EsoTerra Ciderworks is a family-owned cidery and winery with a lovely story behind it. Founders Jared Scott and Elizabeth Philbrick set out in 2019 to revive southwest Colorado’s forgotten apple heritage, and today they work with more than 50 family orchards and backyard tree owners across the region to make their internationally award-winning ciders.

The ciders are made the traditional way, with nothing but fruit, yeast and time. There’s no colouring, no flavouring and no added sugar, so each one tastes of the heritage apples it came from. Alongside the rotating ciders you’ll find their newer estate wines, plus pizza and charcuterie boards if you’d like to make an afternoon of it.

Their tasting room is at The Arboretum, a 70-acre estate on Florida Mesa about 15 minutes southeast of downtown Durango. With its research vineyard and conservation orchard, it’s billed as North America’s highest-altitude estate winery, and it’s a relaxed, scenic spot to settle in with a glass.

The tasting room opens Wednesday to Sunday, from mid-afternoon on weekdays and from midday at weekends. Warm evenings are a favourite, as there’s often live music or a themed night on the calendar, so check their events page before you head out.