There’s a certain kind of magic that settles over Ouray, Colorado in the winter. Steam rises from the hot springs, snow drapes Victorian rooftops and the sharp peaks of the San Juans glint like glass under the sun. It’s a town that feels both timeless and alive — a place to slow down, warm up and celebrate everything the Rocky Mountains have to offer.

For Valentine’s Day weekend 2026, the Ouray Winter Wine Festival returns to the historic Wright Opera House for its fourth year. This cozy, fireside celebration of Western Slope winemaking is the perfect reason to turn a single Saturday into a long, luxurious weekend in the mountains.

STAY + RESTORE

After winding into town, check into The Western Hotel & Spa, a beautifully restored 1891 landmark that blends frontier charm with modern wellness. Beneath its original stone walls lies the Grotto Spa, a subterranean sanctuary where guests can slip between a cedar sauna, cold plunge and warm soaking pool — a grounding ritual for body and mind.

Massages and treatments draw from the alpine landscape, with botanicals and minerals echoing the restorative energy of the San Juans. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you to exhale, and to linger a little longer.

Spa time at The Western feels even more special after a little adventure on Ouray’s famed Perimeter Trail, open throughout the year (shoe traction devices are necessary in the winter and spring).

SIP + SAVOR

On Saturday, February 14, the festival fills the Wright Opera House with the scent of oak and spice, the hum of conversation and the clink of tasting glasses. Guests can sample pours from seven wineries, one cidery and two distilleries, each rooted in the Western Slope’s sun-soaked valleys and high-altitude vineyards.

“This festival was born from a shared love of connection — between makers, place and people,” says Krysta Cossitt, co-founder and organizer. “It’s intimate, intentional and designed to celebrate what makes this region so special.”

Between pours, enjoy fresh oysters on the half shell perfectly paired with local whites, or watch live glassblowing demonstrations that showcase another side of the region’s artistry. Lounge seating, flickering firelight and the Opera House’s 19th-century architecture set the scene for an evening that feels both elegant and deeply local.

STAY FOR THE WARMTH

When the glasses are empty, the experience doesn’t have to end. Soak beneath the stars at the Ouray Hot Springs, surrounded by snow and the soft silhouette of the peaks or retreat once more to the Grotto Spa for quiet restoration.

“The festival always falls on a holiday weekend, giving guests an extra day to pack it all in,” says Cossitt. With President’s Day on Monday, February 16, visitors can stretch their stay — blending wellness, wine and winter adventure into one unforgettable weekend.

Whether you’re a mountain adventurer, a wine enthusiast or simply seeking a little midwinter renewal, Ouray offers the perfect pairing: heritage and luxury, warmth and wonder, celebration and stillness.

Come for the wine. Stay for the wellness.

This article is a sponsored spotlight.