N.H., Seacoast wineries ready to impress at 5th annual Wine Festival

Representatives of both will be doing just that as the fledgling New Hampshire Winery Association (www.nhwineryassociation.com), formed in 2006, participates for the first time as a group in the annual Winter Wine Festival at the Wentworth By the Sea in Newcastle.

It's a fifth anniversary celebration that opens Jan. 16 and runs through Feb. 28 with a variety of programming including award-winning winemakers and industry experts and chefs from throughout the nation and world leading Grand Vintner dinners, tastings, educational and entertainment events, music and more.

(A complete schedule is available online at: www.winterwinefestival.com)

The Winery Association will take part in the gala kick-off Grand Tasting from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16. There will be hundreds of wines and visiting chefs preparing lavish hors d'oeuvres throughout all of the historic hotel's ballrooms.

Ben Baldwin and the Big Notes will provide music for dancing in one of the ballrooms and a live duo will perform in the jazz lounge.

It is an opportunity to explore the vineyards of the world under one roof, said Michele Duval, Wentworth wine director and executive director of New England Wine Festivals.

Happy to share that roof this year are members of the New Hampshire Winery Association said Heather Houle, director of sales, marketing and events at Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee, and a coordinator of the association's participation in the festival.

"Those in the association who are taking part are sincerely excited about it," she said. "Speaking on behalf of Flag Hill, our continued goal is to showcase that there are fine wines being produced in many areas around the state and country outside of California, Oregon, Washington and New York."

"Peter Oldak and I have led the charge to get doors open, and the more that open, the better it will be for all of us. It will be a big change," Frank Reinhold Jr. told the industry magazine, Wines & Vines. Reinhold and his wife Linda established Flag Hill in 1996.

It required pioneers, using hardier grape varieties, in various regions in New England to be the first to show that winegrowing could be done successfully explained Dr. Peter Oldak, president of the New Hampshire Winery Association. He and his wife Brenda opened Jewell Towne Vineyards in South Hampton in 1994.

"We at Jewell Towne Vineyards www.jewelltownevineyards.com) and wine-infoflaghill.com at Flag Hill (www.flaghill.com) have shown that it can be done and others have followed," he said.

The Granite State wine industry is still in its infancy, Oldak added. There are now 15 wineries and about half of them will be at the Winter Wine Festival. "Every event which showcases the local wines is an opportunity to educate the public, in particular the wine buying public, about their local wines," he said.

At tastings each winery generally brings four to six of its best wines for the public to sample. Festival-goers will find a broad selection of wines which will include 100 percent premium grape, several varieties of fruit wine, fruit and grape blends, as well as honey wines. "They will run the gamut from bone dry to dessert sweet and all sort of variations in between," Oldak explained.

Houle expects that many people will be pleasantly surprised. "I think they will be most intrigued by the variety of different tastes and palate pleasers," she said.

Along with grape wines, Flag Hill also produces a line of fruit and dessert wines and, Houle said, the state's only port. "More recently we became the first and currently only distillery in the state, producing super premium vodka (General John Stark Vodka) made from New Hampshire apples, a line of liqueurs and we will proudly debut our second premium produce, Josiah Bartlett Barrel Aged Apple Brandy," she said.

Flag Hill's tasting room and gift shop is located in a restored original post and beam barn. "We offer tours and our grounds are open to the public for walking, viewing, picture taking and picnics," Houle said.

Jewell Towne's main focus is producing premium wines from locally grown hybrid grapes. (Wines made from hybrids, such as Seyval, Aurore, Vignoles, Vidal, Cayuga, Marechal Foch, Leon Millot, Chancellor and Landot noir have become household names for those who are familiar with Jewell Towne's products, Oldak said.)

Oldak began planting grapes in 1982 as a hobby and began making wine, as a hobby, in 1985. "I soon began to appreciate that we had a very favorable micro-climate in South Hampton for grape growing," he said.

He is anxious to offer a taste of what he means at the festival. "I enjoy telling people about my wines and winery and seeing their delightful smiles and surprise when they taste our wines. I enjoy educating the public about the local wineries," he said.

He sees the Winter Wine Festival as an opportunity to acquaint the public about the quality of local wines which are good for the local economy and good for the local environment.

Oldak wants to let people know that there is indeed a thriving local wine industry and if they are willing to look, they may find local wine in their favorite grocery store or restaurant. "If they do not find it they should ask the manager. This will offer the customer the opportunity to buy local and support the development of the local wine industry," he explained.

The Association hopes to educate consumers about the variety of producers in New Hampshire said Corrie Martin of Farnum Hill Ciders (www.farnumhillciders.com), owned by Stephen Wood and Louisa Spencer. It is located in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, in Lebanon, N.H.

"From wines to cider and mead, N.H. Winery Association members are making lovely, distinct beverages that are food-friendly," Martin said.

"We stress that wine is an accompaniment to food and that our wines are meant to be enjoyed not studied," Jewell Towne's Oldak said. "We offer wines for under $10 in an effort to attract people to the idea of a reasonably priced every day wine to go with meals or for an evening drink."

Houle believes that wines are more affordable today. "I think so, simply because there are less barriers and more variety and options for people," she theorized. "Wine is very personal and different for each person, which is what makes it so unique and interesting."

There are always bargains in any industry, reminds Corrie Martin, and wine is no different. "You should drink what you like, and not be put off by prices or ratings. There is a price point and flavor profile out there for everyone," he said. "Americans are interested in new things, new experiences, and they like discovering something about themselves. Wine can help do this."