By Kristen Kuchar

Marla Yetka of Bigsby’s Folly Winery likes to use a Julia Child quote when it comes to wine and food: “Wine is meant to be with food – that’s the point of it.”

As the co-founder and chief experience officer, Yetka has adopted that idea at her craft winery and restaurant in RiNo.

“Food brings out the best in wine and wine brings out the best in food. They simply go hand in hand,” Yetka says.

For those who enjoy expert pairings without all of the fuss, we’ve put together a list of wineries with restaurants that have created thoughtful food menus to accompany well-made wine.

Bigsby’s Folly

Bigsby’s Folly was created out of a passion for wine and the desire to build a space where people would come to gather with friends and family. To go along with cabernet sauvignon, a Rhone blend and chardonnay, there are several complimentary dishes, including a mushroom bruschetta, burrata fig flatbread, wild boar meatballs and truffled grilled cheese. There are plenty of vegan offerings, too: hummus, tomato bisque, artichoke bruschetta, beet and kale salad and roasted garlic bread, and rosemary sea salt nuts.

Aspen Peak Cellars

The motto at Aspen Creek Cellars gets right to the point: Celebrating the Art of Food and Wine. Each menu item at the Bailey winery and restaurant has a pairing suggestion, such as the albarino with Swiss cheese fondue, pinot gris with pesto mussels and cabernet sauvignon with the chicken schnitzel, which is topped with brandied mushroom cream sauce. For meat-free options, enjoy the flank steak chimichurri by swapping in grilled portabella mushroom, or with the cajun shrimp and grits, substitute tofu.

Balistreri Vineyards

Balistreri Vineyards is a family-owned winery specializing in natural wine and Sicilian-inspired cuisine. Visitors to the northeast Denver location will find wine-friendly antipasti and small plates, such as house-made ciabatta, crispy truffle potatoes, soups and salads and a daily antipasti plate, with veggie options. Hearty meals include a Muscat-brined chicken made with Balistreri’s Muscat wine, sweet potato cavatelli, butternut squash risotto and blackened salmon served with caramelized fennel and quinoa. For a sweet after-dinner treat, there’s a blood orange panna cotta, orange almond olive oil cake and a port chocolate mousse made with the winery’s port.

Deep Roots Winery & Bistro

The food menu at Deep Roots Winery and Bistro in Denver is designed to be shareable and easily paired with wine. House-made pizza dough is used for the five creative pizzas, such as a truffle pizza topped with cremini mushrooms, suggested to be paired with a 2018 chardonnay. There are plenty of items that can be prepared gluten-free or vegan (or already come that way), such as gluten-free fried brussels sprouts (paired with a petite syrah) and a vegan option for fried mushroom dumplings (with a syrah) and baked ziti (with a cabernet franc). As for dessert, house-made red wine truffles and deep fried oreos with a red wine reduction will finish it off.

Carboy Winery

The tasty food at Carboy Winery depends on which location you’re visiting: Palisade, Littleton, Denver and Breckenridge all serve a variety of options. At Breckenridge, there’s tuna and avocado sashimi, tempura mushroom cauliflower, grilled beef shortbread, smoked duck gnocchi and a variety of bruschetta. Palisade features panini served with kettle chips and a handful of boards with different options, such as meats and cheese, pickled vegetables, hummus and marinated artichokes. Denver has sandwiches, soups and salads, bruschetta and snacks, such as charred shishito peppers and beef carpaccio. The Littleton location offers plenty of shareable options – smoked salmon dip, house-made chips with a gorgonzola fondue, bruschetta, truffles and several boards, including a dessert board.

Sweet Heart Winery

For starters, Sweet Heart Winery in Loveland serves a charcuterie board, a house-made baked artichoke dip, hummus and feta served with pita, a cheese tray with olives, nuts and fruit and snacks, such as popcorn and chips. There are a variety of flatbread pizzas to enjoy – The Classic Carnivore, Tipsy Tomato topped with marinated tomatoes and basil, Get Figgy with It with brie and a fig-garlic spread and Dish Up the Veggies with kalamata olives, pepperoncini, bell peppers, artichoke hearts and onions. You’ll find rotating special flatbreads, such as a reuben-inspired one with corned beef, spicy mustard, pickles, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing and sauerkraut.

Kristen Kuchar is a freelance writer covering food, libations, music and other Colorado gatherings.

This article is in the May-June issue of our print magazine. Click here to read the full magazine online.