskey fix!
The Ordinary Fellow wine is available throughout the Front Range, but this limited edition Pinot Noir may be a bit more difficult to snag. Presently there are bottles for sale at Blanchard Family Wines in the Dairy Block, but don’t sleep on this! Grab them while you can! (and before I drink them all!)
Carboy 2020 Cabernet Franc: 100% Cabernet Franc, Grand Valley, CO
Carboy Winery’s head winemaker, Tyzok Wharton, just won Winemaker of the Year at the Colorado Governor’s Cup Winemaking Competition for the second year in a row-and for good reason!
Carboy offers a stunning selection of wines from Colorado and beyond, but we are loving this one for Thanksgiving if you’re looking for something a tad more bold than the traditional Pinot Noir or Gamay. This big guy is aged for 20 months in 20% new French oak. It’s all dark chocolate cherries on the nose, with brighter strawberry and slightly herbaceous notes on the palate. I’m saving this one for an after dinner sipper. No pumpkin pie in my house, no thank you! Give me more of that wine…and maybe a slice of pecan pie…
Carboy has multiple locations in Colorado, including the Cap Hill spot which is adjacent to Logan Street in Governor’s Park (RIP Gov’s Park Tavern!). Or check them out in Littleton, Breckenridge (alongside the infamous Gold Pan Saloon), or visit their stunning tasting room at the winery in Palisade.
Hopefully this gives you plenty of fun Thanksgiving Day wine options that’ll also make you feel good for supporting local! Or, if you’re looking to spice things up with some Turkey Day cocktails, check out my offerings here.
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