Fall is harvest season for vineyards on Colorado’s Western Slope. And, on September 21, makers and connoisseurs will celebrate the year’s bounty and revel together at the Colorado Mountain Winefest (451 Pendleton Street). From 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the 33rd annual event will host tastings from 50 in-state wineries, chef demonstrations and educational seminars, plus jazz performers, dozens of vendor booths and a lively grape stomp.
Colorado Wine Week complements the festival with additional tastings, sip-and-paint classes, pairing dinners and more. These activities will take place at several local venues from September 16 to 22—but if your calendar is already booked, don’t fret.
There are plenty more reasons to plan a fall trip to Palisade. Here’s where to eat, stay and explore on your next trip to Palisade.
Where to Stay in Palisade
Stay in the heart of this delightful town at the recently renovated Spoke and Vine Motel. From its minimalist options to a spacious six-person suite, each room is paired with thoughtful amenities: free breakfast delivered to your door, a mini fridge for chilling wine and even dog beds for four-legged guests. Its on-site bar, which often hosts live music and local food trucks, adds even more charm.
For a luxurious experience in Colorado wine country, look to TWP Farmhouse. It’s set within a 22-acre estate at the base of the Book Cliffs, amid lush trees and adjacent to a biodynamic vineyard. Adobe architecture and South African-inspired furnishings speak to the co-owners’ backgrounds in interior design and architecture. Meanwhile, private wine tastings and exclusive culinary experiences highlight their hospitality.
In the neighboring city of Grand Junction, just 20 minutes west of Palisade, you’ll find Hotel Maverick. This modern and chic hotel caters to a wide range of preferences. Rooms with bunk beds meet families’ needs, while couples can book its veranda suite, offering breathtaking sunset views. The scenery is equally stunning from its rooftop restaurant Devil’s Kitchen, which heavily leans into local ingredients.
Where to Eat in Palisade
Fidel’s Cocina & Bar, a modern taqueria in downtown Palisade, is owned by the same local couple as Spoke and Vine Motel. Order from a menu of Mexican-inspired dishes like elk chorizo and carne asada tacos, chili relleno with melty Oaxacan cheese and warm posole served alongside housemade tortilla chips. Though wine is often the libation of choice in this town, a visit here calls for margaritas and shots of mezcal.
For special occasions, no other restaurant in Palisade is better suited than Pêche. It was recently named a James Beard Award semi-finalist for “outstanding hospitality” and serves spectacular dishes to boot. The ever-changing menu centers on seasonal ingredients, many of which are sourced from Grand Valley producers. Much of its wine and cocktail list also celebrates the region.
Just across the train tracks lies Peach Street Distillers, which hangs its hat on straight bourbon whiskey made entirely from Colorado-grown grains. But this small-batch distillery crafts a range of spirits, from brandies made from local pears and peaches to gin infused with Western Slope juniper berries. Its tasting room also serves a New American menu of hearty sandwiches, fresh salads and artisan pizzas, available as whole or personal pies. Consider opting for the latter, as you’ll want to save room for dessert.
Up the road at Kokopelli Farm Market, shelves abound with fresh produce, bottles of marinade and jars of preserves, salsas, mustards and more. But the best bite lies in the back of the store, where a small coffee counter dishes out fried hand pies, each dusted with confectioners sugar and filled with sweet Palisade peaches.
What to Do in Palisade
Without question, Colorado Mountain Winefest is a reason to visit Palisade. But even if you miss the festivities, the town’s 30-plus wineries promise a wonderful and more intimate experience throughout the fall season. Those with the stamina—and balance after a few tastings—can rent bikes and pedal along the Fruit and Wine Byway, which connects several local favorites.
Carboy Winery and Colterris Winery offer incredible views of the Book Cliffs, Sauvage Spectrum is loved for its innovative wines and Restoration Vineyards has an unbeatable ambiance with live music often hosted on its large, grassy lawn.
READ MORE: Boulder County Wineries to Visit
There’s also The Ordinary Fellow, a Palisade winery that has partnered with Hotel Maverick on private winery tours and tasting dinners. While a two-night stay is required to reserve that package, anyone can book the hotel’s “wine in the wild” experience, which is hosted in collaboration with Peachfork Orchards & Vineyards. A gondola is parked in its picturesque fields and inside, guests can picnic with a bottle of wine alongside sandwiches and charcuterie.
Talbott Farms also encompasses an orchard and vineyard, and is the largest peach and wine grape producer in Colorado. Stop by to sample house brands including Centennial Cellars and Talbott’s Cider Co., which makes a pumpkin-spiced hard cider alongside other flavorful options. On select autumn weekends, tractor-pulled hayrides offer a glimpse at its thousands of peach trees.
While agritourism is a big draw, Palisade is equally a paradise for outdoor recreation. Bands of wild horses roam the nearby Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range and striking viewpoints abound throughout Colorado National Monument.
There’s also a scenic byway through Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world. Wide swaths of aspens make it an especially pretty drive during leaf-peeping season. Powderhorn Mountain Resort, which is located along the byway, will even host a Color Weekend event from September 28-29. Ride its chairlift for a bird’s-eye view, then hike or mountain bike down to the base area where music and food add to the fun.
Palisade Art Festival will occur that same weekend and Sunday farmers markets will continue through October 6. Fall Day on the Farm will take place at Cross Orchards Historic Site, one of the best places to learn about Colorado railroad history, on October 19. Come Halloween, Trick-or-Treat Street will appear in the downtown plaza—and where better to celebrate Thanksgiving than the bountiful and beautiful Western Slope?
