Blanchard Family Wines

Blanchard Family Wines begins with brothers James and Mark Blanchard, whose wine education took shape from two different directions: Mark working in wine retail and wineries around Napa and Sonoma, James discovering California wine while serving in the United States Air Force. The label is rooted in Healdsburg, California, and shaped by longtime Sonoma winemaker Jene Chapanar, whose influence still shows in the house style: mostly single-varietal and single-vineyard wines that stay out of their own way and let site and vintage lead. Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley all show up in the portfolio, alongside a growing Colorado side of the business.

For travelers, Blanchard is less about a vineyard postcard and more about where wine fits into real city plans. The Denver tasting room sits in Dairy Block, two blocks south of Coors Field, and pours Blanchard wines on tap alongside Colorado producers, cider, charcuterie, chocolates, macarons, and snacks from local makers. The Golden location functions as the Colorado production site and keeps things smaller, with tastings and tours by appointment. Across both locations, the mix is broad enough to suit different palates: California Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Blake Street Blend, plus Colorado selections from the Western Slope and Front Range. It is a useful stop for drinkers who want Sonoma fruit without leaving Colorado, and for anyone curious about how seriously this state now takes its wine.