One Boulder Location, Three Delightful Wineries

One location in north Boulder has everything a wine lover could want: three very different wineries within steps of one another in a nondescript strip mall.

What We Love Winery, Settembre Cellars, and Bookcliff Vineyards are all owned by married couples, but that’s the only thing they have in common. In fact, these three wineries couldn’t be more diverse in their wine selections and tasting room ambiance, and that’s what makes visiting all three such a unique experience.

Photo courtesy of What We Love Winery

What We Love Winery is owned by Michael Haslor and his wife Carolee Corey. Michael is an outgoing Aussie and the tasting room, located at 1501 Lee Hill Road, #14, has a fun and laid-back atmosphere. The winery opened in June 2013, and today, many people best know the winery for their Decadent Saint, a craft liqueur made with red wine, dark chocolate, coffee, berries, and spices. Their Decadent Saint Sangria is also popular.

If Michael is around when you visit, he may even offer to show you the back room where the magic happens. What We Love buys their grapes from growers in California, and one of their most delicious standard wines is their big, beautiful Chardonnay.

Photo by Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

Settembre Cellars’ tasting room, located at 1501 Lee Hill Road, #15, has a clean, crisp feel, just like their wine. Tracy and Blake Eliasson’s love of Italy is what brought them together, and it’s also what inspires their winemaking.  

Blake Eliasson, chief winemaker at Settembre Cellars runs a tight ship, perhaps not surprisingly as he has a PhD in electrical engineering. His attention to detail is evident in his Old World-style wines. His elegant wines feature all Colorado grapes. This winery is a must-visit for Colorado wine connoisseurs.

Photo by Heidi ​Kerr-Schlaefer

Bookcliff Vineyards makes approachable and affordable wines and is located at 1501 Lee Hill Road, #17. Owners John Garlich and Ulla Merz have a 37-acre vineyard in Palisade, Colorado. Originally a peach orchard, the couple bought the land in 1995, and today, Bookcliff is one of only two Colorado wineries with its own vineyard, and the tasting room captures the peacefulness of Western Colorado, featuring dark wood and photos of the vineyard on the walls.

An ideal time to visit these three Boulder wineries is on First Friday when they work together to put on events for the public. 

Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is the founder of HeidiTown.com, the place for entertaining stories about Colorado festivals and travel.