Wine Tasting with Cheese, Charcuterie, and Dessert Experience

Denver’s Blanchard Family Wines puts four wine tastings, cheese, charcuterie, and dessert together in a relaxed LoDo setting. The family-owned story and the tucked-away location give the hour more character than a simple glass at a wine bar.

I like the friendly service, especially when Joe is working, and I like the easy food pairing: crackers, pickles, olives, nuts, cheese, and a personal board. The catch is value. At $74 per person, you should expect a polished tasting, but some diners felt the portions and instruction did not match the price.

Key points at a glance

• Four wine tastings: You choose from the available wines after a short introduction from your host.
• A full snack pairing: Cheese, charcuterie, crackers, pickles, olives, and nuts are included.
• Dessert varies: Choose from artisan chocolates, macarons, or cake pops, depending on availability.
• LoDo location: Blanchard Family Wines is at 1855 Blake St, close to public transportation and other bars and restaurants.
• Small-to-medium group: The experience allows up to 20 people, so service can feel personal but may vary by table.
• One-hour format: This suits a date night or a compact stop before dinner, but it leaves little room for a long lesson.

Finding Blanchard Family Wines on Blake Street

The tasting takes place at Blanchard Family Wines, 1855 Blake St, Suite 120, in Denver. The setting is in the LoDo area, and one useful detail is that the entrance sits in an alley with other bars and restaurants nearby. That gives the stop a more social feel than a formal vineyard room.

You can reach the area by public transportation, which matters if you plan to taste four wines. I would avoid driving if you expect to sample everything, since the experience is designed for tasting rather than quick sips. The activity begins and ends at the same address, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point.

The venue itself may be part of the appeal. It offers an easy place to continue the evening, with food and drinks close by. At the same time, this is a city wine venue, not a countryside winery tour. You should not expect vineyard views, cellar visits, or a full production walk-through from this one-hour booking.

The first few minutes: a family story and wine choices

After you sit down, your host gives a short explanation of the wines available for tasting. The experience is connected to a family-owned business, so this introduction can add a personal note to what might otherwise be a standard flight.

The wording matters here: you receive a brief explanation, not necessarily a long class. One person who wanted a guided, instructional tasting found the format too hands-off, while other diners enjoyed the staff’s friendly suggestions and clear help choosing wines.

Joe received especially warm praise for his service and recommendations. Felipe, identified as the owner in one response, also takes an active role in the business. Service can depend on who is working and how busy the room is, so I would treat the educational side as a pleasant possibility rather than the main reason to book.

You will usually have a menu or selection of available wines from which to choose your four tastings. This gives you some control over the flight, which is useful if your group has different tastes. It also means the experience may feel less like a fixed, formal tasting and more like a guided visit to a wine bar.

Four tastings, with room for personal taste

The core of the experience is four wine samples. You can expect a range from the selection available that day, but the exact bottles are not provided in advance. That makes the visit flexible, though it also means you cannot plan around a particular grape, region, or vintage.

I like this setup for a mixed group. One person can ask for recommendations while another chooses something familiar. If you want help, say so early and ask your host to explain what separates the wines. Staff members have been praised for being polite, relaxed, and helpful, and Joe in particular is a good name to know if you want practical suggestions.

The wine quality is not a sure thing for every palate. Several diners enjoyed the selection and pairings, while one felt none of the wines were worth the cost. That is normal with wine, but it is important when the price is fixed. Four pours give you variety, not a guarantee that every glass will suit you.

The tasting is also short. In one hour, you will have time to sample four wines and eat at a comfortable pace, but you should not expect a long discussion of winemaking, Denver wine culture, or detailed notes on each bottle. If your main goal is education, ask questions and make the most of the host’s introduction.

Charcuterie, cheese, and the practical pleasure of pairing

The food is a strong part of the package. You receive a charcuterie board with crackers, pickles, olives, and nuts, along with select cheese. The board gives you salty, creamy, crisp, and savory flavors to try with the wines.

That pairing is useful, not just decorative. Cheese and charcuterie can change how wine tastes, and the crackers and pickles help clear your palate between samples. If you normally find wine tastings too sparse, this food makes the hour more satisfying.

Portions are the main question. Some people found the charcuterie board excellent, while others felt the amount of food did not justify the price. Since the exact board can vary, I would think of it as substantial tasting food rather than a full lunch or dinner.

The personal-board format can also work well for couples and friends. You do not need to share every item, and you can compare how the same wine works with different bites. Still, do not book this expecting a large restaurant meal. If you are hungry, plan another meal nearby.

Dessert choices, with availability caveats

Dessert comes after the wine and savory food. Depending on what is available, you can choose among artisan chocolates, macarons, and cake pops, with different flavors offered.

The sweet finish adds variety to the hour, and macarons received particular praise. Other feedback described the dessert as only two small chocolates, delicious but too small to count as a real dessert. Both impressions can be true because the offering changes with availability.

I would treat the dessert as a tasting portion, not a plated final course. If you have a strong preference, ask what is being served before you settle in. The experience does not promise one fixed dessert, so you may receive chocolates one day and macarons or cake pops another.

This is one area where expectations matter most. The package includes a sweet sample, but it does not promise a generous pastry serving. If a full dessert is important to you, plan to order one elsewhere after the tasting.

What the one-hour schedule feels like

The format is compact: sit down, hear about the available wines, taste four pours, eat through the board, and finish with dessert. That makes it easy to fit into a Denver day, especially before dinner, a concert, or another LoDo stop.

I like the short length for a date night. You get enough time to talk and taste without committing half a day to an organized tour. Couples have enjoyed the romantic setting, and groups of friends have found the staff and atmosphere easygoing.

The same schedule can feel rushed if you want detailed instruction. Four wines, food, and dessert leave limited time for a long story about the family business. The experience works best when you see it as a social tasting with some guidance, not as a formal wine course.

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is not a large bus tour, but it is big enough for attention to vary. If one table is receiving a great deal of help, another may get less. You can improve your odds of a more useful visit by asking direct questions rather than waiting for a lecture.

Service is a major part of the experience

The staff is one of the most consistently praised parts of this tasting. Joe has been singled out for friendly recommendations, professional service, and a relaxed manner. Other comments also praise the team for being pleasant, polite, and helpful.

That matters because a wine tasting can feel awkward when nobody explains what you are drinking. A good host gives you permission to say what you like and dislike without making the experience feel like a test. At Blanchard, the best version of the visit seems to come when the staff engages with your table.

Service is not guaranteed to be equally attentive every time. One person felt the host spent much more time with another table and offered little interaction. That is a fair warning for anyone booking mainly for personal instruction.

If you want more than a pour and a plate, ask questions such as which wine pairs best with the cheese, what the family business produces, or which bottle the host would choose. You may get a more rewarding experience by taking an active role.

Is $74 a fair price?

The listed price is $74 per person. For that amount, you receive four tastings, cheese, charcuterie, dessert, and the convenience of a reserved experience in a central Denver location.

The value depends on what you want. If you are paying for a relaxed date-night activity, friendly service, a nice setting, and food with your wine, the package can make sense. Several couples and friend groups considered the overall experience excellent, especially when the boards and macarons were generous and the service was attentive.

If you are measuring the cost strictly against the amount of wine and food, the calculation is less favorable. Some diners said they could have spent $20 to $30 less per person by walking in and ordering from the regular menu. I cannot confirm the current walk-in pricing from the information available, so check the menu before booking if price matters most.

The package is also not the best choice for a serious wine student. You are paying partly for the arranged food, the reserved seat, and the occasion. You are not paying for a long seminar or a winery production tour.

My practical advice is simple: compare the current menu price, then decide if the included board, dessert, and set tasting are worth the difference. For a special evening, the convenience may justify it. For casual drinks, ordering directly may be smarter.

Who should book this tasting?

I would recommend it for couples seeking a low-key date-night plan, friends who enjoy trying several wines, and visitors staying near LoDo who want a short activity with food included.

It also suits people who prefer choice. You can select from available wines rather than accepting a completely fixed flight, and dessert choices may include chocolates, macarons, or cake pops. That flexibility is helpful for groups with different tastes.

I would be more cautious if you want a full meal, a large dessert, or a formal lesson. The food is tasting fare, the dessert can be very small, and the educational talk is brief. People who dislike paying a premium for convenience may prefer to walk in and order from the regular menu.

Most people can take part, and the venue is near public transportation. The experience is offered in English, uses a mobile ticket, and has a maximum of 20 participants. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Cancellation and weather details

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

The activity requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Since the tasting takes place at a city wine venue, check the weather policy when planning close to your travel date.

My verdict: a pleasant tasting, but check the value

I would book this experience when I wanted a convenient Denver date night with four wines, a savory board, and a small sweet finish. The LoDo setting, family-owned angle, and warm service from people such as Joe can make the hour feel personal and easy.

I would not book it blindly at $74. First, compare the current walk-in menu and decide how much you value the reserved package. Then ask yourself whether you want a social tasting or a serious wine lesson.

Choose it for atmosphere, food pairings, and friendly guidance. Skip it if you need a large meal, generous dessert, or detailed wine education for the price.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

The experience takes place at Blanchard Family Wines, 1855 Blake St #120, Denver, Colorado 80202. It begins and ends at this meeting point.

How many wines are included?

Four wine tastings are included. Your host gives you a short explanation of the available wines before you make your selections.

What food comes with the tasting?

You receive a charcuterie board with crackers, pickles, olives, and nuts, along with select cheese.

What dessert is included?

Dessert may be artisan chocolates, macarons, or cake pops, with different flavors available. Specific desserts and pairings depend on availability.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts about one hour.

How many people can join?

The activity has a maximum of 20 participants.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and poor weather may result in a different date or a full refund.