Manchester Wine Festival Returns for Its Second Year, With Every Dollar of Profit Going to the Manchester Community Library and Local Causes in Need

Twenty-five tables of wine, food and local producers, a secret speakeasy and a blind tasting, at the Manchester Community Library on Saturday, November 7

MANCHESTER CENTER, Vt. — The Manchester Wine Festival returns for its second year on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Manchester Community Library, 138 Cemetery Avenue. The festival is organized by Nature's Market and run entirely by volunteers from the community, from the door to the glassware. It brings together twenty-five tables of wine, food and small local producers for an afternoon indoors in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains.

Every dollar of profit stays in the valley

All of the festival's profits, from ticket sales and from wine sold on the day, go to the Manchester Community Library, the festival's host, and to local organizations in need. Guests help decide where the money goes. Each guest gets a ballot at the door and votes among the nominated local causes, and the count closes when the festival does. Anyone can nominate a cause: guests, vendors, volunteers and neighbors. To reach the ballot, a cause must be a registered charity, confirmed before it is listed, and local to this corner of Vermont.

What's happening on the day

- Twenty-five tables of Old World and New World wines poured side by side, with local food and makers alongside
- The Secret Speakeasy Pour: somewhere in the festival, behind a secret door, one ultra-premium or highly unusual bottle is waiting. Guests get in by solving the wine riddle or finding one of the hidden
tokens scattered around the festival. It's included with every ticket and needs no booking.
- Paper bag blind tasting: every bottle is poured from a brown paper bag. Guests taste, guess the grape and the country, then see the label. Seats are limited to 30 per session and cost $15; session times
- Paper bag blind tasting: every bottle is poured from a brown paper bag. Guests taste, guess the grape and the country, then see the label. Seats are limited to 30 per session and cost $15; session times
will be announced.
- The charity ballot: one vote per guest, counted at close
- Take the festival home: 10% off any 12 bottles and 15% off 24 or more at Nature's Market, mix and match
- More tastings and talks will be announced as they are confirmed

Who is pouring

Confirmed so far, with more to be announced: 802 Distributors, Artisanal Cellars, Baker Distributing, Farmer Wines and Farrell Distributing.

Friends and supporters of the festival

The festival is backed by local businesses that were asked to put their name to it, not their money:

Al Ducci's, Aspen at Manchester, Barnstead Inn, Black River Produce, Christos' Pizza & Pasta, Earth & Sea Fish Market, GSK Climate Control, The Inn at Manchester, The Inn at Ormsby Hill, Just Kitchen and Bath, La Peche Lingerie, Manchester Community Library (host), Mighty Food Farm, Mystico Cucina Italiana, Nature's Market (organizer), Nina Jewelry, Orvis, Silver Fork, Squirrel, Tap Dance Productions, The Crooked Ram and Vermont Kitchen Supply.

Tickets

- Early bird: $20, through October 4, 2026, or until the first 100 tickets are sold
- Regular: $30
- At the door: $35, subject to availability

A ticket includes entry to all twenty-five tables, the Secret Speakeasy Pour and a ballot for the charity vote. Tickets are sold only at manchesterwinefestival.com. There is plenty of free parking at the library.

The festival is strictly for guests aged 21 and over. Photo ID is checked at the door, and anyone without valid ID won't be admitted.

Get involved

- Wineries, distributors and food vendors can apply for a table at manchesterwinefestival.com/vendors.
- Volunteers can sign up for a four-hour shift (door, glassware and ballots) at manchesterwinefestival.com/volunteers.
- Anyone can nominate a local registered charity for the ballot at manchesterwinefestival.com.

About the Manchester Wine Festival

The Manchester Wine Festival is a one-day celebration of wine, food and community in Manchester Center, Vermont, now in its second year. It is organized by Nature's Market, hosted by the Manchester Community Library and run entirely by volunteers. Every dollar of profit goes to the library and to local causes in need.

Media contact

Natures Market
Manchester Wine Festival
info@manchesterwinefestival.com
manchesterwinefestival.com