For wine lovers, attending wine festivals in New York is all about sipping wine and listening to music.
When I am at a wine festival, the goal is to enjoy myself as much as possible and have every opportunity to try new wines and talk with the wineries. Chatting with wine experts is a great way to better understand the love and passion that goes into the various wines.
Another bonus is that some of these monumental events have live music and dancing, there is a wide range of music genres and artists, and every year I end up finding new artists I end up liking.
Some wine festivals in New York include international wineries since the state is a worldwide hub, giving you a chance to taste wines from around the world.
Let’s take a closer look at wine festivals in New York:
The Top Wine Festivals in New York
- New York Wine Experience
- Adirondak Wine & Food Festival
- New York Wine Fest
- Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival5
- Cork Head Wine Festivalcork-head-wine-festival
- New Your State Ice Wine & Culinary Festival
- America’s Grape Country Wine Festival
1. New York Wine Experience
- Location: Marriot Marquis
- New York City, NY
- Tickets: Thursday: $400, Friday $400, Early Private Access: $500, Weekend Package $2,595
For over 40 years, the Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience has celebrated great wine. On the three-day weekend, you will taste various wines with the world’s top vintners.
It includes rare older vintages and top-scoring bottles. The event also involves two evenings of more than 200 wines rated over 90 points.
The Wine Experience includes seminar programs, such as prominent leaders in the wine industry and world-renowned chefs sharing their insight into delightful food and pairing.
The event also includes regional wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Another coveted event is the Signature Tastings of the Top Ten Wines of the Year.
Also included in the packages are wine luncheons, champagne receptions, and the first two hours with the Critics’ Grand Tastings.
2. Adirondack Wine & Food Festival
- Location: Lake George Festival Commons at Charles R. Wood Park
- 17 West Brook Road – Lake George, NY 12845
- Tickets: One-Day Tasting: $45 on Saturday and $40 on Sunday, Two-Day Event: $75 to $99
The annual summer event features over 120 of New York’s wineries, breweries, distillers, cideries, food producers, food trucks, and more. The projected attendance is over 7,700 people.
The festival has live entertainment, with attendees seeing entertainers wandering across the grounds, including big names and dancers, stilt walkers, and aerialists. You can watch the iron chef competitions and secret ingredients with vendors.
Based on your ticket purchase, you have samplings at booths, a souvenir wine glass, and admission to the Culinary Tent. Culinary Tent involves free food and cocktail samples. Enjoy the family activities with a Kid’s Activity Tent, a natural playground and skatepark venue, and a photo booth.
3. New York Wine Fest
- Location: Chelsea Industrial
- 535-549 West 28th Street – New York, NY 1001
- Tickets: $15 to $75
Wine Fest seems to happen also in Brooklyn, and Jersey City, promoting the idea of traveling the world of wine at the tunnel in NYC.
You can enjoy wine samples for the entire afternoon or evening, live entertainment, interactive games, and food.
Ticket includes:
- Entrance
- Sampling over 100 styles of wine
- Souvenir sample cup
- Access to yummy food
- Vendors and merchandise
Wycliff, Vinkara Wines, Springbrook, Davies Family Selection, and Red Schooner Malbec are some wines available.
The day comprises two sessions, each paid for separately. Session One goes from 1 PM to 4:30 PM, and Session Two is from 6 PM to 9:30 PM.
4. Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival
- Location: Hudson River Park’s Pier 76 and Pier 86, home of the Intrepid Museum
- New York City, NYC
- Tickets: General Admission $175
It’s a four-day extravaganza and one of the largest festivals of its kind in New York City. An annual festival with over 15 successful years, you will experience walk-around tastings, culinary demonstrations, celebrity chef-hosted dinners, and more.
The New York City Wine & Food Festival usually has 45,000 attendees with 80 events featuring renowned wine and spirit producers, lifestyle experts, and beloved television chefs.
You can join the hands-on cooking classes and demos, festivities, and feasts. Enjoy the grand tasting, late-night parties, family brunches, panel discussions, and live entertainment. You might spot a film or television celebrity.
Past celebrity guests include Jamie Foxx, Patrick Harris, Tyler Blevins, Rachel Ray, and Kendall Jenner.
Grand Tasting hosted by Wine Spectator, Blue Moon Burger Bash, and Taste of Italy is some prominent events to enjoy.
5. Cork Head Wine Festival
- Location: 391 Washington Street
- Buffalo, NY 14203
- Tickets: $25 and $60
Taste some of the best wine based on Cork Head’s hand selection process. The two admission prices are for general and VIP.
VIP offers early entry, making it easier to maneuver from table to table. You can try most of the wines before the general admission arrives.
Enjoy the food vendors with a large crowd, try the international wines and join one of the educational seminars. You will not only learn about the wine, but you will get to sip and shop while talking to the wine experts.
6. New York State Ice Wine & Culinary Festival
- Location: Casa Larga Vineyards
- 2287 Turk Hill Road – Fairport, NY
- Tickets: Table for Two: $130, Table for four: $260, Table for Six: $390
It’s the largest ice wine tasting festival and celebration in the region. Bring your friends for the annual NY Ice Wine & Culinary Festival, celebrating the tradition of ice wines made in New York State.
Ice wines challenge the winemakers, producing rare and memorable wines. Learn about New York ice wines, handpicking the grapes when frozen and then pressed.
To accommodate the guests, purchase session tickets by the size of your table, two, four, or six people. Enjoy food and wine pairings and other activities. Each session offers a different menu so that you can attend both sessions.
Wine tastings are usually the first session, and other festival fun includes horse-drawn sleigh rides, S’mores around the fireplace and hot beverage station, and take-home Casa Larga glasses.
7. America’s Grape Country Wine Festival
- Location: Dunkirk
- 1089 Central Avenue – Dunkirk, NY 14048
- Tickets: One-Day Taster: $21.60, Two-Day Taster: $27.00
Enjoy this two-and-a-half-day wine festival, featuring New York and Pennsylvania wineries, breweries and distilleries. The event also involves local crafters, live wine and food demonstrations, food trucks, a classic car show, live entertainment, and more!
America’s Grape Country Wine Festival celebrates wine focusing on Chautauqua County and New York wineries. You’ll sip the best in the state while talking with the winemakers and finding a new favorite.
Food and food vendors have an incredible lineup, such as cheese spreads, baked goods, gourmet popcorn, craft jerky, dip mixes, and tons more. Take advantage of the food and wine demonstrations throughout each day.
Go camping while attending the two-and-a-half-day wine festival, offering 80 sites, so your family and friends have a party-filled and safe weekend.
