It’s cold, it’s January and the thrill of the holiday season is fading.

Why not take a trip around the world sipping incredible wines? Or you can visit Manchester, New Hampshire during New Hampshire Wine Week (https://nhwineweek.com) and let incredible wines come to you.

From Jan. 17-23, New Hampshire Wine Week features a variety of wine tastings, dinners, bottle signings and educational seminars, culminating with northern New England’s largest showcase of wine, the New England Winter Wine Spectacular.

Dozens of the world’s top winemakers will be there, including Jean-Charles Boisset of the Boisset Collection, Randy Ullom of Kendall-Jackson Wines, Mike Tracy of Peter Paul Wines, Maria Helm Sinskey of Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Christof Höpler of Höpler Wines, Serge Doré of Serge Doré Selections and Dominique Giovine of Moët Hennessy.

In its 19th year, the event has grown into a must-attend gathering.

“New Hampshire is a unique market since we are one of only two states (Pennsylvania is the other) having control of the entire wine market,” said Justin Gunter, Wine Marketing & Sales Specialist at the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. The NHLC chooses what wines can be found in the state and where they are distributed. That kind of bulk purchasing, he said, attracts vineyards, and helps them draw famed names to this event.

“We punch above our weight class,” he said.

And while the idea of heading to New Hampshire from, say, a French vineyard in the middle of winter may seem an unusual choice, Gunter said they get great names in not just because of their buying power, but also because of the beauty of the state in winter and the fact that wine schedules are slower this time of year.

“The personalities coming this year are absolute icons of the industry. It’s cool to get the giants to come to our little hamlet here,” Gunther said.

New Hampshire winemaker and vineyard owner Amy Labelle (https://labellewinery.com)  loves what the event does not just for her as a winemaker, but for those interested in wines.

“It’s phenomenal,” she said. “It puts us right in the same space as so many. You know, good wine is being made in all 50 states; people should know that.”

Labelle, who works with the public in the wine sphere all the time, loves this event for two reasons. First, being up close while folks try her wines – along with food pairings from great New Hampshire chefs.

“It’s all one guest at a time so we get the wine on their palate and see their eyes light up. And then they say ‘and it’s made right here?’ to which I can say ‘why yes it is!’ It’s really great.”

So too, she said, is one of the main reasons for the event: to support the New Hampshire Food Bank.

“Our mind is in winemaking, but our heart is in giving,” she said of Labelle Winery. “Since 2012, we’ve helped more than 2,400 charities. It’s infused into our DNA.”

The week is peppered with special dinners which can be viewed on the website.

On Jan. 22, you can immerse yourself in France and its famed wines via an evening celebrating French wine, champagne and culture at the Manchester Country Club. Vive la France! will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a sophisticated apéro (cocktail) hour, where attendees can engage one-on-one with esteemed wine experts Jean-Charles Boisset, Serge Doré and Dominique Giovine. Tickets are limited and cost $65.

The main event, though, is the New England Winter Wine Spectacular on Jan. 23, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown.

The New England Winter Wine Spectacular features hundreds of wines for sampling, a silent auction and food from the best of New Hampshire’s restaurants. Additionally, dozens of wine personalities from across the globe will be available throughout the evening to speak with attendees. VIP guests will also have the chance to visit the Bellman’s Cellar Select tasting room for tastings of ultra-premium wines and gourmet cuisine.

Tickets can be purchased for general or VIP admission. Most events, from this to the dinners, sell out quickly.

Labelle and Gunter have advice for attendees: Make a plan. The event will offer an app to help with this.

Labelle suggests you choose something to focus on; a type of wine you love or a new type you want to learn about, and set your plan around that ahead of time.

“People who do it wrong are the ones who want to come and drink all the wines. This blows out your palate,” she said, “and you’re not going to actually taste anything, you’re just going to get drunk.”

Gunter agreed and also suggested you not be shy. “Talk. Have conversations with the winemakers and brokers. Every one of them wants to share.” The wines will be on sale to take home as well.

And should you feel woozy when it’s time to go, they offer free limo service for anyone needing it up to 20 miles away.

But most of all, Labelle said, they want guests to go on a world wine adventure.

“Tell yourself: I want to taste wines from unusual places,” she said, ‘You know: Like New Hampshire.”

The New England Winter Wine Spectacular features hundreds of wines for sampling. (Photo courtesy New Hampshire Wine Week)
Winemakers and representatives both local and from around the world will be on hand at New Hampshire Wine Week. (Photo courtesy New Hampshire Wine Week)