A Taste of Vermont

This May, Manhester, Vermont sets the table for a weekend devoted to regional flavor, craft traditions and culinary discovery as the Manchester Food& Wine Festival makes its debut in the Green Mountains. 

There are few places where food, wine and setting come together quite like Vermont. This spring, Manchester invites visitors to experience that connection firsthand with the inaugural Manchester Food & Wine Festival, taking place May 22–24, 2026. Set against the beauty of the Green Mountains, the weekend is designed as both a culinary celebration and a stylish seasonal escape. 

The festival opens Friday evening with a VIP Preview Soirée at The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, an elegant kickoff featuring elevated tasting stations, curated wines, chilled seafood, chef-led carving stations and passed hors d’oeuvres. It sets the tone for a weekend that blends Vermont craftsmanship with polished resort hospitality.  

Saturday offers a full menu of experiences throughout the area. Guests can explore the working landscape of Vermont during a Pasture Walk and Cheese Tasting at Woodlawn Creamery, where artisanal cheeses are paired with the scenery of the Mettawee Valley. At the Southern Vermont Arts Center, Sip, Savor & Stroll combines a guided cultural experience with a three-course wine-paired lunch. Other afternoon highlights include a behind-the-scenes brewery experience at Lost Marble Brewing Co., teatime at The Equinox, and a Vermont Alpine Aperitif tasting that brings together vermouth, cider and craft spirits in a refined, European-inspired format.

The evening continues with intimate wine-pairing dinners, including a “Meet the Maker” dinner with Chef Amy Chamberlain at Barnstead Inn, where local ingredients, nearby farms, cheesemakers and breweries take center stage. Depot 62 Café will offer a Mediterranean-inspired prix fixe dinner paired with Turkish wines, adding an international note to the weekend’s Vermont foundation. 

The festival culminates Sunday with The Grand Tasting at The Equinox, an afternoon of wines, spirits, gourmet bites, live music and regional artisans. The event will feature more than 20 vineyards, six top restaurants and over 15 local artisans as part of the Green Mountain Experience. Participating restaurants include Depot 62, Crooked Ram, The Reluctant Panther, The Chop House at The Equinox and Copper Grouse at Kimpton Taconic Hotel, while the artisan showcase includes names such as Woodlawn Creamery, Grafton Cheese, Village Garage Distillery, Mad River Distillers and Mother Myrick’s Confectionery.  

For food lovers, wine enthusiasts and travelers looking for a spring weekend with character, Manchester offers more than a tasting itinerary. Its walkable village, boutique shops, galleries, restaurants and historic inns make the festival feel like a true getaway—one where every glass, plate and view tells a little more of Vermont’s story. 

Info: vermontfoodfestival.com