The Best Wine Festivals in America

The easiest and perhaps most entertaining way to explore all that the world of wine has to offer is by attending a wine festival. These events allow patrons to explore wines from producers they know and love as well as discover new favorites. Plus, they give drinkers the chance to taste and learn more about the many different grape varieties and wine styles—without breaking the bank on a round-the-world wine trip.

And the best part? These wine festivals occur all across the U.S., throughout the year in all shapes and sizes. There are large events featuring thousands of wines to try, small fests that highlight local makers, gatherings with live performances and art installations, food and wine pairings or education demonstrations and seminars. The options are endless.

To determine which ones are most worth the time and money, we spoke to wine professionals about the best American wine festivals they return to year after year. These picks cover a broad spectrum, from entry-level events with crowd-pleasing entertainment elements to those that cater to longtime oenophiles with in-depth regional spotlights. Check out their top picks below.

Best for Natural Wine Lovers

Karakterre

New York, New York

Dates: November 2, 2024
Karakterre is a New York City–based wine festival that showcases organic, biodynamic and natural wines made in Austria and its neighboring countries. But more than just a chance to sip natural wines, this annual festival—which also occurs in the spring in Austria—gives American consumers the chance to discover new lesser-known styles and bottles, Central and Eastern European grape varietals and wines that are rarely seen in the States.

Best for Food Lovers

Charleston Wine + Food

Charleston, South Carolina

Dates: March 5-9, 2025

The Charleston Food & Wine Festival (CHSWF) has become the “it” festival of South Carolina, loved for its approachable and fun weekend-long celebration of wine and Southern-inspired cuisine. There’s plenty to savor and drink, with wineries from around the world participating in the festival. And there’s plenty more to eat.

“The team behind CHSWF does a tremendous job of showcasing the Holy City’s culinary diversity, high-quality local ingredients and reverence for top-notch food and drinks,” says Wanda Mann, a New York City-based wine writer. “From Lowcountry classics to haute cuisine, craft beer to Champagne, the festival covers all the bases and challenges preconceived notions about Southern cuisine.”

TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience

Livermore, California

Dates: 2025, TBA

TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience is an opportunity to get to know one of California’s most under-the-radar wine regions and the many farm-to-fork restaurants that support the industry.

The weekend comes together with a signature food and wine pairing competition, where local wineries partner with restaurants to create the perfect sip and bite for a grand tasting competition. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other fun events like sparkling wine and waffle-themed brunch parties, wine and yoga sessions, bread baking classes, winery visits and various dinners.

“It’s a chance to come out and explore the region and wine in all these different ways,” says Darcie Kent, founder of Darcie Kent Estate Winery, who showcases wine (and has often served as a judge at the pairing competition) during the festival. “You can sit in a seminar and learn from the winemakers, talk to them about the wines you’re drinking, and enjoy more of a party atmosphere with a band or a dinner. There’s something for everybody and an incredible opportunity to learn a lot about the wine in our region in a short time.”

Best for Cult Wine Aficionados

La Paulée

New York, New York

Dates: February 27-March 1, 2025, San Francisco; March 4-8, 2025, New York City

Created in honor of La Paulée de Meursault, this luxurious event, held in both San Francisco and New York City, gives Burgundy fans a chance to explore the famous French region and acquaint themselves with some of the most exclusive, hard-to-score bottles from Burgundy’s top wineries.

Several tastings and seminars take place during La Paulée, which all wrap up with the main gala dinner. There, attendees bring out their best bottles of Burgundy to share with guests while the region’s most formidable wineries pour the finest wines from their libraries. It’s one of the most expensive festivals in the States, but for Burgundy obsessives, it’s an opulent experience that’s totally worth it.

Best for People Who Love Big Events

San Diego Bay Food + Wine Festival

San Diego, California

Dates: November 2-10, 2024

If you want to experience the best of the West Coast, there’s no better experience than the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival. More than 800 producers come out to share their bottles with guests, covering just about every one of California’s wine regions. These impressive selections are obviously a draw, but its offerings go well beyond tasting wine. In addition to the Grand Tasting, there are several lunches and wine dinners worth attending as well as late-night parties, pasta-making classes and educational seminars.

South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Miami Beach, Florida

Dates: February 20-23, 2025

The energy of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival is palpable. Held in partnership with the Food Network, the festival showcases some of the most beloved wine and spirits producers on the planet, along with top chefs and culinary stars who curate tasting menus and hold demonstrations and dinners specifically for the festival.

Though the Grand Tasting, which takes place right on the sands of South Beach, is the main event, the smaller parties are the real draw. There are plenty of them held during the day and night during the four-day fest, many of which feature live performances from celebrity musical guests.

Taste Washington

Seattle, Washington

Dates: March 15-16, 2025

Sample all of the good stuff Washington has to offer at Taste Washington, a massive event in Seattle that displays more than 200 of the state’s wineries. For those seeking a more intimate or educational experience, several wine dinners and parties are scheduled throughout the weekend. For more studious drinkers, seminars and interactive panels hosted by masters of wine, master sommeliers, winemakers, growers and some of the state’s most savvy wine experts are available, too. It’s a great way to learn what Washington wine country is all about.

BottleRock Napa Valley

Napa, California

Dates: May 23-25, 2025
Think Coachella but with wine—that’s BottleRock. Hundreds of people venture to California’s most revered wine region to enjoy a weekend full of headlining musical performances from some of the music industry’s most prominent artists. Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam, Megan Thee Stallion and Ed Sheeran are just a few of the acts who took over the stage at the 2024 event. There’s plenty of wine to go around, too (naturally), as well as food stalls from some of the most popular restaurants in Napa.

Best for Folks Who Love the Great Outdoors

Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

Aspen, Colorado

Dates: June 20-22, 2025

There’s simply no talk about wine festivals without mentioning the famous Food & Wine Classic, which is held each year in the picturesque ski town of Aspen, Colorado. The event offers more than 40 cooking demos hosted by renowned chefs, beverage seminars (sometimes featuring flights of rare vintage wines) and panel discussions with global leaders of the spirits and wine industries. The main event is the grand tasting, which combines jaw-dropping mountain views with dozens of tents where attendees can find dishes from some of the top restaurants in the U.S. and an equally impressive selection of beverages.

Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Dates: 2025, TBA

At the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, it’s as much about the views as the wine. “Santa Fe is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, and the event capitalizes on all that natural beauty,” says Chris Schmid, a partner at Prestige-Ledroit Distribution.

The five-day fiesta features wines from nearly 100 different wineries. Ridge Vineyards, Heitz Cellars and various other high-quality producers from Skurnik Wines & Spirits and Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant’s portfolios are often poured, while chefs from more than 60 Santa Fe restaurants curate plates and pairings that showcase the regional flavors of New Mexico.

“Imagine sipping on a remarkable glass of wine while soaking in the stunning views of the mountains or enjoying the vibrant local cuisine that incorporates the region’s famous hatch chiles,” says Schmid. “It’s a place where wine lovers can revel in the great outdoors, connecting with nature as much as they do with the bottles in their hands.”

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience

Healdsburg, California

Dates: May 15-18, 2025

Sip on wines from Sonoma favorites like Aperture Cellars, Rodney Strong Vineyards and Cyrus Creek Vineyards against the beautiful, scenic rolling hills of Sonoma Valley. That’s essential to the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, which is about celebrating one of America’s most renowned wine regions and the producers and farmers who make it thrive. Festival-goers can meet, drink and party with some of the region’s most revered winemakers and growers while enjoying live entertainment, too.

Best For Inclusive-Minded Drinkers

Two Up Wine Down

Charlottesville, Virginia

Dates: November 2, 2024

The Two Up Wine Down festival is a relatively young event—it’s only in its third year—but already, the Charlottesville, Virginia, fest is making a big impact. Hosted by Veraison Project and Oenoverse, two organizations focused on supporting diversity and inclusivity within the state’s wine industry, the one-day festival gives wine lovers a chance to taste bottles from the region while connecting with winemakers from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Wine and Culture Fest

Washington, D.C.

Dates: 2025, TBA
For a wine festival rooted in diversity and inclusion, look no further than the Wine and Culture Fest. The annual event, presented by The Hue Society, champions people of color within the wine industry. It includes a cookout, interactive sessions, plenty of parties and food and beverage tastings, with some enviable, rare selections. The festival’s highlight is the award ceremony that celebrates the people of color who advocate for economic inclusion and recognition for underrepresented groups in wine.

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Last Updated: October 18, 2024