There are plenty of reasons to visit Colorado Springs – the breathtaking views at Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the famous The Broadmoor hotel, to name a few. There are also many wineries nearby the region, as well as great places to grab a freshly made cider or mead.
Wineries close to Colorado Springs include one that offers an eclectic food menu, one where you can make your own wine and even an award-winning winery started by Benedictine monks. There are also locally made cider available as well as mead makers, producing honey wine.
Please note: Wineries can change operating hours and the wine list regularly, so be sure to visit their website and confirm before visiting. Some wineries may also require a reservation for tastings.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey began in 1886 when two Benedictine monks came from Pennsylvania to establish a monastery and attempt to establish a winery. It wasn’t until 2000 that twenty monks turned to a professional viticulturist to begin producing wines there.
The wines produced have won more than 100 awards and medals in various international wine competitions, including the Winemaker Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, San Francisco International Wine Competition, Tasters Guild International and Colorado Governor’s Cup.
Guests can choose to bring their own food to the winery and picnic on the lawn with bottle service, bringing along their own blankets and chairs as well. An on-site gift shop has wine and cookbooks as well as olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Address: 3011 East Highway, Cañon City | 719-276-5191 | abbeywinery.com
D’Vine Winery
D’Vine Winery is located in the historic Spa Building in nearby Manitou Springs. Guests can select wines from a vast tasting menu or enjoy a glass of an array of wines. You can even rent out the winery for an event.
The full-bodied Barbera has flavors of robust plum, and the light-to-medium-bodied Pinot Noir has an aroma of black cherry. Merlot, Tempranillo, Malbec and Sangiovese are a few other reds offered.
White wines include a straw-colored Pinot Grigio and a Chardonnay. A Green Apple Riesling, Peach Chardonnay, Strawberry White Zinfandel and a Blackberry Merlot are some of the sweet fruit wines made here.
The winery also offers an opportunity to make your wine and create a custom blend, complete with a personalized label. It’s also an option to host a private wine-tasting party with a selection of a flight of six wines.
934 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs | 719-685-1030 | winerymsprings.com
Drekar Meadery
Drekar Meadery produces mead, or honey wine, and has a tasting room located in Colorado Springs. The meads give an experience of drinking during the Middle Ages. Kids and dogs aren’t allowed at the Colorado Springs tasting room.
Freyr’s Sail is the flagship mead, made with Colorado Wildflower, honey, water and yeast. This mead also serves as the foundation for other variations of mead produced. Freya’s Tears, for example, starts with the traditional mead and then freshly mashed raspberries are added.
Loki’s Barb is similar, made with freshly mashed blackberries, and is a favorite of the head brewmaster.
908 North Circle Drive, Colorado Springs | 719-434-8402 | drekarmeadery.com
Antelope Ridge Mead
The meads produced at Antelope Ridge Mead take inspiration from craft beer. Described as the best cousin to an IPA, their Citra X mead is made with Citra hops and lemon zest after fermentation is complete. The tropical Maui Sunset is a full-strength mead, made with pineapple, mango and orange.
The drinks produced typically feature heavy fruit or spice additions, and some are even aged in oak. Winter Cranberry is made with Mexican orange blossom mead and cranberry sauce from 150 pounds of Wisconsin cranberries. AR Blanc is made from Brazilian Angico honey, California Riesling juice and just a bit of peach.
The tasting room has 18 taps of craft mead, wine and cider. Meads can also be ordered for local pick-up or delivered. The Mead Club gives members a chance to purchase exclusive meads, bottles of mead from various releases, glassware and early access to packaged mead.
3366 North Academy Boulevard, Colorado Springs | 719-358-9629 | anteloperidgemead.com
Have a terrific time tasting all the wines and ciders at these Pikes Peak-area wineries. Remember to check their hours ahead of time before you visit. Cheers!