Wine & Food Festival

Festival Overview

Held annually during the third week of May, the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival marks the unofficial start of the island's social season. The timing is intentional - spring has fully arrived, the daffodils from April's Daffodil Festival are still in bloom, and the summer crowds have yet to descend. This creates an intimate atmosphere where serious wine enthusiasts can engage directly with winemakers, sommeliers, and chefs without the frenetic pace of peak season.

The five-day event typically runs Wednesday through Sunday, with events scheduled throughout each day and evening. The format allows attendees to create their own experience - some come for a single grand tasting, while devoted oenophiles book the entire week, attending multiple dinners, seminars, and tastings. The festival's strength lies in its range: whether you're a seasoned collector or simply curious about wine, there's programming designed to educate, entertain, and inspire.

What sets Nantucket's festival apart from larger wine events is the setting itself. Tastings unfold in historic venues, dinners take place in candlelit restaurants overlooking the harbor, and seminars are held in intimate spaces where questions are encouraged. The island's compact geography means you're never far from the next event, and the beautiful spring weather makes walking between venues a pleasure rather than a chore.

History and Heritage

The Nantucket Wine & Food Festival was founded in 1997 by a group of island residents and wine enthusiasts who recognized Nantucket's potential as a world-class wine destination. What began as a modest weekend of tastings has evolved into a five-day celebration that attracts some of the wine world's most respected names.

From its inception, the festival has focused on quality over quantity. Rather than cramming thousands of attendees into cavernous convention halls, the organizers chose to keep events intimate and curated. This philosophy has attracted winemakers from Burgundy's most prestigious domaines, Napa Valley's cult producers, and emerging regions from around the world - all drawn by the opportunity to present their wines to engaged, knowledgeable audiences in an incomparable setting.

The festival has also served as a launching pad for culinary talent. Over the years, numerous chefs who presented at Nantucket have gone on to national acclaim, while established culinary stars have used the festival to preview new concepts and dishes. This blend of established excellence and emerging talent keeps the programming fresh and forward-looking.

Today, the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival is recognized as one of America's premier wine events, mentioned alongside the Aspen Food & Wine Classic and the New York City Wine & Food Festival. For many in the wine industry, an invitation to pour at Nantucket represents a significant honor and an opportunity to connect with a dedicated audience of collectors and enthusiasts.

Main Events

The festival's programming spans multiple event types, each offering a distinct experience. Understanding the differences helps attendees plan their ideal festival schedule.

Grand Tastings

The grand tastings are the festival's signature events, bringing together dozens of wineries and food purveyors under one roof. Typically held on Friday and Saturday afternoons, these walk-around tastings allow attendees to sample wines from regions around the world while enjoying bites prepared by Nantucket's finest restaurants and visiting chefs.

The Friday Harbor Gala traditionally opens the grand tasting series, set against the backdrop of Nantucket's working waterfront. Saturday's Grand Tasting is the largest event of the festival, featuring 100+ wineries and 30+ restaurants in a spectacular venue. Both events include passed hors d'oeuvres, elaborate food stations, and opportunities to meet winemakers and chefs.

Grand tastings are social affairs as much as educational ones. Expect a well-dressed crowd, lively conversation, and the excitement of discovering new favorites. For serious tasters, arriving early ensures access to sought-after pours before lines form.

Winemaker Dinners

The intimate winemaker dinners represent the festival's most coveted experiences. These multi-course affairs pair a featured winery's portfolio with a specially designed menu created by a celebrated chef. Held in Nantucket's finest restaurants and private venues, dinners typically seat 40-80 guests and include personal remarks from the winemaker.

Past dinners have featured legendary producers from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Piedmont, and Napa Valley, with wines rarely seen outside private collections. The format allows for genuine conversation - attendees share tables with fellow enthusiasts and often find themselves chatting directly with the evening's featured winemaker.

Winemaker dinners sell out quickly, often within hours of release. Serious attendees should register for festival email lists to receive advance notice of ticket sales. Prices reflect the exceptional wines being poured and can range from $350 to $750 per person.

Cooking Demonstrations

Cooking demonstrations offer an entertaining and educational window into professional kitchens. Celebrity chefs and local culinary stars take the stage to prepare dishes, share techniques, and tell stories about their craft. These interactive sessions typically include wine pairings and allow audiences to taste the finished creations.

Demonstrations range from casual and conversational to technically intensive. Some focus on home-cooking techniques that attendees can replicate, while others showcase restaurant-level preparations that inspire appreciation for culinary artistry. The relaxed format encourages questions, and chefs often share tips and secrets they wouldn't reveal elsewhere.

Seminars and Workshops

For those seeking deeper knowledge, seminars and workshops provide structured educational experiences. Led by master sommeliers, wine writers, and regional experts, these sessions explore specific topics in depth - from comparative tastings of vintage Bordeaux to explorations of emerging wine regions.

Popular seminar formats include vertical tastings (multiple vintages of a single wine), horizontal tastings (wines from the same vintage across different producers), and blind tastings that challenge even experienced palates. Workshop topics might include food and wine pairing principles, wine service and storage, or the science behind winemaking techniques.

Seminars are limited in size to ensure meaningful interaction. They represent excellent value, offering access to exceptional wines and expert instruction at prices far below what comparable experiences would cost elsewhere.

Celebrity Chef Appearances

Each year, the festival attracts a roster of celebrity chefs who participate in dinners, demonstrations, and panel discussions. Past festivals have welcomed James Beard Award winners, Michelin-starred talents, and television personalities who bring star power and culinary innovation to the island.

Celebrity chef events range from intimate dinners where the chef personally presents each course to larger demonstrations and book signings. The festival's reputation ensures access to culinary talent rarely seen outside major metropolitan areas, creating memorable opportunities for food enthusiasts.

Get Tickets for This Year's Festival

For current event schedules, pricing, and tickets, visit the official Nantucket Wine Festival website. Events sell out quickly—check availability and book early.

Visit NantucketWineFestival.com →

Ticket Information and Pricing

Festival tickets are released in tiers, with early-bird pricing typically available in late winter. Understanding the ticket structure helps attendees budget appropriately and secure their preferred events. Note: Prices below are general ranges—visit nantucketwinefestival.com for current pricing.

Typical Ticket Tiers

• Grand Tasting Tickets ($175-$300): Access to individual grand tasting events. Friday Harbor Gala and Saturday Grand Tasting are priced separately.
• Seminar Tickets ($75-$175): Individual educational sessions vary based on wines being poured and presenter credentials.
• Cooking Demonstrations ($50-$125): Interactive chef presentations including tastings of prepared dishes.
• Winemaker Dinners ($400-$850): Multi-course dinners with featured wineries. Premium dinners with rare vintages command higher prices.
• Festival Passes ($600-$2,000): Multi-event packages offering access to grand tastings, seminars, and priority booking for dinners.
• VIP Experiences ($2,500+): All-access passes including exclusive events, preferred seating, and private receptions with featured guests.

Booking Strategy

Tickets for the most popular events - particularly winemaker dinners and Saturday's Grand Tasting - sell out within days of release. To secure your preferred events:

• Subscribe to the festival mailing list for advance notice of ticket sales
• Mark your calendar for the on-sale date and be ready to purchase immediately
• Consider festival passes for guaranteed access to grand tastings
• Have backup dinner choices in case your first preference sells out
• Book accommodations before purchasing tickets - you'll need a place to stay

Festival Venues

Events take place at venues throughout Nantucket, each contributing to the festival's unique character.

Primary Venues

• White Elephant: This waterfront resort hosts several grand tastings and receptions, with events spilling onto terraces overlooking Nantucket Harbor.
• The Nantucket Hotel: Seminars and demonstrations often take place in this historic downtown property's elegant function spaces.
• The Wauwinet: The island's most exclusive resort hosts intimate dinners featuring extraordinary wine pairings.
• Cisco Brewers: Casual tastings and outdoor events at this beloved brewery complex offer a relaxed counterpoint to formal dinners.
• Private Estates: Some of the festival's most exclusive events take place in private homes, offering glimpses into Nantucket's legendary residences.

Restaurant Partners

Nantucket's finest restaurants participate as dinner venues and culinary partners. Establishments like Topper's, Straight Wharf, Company of the Cauldron, and The Galley Beach host winemaker dinners that pair their exceptional cuisine with world-class wines. These collaborations often result in special menus created specifically for the festival.

What to Wear

Festival attire reflects Nantucket's blend of sophistication and relaxed island style. The key is polished casual - elevated enough for elegant venues but comfortable for walking between events.

Grand Tastings

Daytime tastings call for smart casual attire. For men, this means button-down shirts or polos, chinos or dress pants, and loafers or clean sneakers. Women typically wear sundresses, elegant separates, or tailored pants with blouses. Comfortable shoes are essential - you'll be standing and walking for several hours.

Winemaker Dinners

Evening dinners warrant more polished attire. Men should plan on sport coats or blazers with dress pants - ties are optional but not out of place. Women often wear cocktail dresses, elegant jumpsuits, or sophisticated separates. These are special occasions, and guests dress accordingly.

Practical Considerations

• May weather on Nantucket can be unpredictable - bring layers
• Outdoor events may be chilly in the evening; pack a wrap or light jacket
• Avoid heavy perfumes or colognes that interfere with wine tasting
• Dark colors hide wine spills better than white or cream
• Women should consider avoiding silk, which stains easily

Accommodation Advice

Securing accommodations is arguably more challenging than getting festival tickets. The wine festival fills Nantucket's hotels and rentals months in advance, and prices reflect peak-season demand despite May's shoulder-season timing.

Book Early - Very Early

The most important advice: book your accommodations immediately after festival dates are announced, typically in late fall or early winter. Waiting until tickets go on sale often means settling for less desirable options or paying premium prices.

Where to Stay

• Downtown Hotels: Properties like the White Elephant, Nantucket Hotel, and Greydon House put you steps from most venues. Premium pricing but unbeatable convenience.
• Historic Inns: Bed and breakfasts throughout town offer charming accommodations and often include breakfast - helpful for wine-heavy evenings.
• Vacation Rentals: Houses and cottages provide more space and kitchen facilities. Book through established agencies or platforms.
• The Wauwinet: If attending events there, staying on-property eliminates transportation concerns and provides a spectacular retreat.

Pricing Expectations

May rates fall between off-season and peak summer pricing, but festival weekend commands premiums. Budget $350-$600/night for quality hotel rooms, $400-$800/night for boutique inns, and $3,000-$10,000/week for vacation rentals. Book refundable rates when possible - festival plans can change, and flexibility has value.

Transportation During the Festival

Getting around Nantucket during the wine festival requires planning, particularly after evening events when you shouldn't be driving.

Getting to Nantucket

• Ferry: Steamship Authority and Hy-Line ferries run regular schedules from Hyannis. Book car ferry reservations well in advance if bringing a vehicle.
• Air: Cape Air and JetBlue serve Nantucket Memorial Airport with connections from Boston, New York, and other cities.

Getting Around the Island

• Walking: Most downtown events are walkable from central accommodations. This is the safest option after tastings.
• Taxis and Rideshares: Essential for events at The Wauwinet or other distant venues. Book in advance for post-dinner pickup - demand exceeds supply during festival evenings.
• Hotel Shuttles: The Wauwinet runs complimentary jitney service to/from town. Some hotels offer courtesy transportation to festival events.
• Rental Cars: Useful for daytime exploration but avoid driving after tastings. Book early as inventory is limited.
• Bicycles: A wonderful option for daytime travel, though not practical in evening attire or after drinking.

Important Notes

Nantucket takes drunk driving seriously, and enforcement is strict. Plan your transportation before you start tasting. Many attendees arrange standing taxi accounts or book cars for the entire evening. The island is small, but walking long distances at night after wine dinners isn't ideal - arrange rides in advance.

Making the Most of Your Visit

The wine festival is the centerpiece of a Nantucket May visit, but the island offers much more. Build in time to explore beyond scheduled events.

Morning Activities

Mornings before festival events are perfect for exploring Nantucket. Walk the cobblestone streets when shops are quiet, visit the Whaling Museum, or take an early beach walk. The light morning crowds and spring weather make for ideal sightseeing conditions.

Dining Beyond the Festival

While winemaker dinners are highlights, Nantucket's restaurant scene deserves exploration. Book lunch reservations at spots not participating in festival dinners, or arrange late-night meals after grand tastings conclude.

Rest and Recovery

Five days of wine events can be exhausting. Build in downtime - a quiet afternoon at your hotel, a leisurely breakfast, or a spa treatment helps maintain energy for evening events. The festival is a marathon, not a sprint.