Over the holidays, my husband and I took our families—including my in-laws visiting from Spain—to Blanchard Family Wines in downtown Denver for a wine tasting and dinner. As a Sommelier with experience in Michelin-starred restaurants like The NoMad and Rezdôra in NYC, I was excited to experience what they had to offer. Given the price point, I was expecting a top-tier experience, and while the wine and food were truly fantastic, the service left something to be desired.
Let’s start with the positives: The wine was excellent—each selection was well-crafted and enjoyable. The food was also fantastic, and the chef did a great job of explaining each course, which we really appreciated. The location itself was also charming, making for a great setting.
However, the biggest issue was the wine service. The wines were served with each course, but there was little to no explanation about them. We repeatedly had to track down staff to ask for details about what we were drinking. When we did ask, the descriptions were minimal and felt more like an afterthought. In a structured wine tasting, pouring a wine and walking away isn’t enough—especially at this price point. A key part of the experience should be guiding guests through the tasting, sharing insights on the wine’s origin, tasting notes, and pairing rationale, and being available for questions. This lack of engagement was frustrating and really detracted from what could have been an great experience.
Blanchard Family Wines has all the right elements to create a first-class experience—the wine, food, and ambiance are already there. However, service and guest engagement are crucial in a setting like this, and unfortunately, that’s where they fell short. With some attention to training and elevating the guest experience, they could truly stand out as one of Denver’s top wine destinations. I sincerely hope they take this feedback to heart because I would love to return and see them reach their full potential.
nicole green
Stopped by for the first time thanks to a recommendation from the Junior League. Tried a CO and a CA red. Excellent service. Fun to sit on the patio and people watch
Joshua Harris
Seriously one of our fav places. Great wine and great people!!
Claudia Robles Bello
We loved this place, the location is very nice in an old building. Their wines are quite good and they have cheese boards of different sizes. The staff is very friendly.
Julie Reisinger
James at Blanchard Family Wines has gone above and beyond to provide the best customer service I've seen a very long time. Outstanding establishment, incredible people!
Nina Silver
I recently hosted a business event with Blanchard and it was one of the best venue experiences I have ever had.
From the initial communication and tour to the final detail they are a well oiled machine. They made florals, catering, and drinks seamless, custom, and effortless on my part with their vendor recommendations. The day of staffing was impeccable. Every empty glass was managed, water always available, never a wait at the bar, friendly, polite, and speedy!
All my guests commented on beautiful the space was and were particularly delighted by the valet parking that was arranged to make downtown on a Friday night an easy experience. I will certainly be coming back for my next luxury even.
Chelsea Manley
We recently hosted my sister's bridal shower at Blanchard Family Wines, and it was absolutely perfect! The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was flawless. They were attentive, friendly, and incredibly accommodating to all our requests. The wine, of course, was exceptional.
The event space in the barrel room was just the right size, offering an intimate yet spacious atmosphere, and is great for photos.
My sister was thrilled, and all our guests couldn’t stop raving about what a wonderful time they had. Highly recommend Blanchard for any special event – it’s a hidden gem!
Colton Clifton
Blanchard Family Wines at Dairy Block is an absolute hidden gem! As a first-time visitor to Denver, I stumbled upon this delightful spot and was immediately charmed. I enjoyed a beautiful red blend with a very peppery finish, which paired perfectly with a well-curated charcuterie board. The outdoor seating in the alley, surrounded by live plants, created the perfect ambiance for a relaxing afternoon. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Blanchard Family Wines is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy great wine in a serene setting. Highly recommended!
Chelsea Trowbridge
Blanchard Family Wines in the Dairy Block was the perfect spot to host a happy hour networking event for about 35 people (we could have fit more!). James (owner) and Cassidy (event manager) were very helpful and accomodating ahead of the event (I was coming from out of town). I was able to easily order popcorn and charcuterie for our group plus members of our group could order their own food as well. They were willing to handle the event in many different ways such as fully hosted, drink tickets, or guests pay on their own. The indoor/outdoor space we utilized was fantastic. The staff working the night of our event provided wonderful service and were just helpful and nice. I would highly encourage hosting an event here!
Joelle Grzenda
We hosted our 70+ person welcome party here the day before our wedding for all of our out of town guests. We rented out the barrel room and half of the patio. The staff and the atmosphere were phenomenal. As the host, all of the staff were so kind and conscious of our needs and making sure we always had a glass of wine when we needed one even if we were entwined in 7 conversations at once as the bride and groom usually are (haha). We had a cash bar but ordered several trays of appetizers from the Dairy Block on their recommendation. They had all the food set up when we arrived, tables, hot sternos, plates and utensils, we didn't have to lift a finger. Everything was replenished as needed with our needing to ask, they were on top of the entire event. Were so happy we chose to have our event with Blanchard's 10/10 recommend for a party of any size!
This is a great experience and the location has a very chill vibe about it. You will find yourself seated within the alley of the milk market enjoying wonderful people watching while tasting different wines via their wine tasting flights. Fun activity on a nice summer day!
Guy Mitchell
We enjoyed our "private" tasting with Shanna and learning a little about Colorado wines and their families business. The petite pearl was the most unique wine we tried and even cooler because the grapes are sourced from Colorado.
Bailey Rider
This is a great experience and the location has a very chill vibe about it. You will find yourself seated within the alley of the milk market enjoying wonderful people watching while tasting different wines via their wine tasting flights. Fun activity on a nice summer day!
Reid D.
Excellent establishment with top notch hospitality. We hosted a non-profit gathering to foster new support for our mission, and James, the owner was so gracious. Their staff was pleasant and immensely helpful. We would host an event here again, and I recommend Blanchard to anyone looking for a great place to gather for wine. Thank you!
Michaelangelo
A comfortable wine bar that’s particularly good for exploring new wines and grapes one may not have tried before. We went exploring local Colorado wines and were expertly guided by a family member. She was particularly well versed in local wines and put together custom flights for each of us. For instance my wife asked for fruit forward to sweet wines and got a tasty combination of white, rose and a red. Our wine-savvy guests from Japan asked for a white wine and a red wine flight respectively. I was driving and just had a dry local apple cider. Everyone was pleased and our guests bought bottles to bring back to Japan. They are adjacent to the Dairy Block, parking was simple, convenient and cheap. We wanted something more cozy and comfortable and this place is perfect. The interior is modern and reminds me of the wine country and the restrooms were impeccable!
Over the holidays, my husband and I took our families—including my in-laws visiting from Spain—to Blanchard Family Wines in downtown Denver for a wine tasting and dinner. As a Sommelier with experience in Michelin-starred restaurants like The NoMad and Rezdôra in NYC, I was excited to experience what they had to offer. Given the price point, I was expecting a top-tier experience, and while the wine and food were truly fantastic, the service left something to be desired.
Let’s start with the positives: The wine was excellent—each selection was well-crafted and enjoyable. The food was also fantastic, and the chef did a great job of explaining each course, which we really appreciated. The location itself was also charming, making for a great setting.
However, the biggest issue was the wine service. The wines were served with each course, but there was little to no explanation about them. We repeatedly had to track down staff to ask for details about what we were drinking. When we did ask, the descriptions were minimal and felt more like an afterthought. In a structured wine tasting, pouring a wine and walking away isn’t enough—especially at this price point. A key part of the experience should be guiding guests through the tasting, sharing insights on the wine’s origin, tasting notes, and pairing rationale, and being available for questions. This lack of engagement was frustrating and really detracted from what could have been an great experience.
Blanchard Family Wines has all the right elements to create a first-class experience—the wine, food, and ambiance are already there. However, service and guest engagement are crucial in a setting like this, and unfortunately, that’s where they fell short. With some attention to training and elevating the guest experience, they could truly stand out as one of Denver’s top wine destinations. I sincerely hope they take this feedback to heart because I would love to return and see them reach their full potential.
Stopped by for the first time thanks to a recommendation from the Junior League. Tried a CO and a CA red. Excellent service. Fun to sit on the patio and people watch
Seriously one of our fav places. Great wine and great people!!
We loved this place, the location is very nice in an old building. Their wines are quite good and they have cheese boards of different sizes. The staff is very friendly.
James at Blanchard Family Wines has gone above and beyond to provide the best customer service I've seen a very long time. Outstanding establishment, incredible people!
I recently hosted a business event with Blanchard and it was one of the best venue experiences I have ever had.
From the initial communication and tour to the final detail they are a well oiled machine. They made florals, catering, and drinks seamless, custom, and effortless on my part with their vendor recommendations. The day of staffing was impeccable. Every empty glass was managed, water always available, never a wait at the bar, friendly, polite, and speedy!
All my guests commented on beautiful the space was and were particularly delighted by the valet parking that was arranged to make downtown on a Friday night an easy experience. I will certainly be coming back for my next luxury even.
We recently hosted my sister's bridal shower at Blanchard Family Wines, and it was absolutely perfect! The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was flawless. They were attentive, friendly, and incredibly accommodating to all our requests. The wine, of course, was exceptional.
The event space in the barrel room was just the right size, offering an intimate yet spacious atmosphere, and is great for photos.
My sister was thrilled, and all our guests couldn’t stop raving about what a wonderful time they had. Highly recommend Blanchard for any special event – it’s a hidden gem!
Blanchard Family Wines at Dairy Block is an absolute hidden gem! As a first-time visitor to Denver, I stumbled upon this delightful spot and was immediately charmed. I enjoyed a beautiful red blend with a very peppery finish, which paired perfectly with a well-curated charcuterie board. The outdoor seating in the alley, surrounded by live plants, created the perfect ambiance for a relaxing afternoon. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Blanchard Family Wines is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy great wine in a serene setting. Highly recommended!
Blanchard Family Wines in the Dairy Block was the perfect spot to host a happy hour networking event for about 35 people (we could have fit more!). James (owner) and Cassidy (event manager) were very helpful and accomodating ahead of the event (I was coming from out of town). I was able to easily order popcorn and charcuterie for our group plus members of our group could order their own food as well. They were willing to handle the event in many different ways such as fully hosted, drink tickets, or guests pay on their own. The indoor/outdoor space we utilized was fantastic. The staff working the night of our event provided wonderful service and were just helpful and nice. I would highly encourage hosting an event here!
We hosted our 70+ person welcome party here the day before our wedding for all of our out of town guests. We rented out the barrel room and half of the patio. The staff and the atmosphere were phenomenal. As the host, all of the staff were so kind and conscious of our needs and making sure we always had a glass of wine when we needed one even if we were entwined in 7 conversations at once as the bride and groom usually are (haha). We had a cash bar but ordered several trays of appetizers from the Dairy Block on their recommendation. They had all the food set up when we arrived, tables, hot sternos, plates and utensils, we didn't have to lift a finger. Everything was replenished as needed with our needing to ask, they were on top of the entire event. Were so happy we chose to have our event with Blanchard's 10/10 recommend for a party of any size!
Restaurantji Recommends
This is a great experience and the location has a very chill vibe about it. You will find yourself seated within the alley of the milk market enjoying wonderful people watching while tasting different wines via their wine tasting flights. Fun activity on a nice summer day!
We enjoyed our "private" tasting with Shanna and learning a little about Colorado wines and their families business. The petite pearl was the most unique wine we tried and even cooler because the grapes are sourced from Colorado.
This is a great experience and the location has a very chill vibe about it. You will find yourself seated within the alley of the milk market enjoying wonderful people watching while tasting different wines via their wine tasting flights. Fun activity on a nice summer day!
Excellent establishment with top notch hospitality. We hosted a non-profit gathering to foster new support for our mission, and James, the owner was so gracious. Their staff was pleasant and immensely helpful. We would host an event here again, and I recommend Blanchard to anyone looking for a great place to gather for wine. Thank you!
A comfortable wine bar that’s particularly good for exploring new wines and grapes one may not have tried before. We went exploring local Colorado wines and were expertly guided by a family member. She was particularly well versed in local wines and put together custom flights for each of us. For instance my wife asked for fruit forward to sweet wines and got a tasty combination of white, rose and a red. Our wine-savvy guests from Japan asked for a white wine and a red wine flight respectively. I was driving and just had a dry local apple cider. Everyone was pleased and our guests bought bottles to bring back to Japan.
They are adjacent to the Dairy Block, parking was simple, convenient and cheap. We wanted something more cozy and comfortable and this place is perfect. The interior is modern and reminds me of the wine country and the restrooms were impeccable!
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