This month, the WA Crew lent a hand to USA Today’s 10Best to help them find the most awesome tasting rooms, winery restaurants and wine festivals in America. Here you will find our picks for the raddest wine festivals, but until August 15th you get to vote for who you think should reign complete supreme! Go forth, check out each one, and cast your vote!
10 Best Wine Festivals in America
1. Pinknic
Governors Island, NY
New York City’s Pinknic bills itself as the world’s largest rosé-themed picnic and music festival. The inaugural event took place in early July 2016 on Governors Island, with live music, picnic baskets crafted by celebrity chef Chris Santos, pink designer blankets and rosé… lots of rosé.
2. Charleston Wine + Food Festival
Charleston, SC
The Charleston Wine + Food Festival celebrates Charleston’s reputation for culinary excellence every March. Visitors can attend seminars, workshops or parties, sit down for expertly crafted, intimate meals or browse the big Culinary Village in the historic Marion Square. Wine is front and center – in 2016, 68,360 glasses of wine were served at the event!
3. Finger Lakes Wine Festival
Watkins Glen, NY
For three days each July, some of the best Finger Lakes wineries come together in Watkins Glen for a weekend of summer fun, live music, culinary classes and the largest showcase of wines from New York state. More than 80 wineries attend the event at Watkins Glen International.
4. Nantucket Wine Festival
Nantucket, MA
Summer in Nantucket kicks off with the Nantucket Wine Festival – five days of world-class wines and award-winning foods served on one of the nation’s most beautiful islands. Signature events include a harbor gala, grand tasting and wine dinner, with loads of wine-centric seminars and tastings.
5. Taste Washington
Seattle, WA
Each spring Seattle welcomes wine enthusiasts from around the world to Taste Washington, the largest single-region wine and food event in the US. During the four-day event, 225 wineries, 70 restaurants and 60 culinary exhibitors gather in one place. The schedule includes a grand tasting, wine dinners and seminars on Washington wines.
6. Virginia Wine Summit
Middleburg, VA
The Virginia Wine Summit in April celebrates the great wine and food culture in the state of Virginia by bringing together winemakers, writers and beverage professionals from around the country. Intimate tastings and seminars explore the world of Virginia wines.
7. Zinfandel Experience
San Francisco, CA
Each February lovers of America’s grape head to San Francisco for the Zinfandel Experience, one of the largest single-varietal tastings of its kind. The three-day event includes tastings from established and emerging producers, meet-the-maker roundtables, a live auction and other events.
8. Vintage Ohio
Kirtland, OH
Each August, over a dozen Ohio wineries join forces during Vintage Ohio. Two stages host live music, while attendees sip wine, browse the assortment of craft and gourmet food vendors and participate in wine-centered cooking classes and demonstrations.
9. Vegas Uncork’d
Las Vegas, NV
The main event at Vegas Uncork’d is the Grand Tasting, featuring a Who’s Who of Vegas eateries, along with lots of adult beverages, all laid out around the open air Garden of the Gods pool complex at Caesars Palace.
10. BottleRock Napa Valley
Napa, CA
What’s better than awesome California wine? Awesome California wine served to the sound of live rock ‘n’ roll. Each May BottleRock Napa Valley features music, food and wine from some of the best producers in California and the world. You know you’re in Napa when a music festival has a staff of sommeliers!
