For certain, wine consumption reaches its peak during the holiday season, while wineries and retailers enter the busiest selling season of the year.
New Hampshire attracts wine shoppers from all over the country, especially from the Northeast. We have always been known for offering great deals and promotions at the NH State Liquor and Wine Outlets which provide a large and diverse inventory, plus a special section for locally made New Hampshire wines.
Although we are lucky to have this shopping option in New Hampshire, we are even luckier to have delicious wine made locally in our own backyard that we can buy directly from the winery. New Hampshire wines are produced by an innovative group of winemakers and grape growers with a live free attitude. They also make world class cider and mead.
The New Hampshire Winery Association has 21 members that are located in six distinct tourist regions. You will find member wineries and vineyards producing a large variety of wines made from cold hardy and cool climate grapes, as well as French-hybrid grapes. New Hampshire vineyards are known for growing diverse varietals. Each winery is unique and sits in a distinctive setting, reflective of New Hampshire’s varied landscapes.
If you want something really special or need guidance, shopping at a local winery/tasting room is the right choice. Visiting a winery is an enjoyable experience and not intimidating. You can easily make a fun day of touring, tasting, and of course shopping – or take several days for a wine tasting adventure in search for the best local wines made from a grape varietal that’s new to you. Local wines pair the best with local foods, and are perfect choices for your holiday dinner and gift giving.
Locals and visitors travel to various parts of New Hampshire to attend the many annual events and new festivities held throughout the Holiday season while also planning a hiking or skiing trip. Shopping at local wineries and tasting rooms is a great way to add to the joyous experience of the holidays, surrounded by stunning seasonal decorations.
Keep giving the gift of giving by buying local wine directly from the winery. In doing so, you are supporting a local business with the full price going to the winery. This type of purchase is favored by winemakers and consumers alike, and creates a long-lasting connection between the winery and the purchaser. Most wineries have memberships that you can join that include special releases, wine dinners, celebrations and more. Wineries are beautiful spaces for private functions.
You will find well-run tasting rooms are the perfect setting for winemakers and employees to share their passion about winemaking and get along with wine lovers from everywhere. Wine lovers are often able to meet the winemaker, view the production facility and/or vineyards, giving them first-hand knowledge of the source of the wine.
As a special treat, the NH Jingle Bells Winery Tour begins November 19th featuring seven wineries: Averill House Vineyard, Flaghill Distillery & Winery, Labelle Winery, Seven Birches Winery, Squamscott Vineyard & Winery, Sweet Baby Vineyard, and Summit Winery. Participants will have the opportunity to visit seven wineries throughout New Hampshire over the course of five weekends ending on December 18th. Along with the tastings, festivities will include a unique holiday ornament from each winery, music, and a Holiday Spirit contest. This is a self-guided tour through New Hampshire Wine Country.
Keep in mind, all New Hampshire wineries that are open during the Holiday Season provide a wonderful experience and will treat you extra special when you visit, taste, and shop their wines for the Holidays.
Cheers!
