Set against the snow-covered San Juan Mountains, the Ouray Winter Wine Festival was created to feel distinctly different from a traditional wine festival. Rather than long tasting lines, crowded rooms and a hurried progression from one winery to the next, the event was intentionally planned around a slower, more immersive experience which reflects the character and charm of Ouray, an old mining town tucked into a box canyon surrounded by thirteen-thousand foot peaks.

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The idea of the festival began one fall morning between Elevation Weddings and Events, Sauvage Spectrum and the Wright Opera House. Each business brought a distinct talent that would contribute to the festival's success. Sauvage Spectrum is an award-winning winery based in Western Colorado with equally impressive connections to the region's wine community. The Wright Opera House is an iconic theatre in the heart of Ouray, with the history, beauty and character to provide the perfect setting for the type of wine festival taking shape. And Elevation Weddings and Events specializes in designing immersive, meaningful events with the guest experience at their core. Together, the team had the foundation to create something unique and memorable.

 

From there, the structure of the festival began to take shape. Boutique wineries from across Colorado's Western Slope were given their own individual spaces to showcase their wines and invite attendees to taste, discover and learn. Winemakers personally share the stories behind each bottle, creating an approachable environment for everyone from the novice wine drinker to the experienced connoisseur.

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But designing the event meant thinking beyond the wine itself. Elevated food pairings, live entertainment, thoughtfully designed seating areas and fireside lounges create places for guests to gather throughout the day. Attendees are encouraged to move throughout the festival at their own pace, discovering new wines, exploring interactive retail experiences and spending time in conversation rather than simply moving through a tasting line. Each element is considered not only for how it looks, but for how it influences the way guests experience the festival. The intention is for attendees to feel as though they have been invited into a friend's home where conversation comes easily, the atmosphere is cosy, and good food and wine encourage everyone to stay a little longer.

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Now an annual winter event in Ouray, the festival brings together some of the best of Western Colorado's wine, food, retail, and entertainment. Paired with mountain hospitality and a format that feels intimate despite its scale, the experience welcomes both new and returning attendees year after year. It is an event designed not around crowds, but around connection, giving guests the time and space to discover something new, meet the people behind each bottle and enjoy winter in one of Colorado’s most extraordinary mountain towns.

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You can learn more about the Ouray Winter Wine Festival here.