The Best Ski Resorts for Wine Connoisseurs

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

Why it’s a Must: Aspen Snowmass is famous for its ski-in ski-out wine program, with four on-mountain restaurants — Sam’s, Alpin Room, The Cabin and Cloud Nine — earning Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence. Then there’s The Little Nell, Aspen’s iconic slopeside luxury hotel, whose cellar houses more than 20,000 bottles. The property has landed the Wine Spectator’s Grand Award every year since 1997, while its signature restaurant, Element 47, is known for hosting exclusive vertical tastings and sommelier-led dining experiences featuring rare vintages.

Off-season, Aspen keeps the glass full year-round. The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen draws world-class chefs, sommeliers and wine enthusiasts each summer, and the Snowmass Wine Festival pairs vibrant fall foliage with curated tastings and mountain views. Both festivals are worth a visit, even though the lifts won’t be spinning.

The Vibe: High-end alpine luxury meets serious sommelier culture.

Wine Scene Highlights: Perched at the top of the Cloud Nine lift, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro brings a taste of Switzerland to the Rockies with indulgent fondue, raclette, steak tartare, caviar and rotating alpine specials. And its wine list features an ever-evolving quality selection of international bottles and fine Champagne to match.

Who it’s Best For: Luxury travelers, dedicated foodies, couples and skiers who plan their après before their first run.

Insider Tip: Reservations at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro book up quickly, especially for sunny afternoon seatings known for their lively Champagne-spraying atmosphere. For a more intimate experience, reserve a chef-paired wine dinner or private tasting at The Little Nell, and keep an eye on both The Little Nell and Element 47 event calendars for exclusive winter wine events.

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Vail, Colorado

Why it’s a Must: Every April, Vail trades its powder reputation for something equally impressive — Taste of Vail, one of the best food and wine festivals in North America — and it happens right on the mountain. This four-day festival showcases multiple mountain-side venues and themed events. The highlight is the Mountain Top Tasting, where 50+ wineries pour everything from local Colorado favorites to international heavyweights against a backdrop of spring snow and blue skies. The Debut of Rosé is exactly what it sounds like: 100 rosé varieties paired with bites from Vail's best restaurants.

Can't make it in April? Vail's wine scene holds its own year-round. Root & Flower is the local favorite, a laid-back wine bar with over 20 pours by the glass and a deep reserve list that rewards the curious. The Alpenrose pairs its German-Austrian menu with an extensive wine list that leans into Old World varieties, and the Mountain Standard is a go-to for its extensive, carefully curated wine list with options from around the world. 

Read More: Where to Dine in Vail

The Vibe: Spring corn skiing and crisp rosé on sunny patios.

Wine Scene Highlights: For an only-in-Vail experience, The Vines at Vail Winery offers wine tastings in the heart of the village all year long.

Who it’s Best For: Foodies, festival fans, luxury travelers, art lovers and skiers who love a vibrant après scene as much as the mountain itself.

Insider Tip: If you’re visiting during Taste of Vail, book lodging and event tickets early, since many options sell out months in advance. For a quieter wine experience, head to Root & Flower earlier in the evening and ask about off-menu reserve pours.

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Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Why it’s a Must: Whistler Blackcomb has a secret weapon many ski resorts can't claim: it neighbors the acclaimed Okanagan Valley, Canada's premier wine region and home to over 200 wineries producing exceptional Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay and the legendary Icewine that put BC on the global wine map. The result is a ski destination with one of the most distinctive regional wine scenes around. 

At Steeps Grill & Wine Bar, located inside the Roundhouse Lodge at 1,850 meters (6,069 feet) on Whistler Mountain, guests can sip standout British Columbia wines alongside picturesque alpine views. The restaurant also hosts special Winemaker Après and Winemaker Dinner events throughout the season, pairing acclaimed local wines with thoughtfully crafted, locally sourced cuisine. Over on Blackcomb Mountain, Christine’s delivers an upscale on-mountain dining experience with panoramic views, elevated comfort food and a diverse wine list designed to showcase both Canadian and international varietals.

The Vibe: Adventurous après-ski with a focus on regional "cool climate" wines.

Wine Scene Highlights: In town, Bearfoot Bistro offers guided tours of its underground wine cellar, home to more than 15,000 bottles. Here, guests can learn the art of sabering Champagne –– a Napoleonic tradition said to bring good luck before battle –– and give it a try. And after a big day on the mountain, it feels entirely appropriate.

Who it’s Best For: Adventurous luxury travelers, dessert wine connoisseurs and skiers looking to pair world-class terrain with unique regional wines.

Insider Tip: If you visit Bearfoot Bistro, don’t miss the wine tastings in its below-ground vodka ice room.

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Top European Ski Resorts for Wine Lovers

Alta Badia, Italy

Why it’s a Must: If there's a place on earth where skiing and wine feel truly inseparable, it's Alta Badia. Tucked into South Tyrol in the Italian Dolomites, this is wine country in the Alps, where vineyards thrive on steep mountain slopes, warm sunshine meets cool Alpine nights and mineral-rich soils give the wines a signature character you won't find anywhere else. The region is celebrated for its aromatic whites: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer (named after the nearby village of Tramin, where the grape was born). But don't sleep on the reds; particularly the Lagrein, Vernatsch and the local Pinot Noir are well worth exploring.

The wine is exceptional, but what makes Alta Badia truly special is how they celebrate it: the Wine Skisafari. This annual event invites skiers to glide between rifugios — the cozy mountain huts that dot the Dolomites — tasting the finest South Tyrolean wines along the way with the UNESCO-listed peaks as your backdrop. If you miss the Skisafari, don’t worry –– you'll still eat and drink extraordinarily well. Alta Badia has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants of any ski resort, each with a wine list that reflects the depth and diversity of the region.

The Vibe: Sophisticated alpine charm with a Mediterranean soul.

Wine Scene Highlights: Cozy rifugios pour crisp alpine whites beside plates of handmade pasta, speck and rich mountain cheeses, while Michelin-starred restaurants level up local varietals with inventive tasting menus. Expect long lunches, leisurely après and plenty of opportunities to discover wines you won’t easily find outside northern Italy.

Who it’s Best For: Luxury travelers, couples and skiers looking for a more slow-paced alpine experience centered around cuisine and culture.

Insider Tip: The next Wine Skisafari is set to take place on March 21, 2027. Book accommodation early, as the resort fills up quickly around the event. If Michelin stars are your priority, make a reservation at Porcino, where each creative dish is perfectly paired with a glass of local or international wine by sommelier and co-owner, Michaela Mair.

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Courchevel, France 

Why it’s a Must: France has a reputation for good wine, but in Courchevel, it feels amplified. Nestled in the Tarentaise Valley within the Savoie wine region, this is a resort where the local pours are as carefully considered as the piste map. Savoie is famous for its crisp, mineral-driven whites like Apremont, Abymes, Chignin and Roussette de Savoie (wines that were practically designed to be drunk at altitude alongside a plate of local cheese and charcuterie). The notable reds include an earthy Mondeuse and Gamay, and if you like bubbles, the sparkling Seyssel is a delightful discovery.

What makes Courchevel unique is its scale and variety. Six distinct villages make up the resort, each with its own personality and dining scene, and with eight Michelin-starred restaurants between them, the culinary bar is set extraordinarily high. Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc Courchevel is in a league of its own: three Michelin stars, an inventive seasonal menu and a wine program rooted in the very best of the region. For something relaxed and quintessentially French, Le Schuss Bar and Restaurant at the base of the slopes in Courchevel 1650 is the move.

The Vibe: Old World elegance, serious cellar depth and a wine list that matches the altitude of the ambition.

Wine Scene Highlights: Courchevel’s wine culture ranges from lavish Michelin-starred tasting menus to cozy slope-side lunches that stretch well into the afternoon. Across the resort, sommeliers expertly pair regional Savoie wines with rich alpine dishes like fondue, raclette and tartiflette, while luxury hotels showcase cellar collections featuring rare Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne vintages. 

Who it’s Best For: Luxury travelers, serious wine collectors, couples planning a romantic ski getaway and fine dining foodies.

Insider Tip: During your visit, don’t miss sampling the Génépi, a local digestif made from a rare alpine plant found only at high altitudes. People either love it or hate it — one sip and you'll know exactly where you stand. The liqueur is potent and aromatic, with a distinctly floral, herbal character. Given how precious it is, the génépi plant is now protected across much of the Alps, with strict limits on how much can be harvested.

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Lech Zürs am Arlberg, Austria

Why it’s a Must: Lech Zürs am Arlberg has been dubbed "World Gourmet Village" by Falstaff, Austria's most prestigious food and wine publication. And you can't separate Lech's food scene from its obsession with wine. The village is home to some of the most jaw-dropping, deeply stocked private wine cellars in the Alps, brimming with rare vintages, hard-to-find Austrian labels and bottles that serious collectors would travel across continents for. And they do.

Every December, the village transforms into a wine lover’s dream during Arlberg Weinberg, a 10-day culinary and wine festival that takes over nearly every corner of town. Guests can sip their way through curated tastings hosted in cozy hotel lounges, elegant alpine restaurants, rustic chalets and even gondolas gliding above the slopes. The event brings together winemakers from across Austria and beyond, giving visitors the chance to discover boutique bottles, chat directly with producers and sample perfectly paired alpine bites between ski runs. 

The Vibe: Refined alpine luxury with old-world Austrian charm and a wine culture that goes far deeper than the snow.

Wine Scene Highlights: If you can’t make it in December, plan a spring visit for Weingondeln (which is German for the “wine gondolas.”) This one-of-a-kind wine tasting experience is held inside the 10-person gondolas of the Zugerbergbahn, with panoramic Alpine views, a glass in hand and nowhere to be but up.

Who it’s Best For: Collectors and connoisseurs, luxury travelers, couples and skiers looking for a quieter, more sophisticated alternative to Europe’s flashier ski destinations.

Insider Tip: The Arlberg Weinberg fills up Lech's limited accommodation fast, so if you're planning to attend, book lodging the moment dates are announced.

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Read More: Europe’s Top Ski Destinations for Foodies

Top South American Ski Resorts for Wine Lovers

Portillo, Chile

Why it’s a Must: There’s something wildly satisfying about skiing fresh snow in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, and at Ski Portillo, the experience gets even better with a glass of world-class Chilean wine waiting at the end of the day. Situated high in the Andes near the renowned Aconcagua Valley, Portillo offers access to one of South America’s premier wine regions, well known for exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carmenère (which means pairing a ski week with a winery day trip is incredibly easy here). 

Portillo also leans fully into its wine culture throughout the ski season. Wine Week brings daily tastings from Chile's finest producers alongside wine-paired dinners that showcase just how good South American viticulture has become. Wine Fest goes deeper still, inviting guests to attend wine knowledge courses, explore bottles from across the country and end the night at an après-ski party with a glass of something very good in hand.

The Vibe: Southern Hemisphere adventure meets South American wine culture: rugged Andean scenery, warm Chilean hospitality and a glass of Cabernet that tastes even better at altitude.

Wine Scene Highlights: Daily tastings during Wine Week featuring Chile's top producers, wine-paired dinners with Andean views and easy day trips down into the Aconcagua Valley to visit wineries in person.

Who it’s Best For: Adventurous skiers, wine enthusiasts, social travelers and Northern Hemisphere skiers looking to extend their season.

Insider Tip: Build your trip around Wine Week or Wine Fest if you can! Dates vary by season, so check the Portillo event calendar early (or ask your Ski.com Travel Advisor to time it right). And don't skip the valley day trip. The Aconcagua wineries are accustomed to hosting ski visitors and make for an incredibly easy, fun half-day excursion.

Ready to pair your powder days with the perfect pour? Our Ski.com Experts know these resorts inside and out, from the best runs to the bottles worth ordering. Let us handle the lift tickets, flights, lodging, and those hard-to-get reservations while you focus on the important decisions — like what's in the glass.