The third annual Winter Wine Festival returns to the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel in New Castle, Jan. 13 to Feb. 24. Representatives from Veuve Clicquot, St. Francis, Casa LaPostolle, Foppiano, Kenwood, Sebastiani, Marchesi di Barolo, Kendall-Jackson, Louis Martini, Pedroncelli and Sakonnet will be attending the six-week food and wine extravaganza. Grand vintner’s dinners, tasting seminars, Champagne brunches, rare vertical tastings, dueling chefs, Riedel glass demonstrations, an art show reception and local and international music will be the main course.

The opening kick-off Grand Tasting Reception, on Saturday, Jan. 13, is a walk-around event showcasing new wines from around world along with an assortment of hors d’ouevres from some of Portsmouth New Hampshire’s best chefs, all accompanied by jazz performer Carrie Coltrane.
Chefs visiting during the festival include Mary Dumont of The Dunaway in Portsmouth, who was named by Food and Wine Magazine as one of America’s 10 best new chefs of 2006 and is sister to the Wentworth’s award-winning chef Dan Dumont; Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier of the famed Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit, Maine, named one of 50 best restaurants in the country by Gourmet Magazine; Justin Wangler, chef at Kendall-Jackson Winery in Sonoma; and Chris Kozlowski from Orchard St. Chop Shop in Dover.

On Feb. 16, chefs from New England’s last four remaining “Grand Dame” hotels—the Balsams, Mount Washington, Mountain View Grand and the Wentworth by the Sea—will prepare a four-course dinner paired to the wines of California winemaker and New England native Peter Merriam with music from Ben Baldwin and the Big Note.

Also featured will be vertical tastings, Sunday brunches, Flamenco dance and guitar and a variety of special dinners. Flights Nights will be featured every Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m., with featured flights of wine, winemakers and noted wine authorities, along with complimentary hors d’ouevres and entertainment in Roosevelt’s Lounge.

The full calendar of events can be viewed online at www.winterwinefestival.com. Reservations can be made online or by calling 603-422-7322.