In less than one week the biggest names in the wine world will flock to New Hampshire – not Napa Valley – for a week-long celebration of wine known as New Hampshire Wine Week. For the past 9 years New Hampshire Wine Week has attracted legends like Michael Mondavi, Cristina Mariani-May, Joel Peterson and Merry Edwards who participated in intimate wine dinners, exclusive panel discussions and tastings and the largest wine event in northern New England, the Winter Wine Spectacular. Dozens of wine industry titans, boutique vineyard owners and local producers will participate in the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s 9th Annual New Hampshire Wine Week, which takes place January 27 – February 2. View a full list of celebrity appearances and register for events online at NHWineWeek.com.
“With dozens of intimate wine dinners in every corner of the state pairing delectable cuisine with fantastic wines, bottle signings, two exclusive wine discussions and tastings, and the Winter Wine Spectacular, Wine Week simply cannot be missed,” said Nicole Brassard Jordan, New Hampshire Liquor Commission Wine Marketing Specialist. “Only in New Hampshire will you be able to interact and learn directly from wine celebrities and sample a wide variety of wines. At some events, you can purchase the wines of your choice, and at the Winter Wine Spectacular attendees can pre-order their favorites with an exclusive show discount. Attendees can also use our all new, state-of-the-art web app with their smart phones.”
The New Hampshire Liquor Commission created Wine Week in 2005 after two great years of the Winter Wine Spectacular, the largest wine event north of Boston. This event gives customers the opportunity to sample some of the 7,000 wines available at New Hampshire’s 77 Liquor & Wine Outlets and allow them to meet with nationally and internationally acclaimed winemakers at dozens of events throughout the state.
“Wine Week taps into New Hampshire, and the region’s love of wine,” said Joseph W. Mollica, Chairman of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. “With more than $273 million in wine sales last Fiscal Year, which marks a 7.3-percent increase from the previous year, New Hampshire is a significant player in the wine world. Our status draws the industry’s premier wine producers, who travel great distances each January to interact with our customers. The wine world has taken notice; New Hampshire is wine country.”
NHLC’s 9th Annual Wine Week features numerous events and celebrity bottle signings at select NH Liquor & Wine Outlets, celebrity wine dinners at some of New Hampshire’s leading restaurants and three signature events.
On Wednesday January 29th, NHLC will host two “Cellar Notes” series events, each featuring four elite wine experts for an educational tasting seminar, reception, bottle-signing and delicious hors d’oeuvres.
The Manchester Cellar Notes series will feature the following winemakers at the Puritan Backroom Event & Conference Center located at 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, NH:
- Rob Mondavi Jr. - President of Winemaking and Co-Founder, Folio Wine Partners & Michael Mondavi Family Estates
- Joel Peterson – Winemaker, Ravenswood Winery
- Farrah Felten- Jolley – Co-owner of Klinker Brick Winery
- Cheryl Indelicato – Owner, Handcraft Artisan Collection
Due to the success of last year’s Cellar Notes series a second event has been added for 2014. The Portsmouth Cellar Notes series will feature the following winemakers at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center located at 100 Deer Street, Portsmouth, NH:
- Michael Philips – Co-owner and CEO, Michael David Winery
- Joseph Carr – Owner, Joseph Carr Wines
- Janice Mondavi – Co-proprietor, Charles Krug Winery
- Melissa Stackhouse – Vice-president / winemaking, J Vineyards & Winery
Wine Week culminates with the 11th Easter Seals Winter Wine Spectacular, the largest wine tasting in northern New England which takes place at the Radisson Hotel Manchester on Thursday, January 30th, from 6 to 9 p.m. Along with nearly 1,800 wines, the Winter Wine Spectacular features scrumptious local fare, a silent auction and raffle, the Bellman Cellar Select VIP tasting room, and the chance to meet and learn from more than 50 wine personalities. This marquee event drew a sold-out crowd of 1,500 people last year. The 2014 Winter Wine Spectacular will be hosted in the Radisson Hotel’s ballroom and Armory.
The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has launched a unique, one-of-a-kind web app that will enable visitors to use their mobile devices, phones or tablets, to explore the various wine products, make tasting notes, and even order their favorite selections from the event. The checkout process will allow the user to modify selections, select one of the 77 convenient store locations to pick up their order, and take full advantage of the 15% discount on the purchase of 6-11 bottles, or even 20% on 12 or more bottles.
The Winter Wine Spectacular raises much-needed funds for Easter Seals New Hampshire, which provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.
“Proceeds from the Winter Wine Spectacular directly support our early intervention program,” said Christine Pederson, director of events and corporate relations with Easter Seals New Hampshire. “This statewide program provides much-needed services and therapy for hundreds of children ages three months to three years with a variety of developmental delays and physical disabilities. Studies have shown that these early intervention programs can help many children from needing support later in life.”
Tickets for the Grand Tasting cost $65 per person, and tickets providing access to the Grand Tasting and Bellman’s Cellar Select cost $125 per person.
“Wine Week is a week for everyone who enjoys wine,” Brassard Jordan said. “With so many wines to choose from in New Hampshire, wine can be overwhelming. That’s why Wine Week is such a great time to get out there, try something new, learn about its origins and appreciate all the great wines New Hampshire has to offer, from local and international wineries.”
Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.
