The sun is shining, the trees are blossoming and the birds are singing. Spring is officially here, which means summer is right around the corner.
For us wine enthusiasts, the pending arrival of summer also welcomes the beginning of wine festival season! There are so many incredible events to choose from, but which ones should not be missed?
We’ve selected six of our favorite must-attend wine events from across the country. One is held on an island in Massachusetts, three are located in California, one is in New York State and the last one is in Virginia. Mark your calendar and dig out your glasses – both sun and wine- and get ready for a summer filled with lots of wine tasting!
Over the past 20 years, the Nantucket Wine Festival has become one of the most celebrated wine and food events in the country. Located on the charming island of Nantucket, this boutique experience showcases world-class wines, award-winning food and will forever change your idea of a wine festival.
How does 80+ bands cranking out killer jams, 40 food vendors serving up stellar cuisine from across the globe and 25 of only the valley’s finest wineries pouring their top drops for three straight days under the warm California sun sound? Yeah, we thought you might like that. Fall into this crazy utopia, better known as BottleRock, and experience the ultimate in wine festivals.
You can win tickets here!
Don’t miss the 13th Annual California Wine Festival in sunny Santa Barbara, CA, This beautiful Pacific Coast city is the original home to CWF, one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state. A spectacular gathering of wine, food, music and fun, Santa Barbara’s ocean-front venue beckons a hip crowd of thousands of wine-lovers from around the world to flock to the three-day festival by the beach to taste the finest wines California has to offer. Heralded as one of the most desirable consumer wine festivals of the year, this event is certainly one you won’t want to miss!
The Finger Lakes Wine Festival offers the largest showcase of wines produced in New York State. Over 80 wineries from the state’s biggest wine producing region gather to celebrate all things wine-grape, along with regional artisans, live music, culinary classes, cooking demonstrations and much more.
Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is Sonoma County’s signature, and largest charity event, bringing together over 200 of Sonoma’s top winemakers and growers, along with a collection of the area’s best chefs. Jointly produced by Sonoma County Vintners and the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Foundation, all proceeds benefit local Sonoma County charities.
The Virginia Wine Festival is the foundation stone of the wine festival season, and moreover, of the Virginia wine industry itself. This event offers a unique array of both free and ticketed tasting activities, as well as learning opportunities for those wanting to know more about the world of wine.
There you have it! Six terrific destinations with even more terrific wines in store for you. Are you as excited as we are? Which ones will you put on your list?
Feel free to share your favorite wine event in the comment section below.