Sonoma Winery Blanchard Family Wines Starts Pouring on Denver’s Dairy Block

A 10-year-old Sonoma County winery this week opens its first tasting room outside of California on Denver’s Dairy Block. Blanchard Family Wines, based in Healdsburg and sourcing from vineyards across Sonoma, is bringing eight varietals to Denver to start. The business will also bottle and keg here for the Denver market. Owners Mark and James Blanchard and winemaker Jene Chapanar hope that Denver’s restaurant, brewing, and distilling industries will support a diverse and growing wine culture as well.

“We want to bring that Sonoma County wine experience to a downtown location,” James Blanchard said. A longtime Colorado resident, he and his brother Mark searched Denver neighborhoods for more than a year for their perfect second production spot. They finally settled on a smaller space in Dairy Block, with room for around 50 drinkers, barrel storage, and a bottling line.

On the same block, one side of the activated alleyway is teeming from the Maven Hotel to Milk Market, while across the way, businesses from Seven Grand to Warby Parker are slowly opening up. The Blanchard brothers say they’re excited to eventually work with Colorado grapes. But their California blends will add another facet to Denver’s wine community, which includes Colorado wineries and vintner’s restaurants and no Sonoma Valley transplants, until now.

Status: Starting Friday, December 14, Blanchard Family Wines opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday at 1855 Blake Street, Suite 120. Cheese, charcuterie, and chocolate are available for purchase alongside wine flights, glasses, and bottles. Find out more on the website.