Wine Festivals in May 2026

The annual presentation of the Vinea Wachau producers' association, held in the baroque Stift Dürnstein on the Danube. Over 200 wines from the Wachau's top producers are available for tasting, categorised into Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd quality tiers. A focused, quality-driven tasting in a stunning riverside setting.

For one May weekend, over 100 Vinea Wachau member wineries simultaneously open their cellar doors across the entire UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley — one of the most scenic wine landscapes on Earth. The €40 wristband includes tastings at every participating winery plus free travel on the Wachau train, buses, and Danube ferries. The first public pouring of the new Smaragd vintage makes this a true wine-world event.

The centerpiece of Plovdiv's 2025 European Wine Capital programme: a three-day May festival in the UNESCO-listed Old Town where a Dionysian opening procession leads wine lovers through cobblestone streets to cellars poured by Bulgaria's best producers. Held over the spring, with a second 'Young Wine' edition in November when new vintages are released. Bulgaria's dramatic Thracian Valley and Rhodope Mountain wines are emerging on the world stage — this is where to discover them.

The vignerons of Sancerre open their cellars across the hilltop town and surrounding villages for a spring tasting weekend, coinciding with the Ascension holiday. Producers from the 14 Sancerre communes pour their Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs, with panoramic views of the Loire Valley.

Georgia's largest single-day wine festival brings together 168 natural winemakers at Mtatsminda Park above Tbilisi each May for the ceremonial uncorking of the new harvest wines. Georgia invented winemaking 8,000 years ago and the qvevri (clay amphora) method is UNESCO-listed; this festival is the best introduction to these traditions. Entry is free, wines are sold by the glass, and the mountain park setting with views over Tbilisi is spectacular.

For nearly 40 years, Würzburg has transformed its Baroque market square into a cozy wine village every late May, with 40 rustic gazebos offering ~100 Franconian wines from 30 local producers. Set beneath the Marienkapelle church with the Residenz palace nearby, it's one of Germany's most beautiful festival settings. Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau in the heartland of Franken wine — hard to beat.

The annual Prosecco Superiore DOCG open weekend, hosted across the historic villas of the Valdobbiadene hills. Producers pour their Prosecco Superiore, Rive single-vineyard, and Cartizze wines in Renaissance villa gardens. The Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Italy's national open-cellar weekend, when hundreds of wineries across all 20 regions throw open their doors for tastings, vineyard tours, and food pairings. Organised by the Movimento Turismo del Vino, it is the country's largest coordinated wine tourism event and a fantastic way to discover small producers.

Romania's premier international wine fair brings together over 120 exhibitors from Romania, Moldova, and across Europe at the Timișoara Exhibition Centre. Professional tastings, blind competitions, and gala dinners make it both a trade event and a public celebration. The event has helped put Romanian wine on the international map since 2010.

The Vipava Valley, sheltered from Alpine winds by the Nanos plateau, opens its cellars for a weekend wine trail each May. Over 40 family wineries pour distinctive zelen, pinela, and vitovska whites alongside hearty local dishes. The valley's warm Mediterranean microclimate and dramatic karst landscape make this one of Slovenia's most scenic wine events.

The annual showcase of Priorat wines in the small town of Falset, capital of the DOQ Priorat. Over 50 producers pour their powerful, mineral-driven wines from old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena, making this one of the most concentrated tastings of a single DO anywhere in Spain. Paired with local food and cultural events.

Jerez's legendary horse fair is equally a sherry festival. The casetas (private party tents) flow with Fino, Manzanilla, and Amontillado, while Andalusian horses parade and flamenco fills the night. A week-long explosion of Andalusian culture where sherry is the essential social lubricant.

Switzerland's largest open-cellar weekend invites the public into 300+ wine cellars across the Canton of Vaud. Winemakers personally pour Chasselas, Pinot Noir, and Gamay while visitors stroll through UNESCO-listed Lavaux terraces and charming lakeside villages. A single pass grants entry to every participating cellar.

Over 230 Valais winemakers simultaneously open their cellar doors across Switzerland's most important wine region for a spring weekend every May. The Caves Ouvertes offers unprecedented access to producers normally not open to the public — from the Rhône Valley floor to high-altitude terraces producing Fendant, Johannisberg, and Cornalin. Free to enter most cellars, pay per glass. An authentic alternative to organised wine tours.

Crystal Springs Resort hosts the premier wine and food event in New Jersey for a long weekend of grand tastings, celebrity chef appearances, master classes, and exclusive winemaker dinners. The 14th annual edition in 2026 features guest chef Marco Pierre White alongside NJ's top culinary talent, with the VIP Lounge offering bites from the acclaimed Restaurant Latour and rare wines. Set in the scenic Kittatinny Mountains, it's a luxury weekend escape from New York City.

Oregon's premier fine wine auction, now in its tenth year, presenting unique lots from the Willamette Valley's top producers — primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines from the 2024 vintage. The two-day format includes intimate producer dinners and a live auction that has become a major event on the Pacific Northwest wine calendar. Proceeds support the Willamette Valley Wineries Association.

The ultimate convergence of world-class music, food, and wine, drawing 120,000 fans over three days at the Napa Valley Expo. Celebrity chefs share stages with A-list headliners while 200+ wineries pour at curated tasting stations throughout the grounds. The Culinary Stage — where rock stars and Michelin chefs collaborate live — is unlike anything else in the festival world.

Paso Robles' flagship wine event features a grand tasting in the downtown City Park with over 100 wineries. The weekend also includes winery open houses, vineyard concerts, and food pairings. Known for its Rhône varieties and Zinfandel, Paso Robles has become one of California's most exciting wine regions.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance's flagship public festival, featuring 120+ local wineries at the Paso Robles Event Center across a long weekend of grand tastings, winemaker dinners, and culinary experiences. The Grand Tasting on Saturday is the headline event, but the multi-format weekend — from intimate Paired Paso dinners to the Sunday sparkling showcase — rewards those who stay the full weekend.

The sixth annual St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival brings 300+ varieties of wine, beer, and spirits alongside celebrity chefs and local culinary talent to America's oldest city over four days in early May. The Grand Tasting at Ancient City Farmstead is the anchor event, but chef dinners, mixology classes, and the historic Old Town backdrop make it a true destination experience. St. Augustine's historic architecture and beaches create one of the most charming festival settings in Florida.

Over 120 Walla Walla Valley wineries release their newest vintages simultaneously during this popular spring weekend. Visitors explore the downtown tasting rooms and countryside estates, sampling newly bottled wines alongside food pairings and live music. The valley's intimate, walkable scale makes it a uniquely accessible event.

South Australia's Clare Valley celebrates its world-class Rieslings over a May long weekend, with a twist: the festival is built around cycling the famous Riesling Trail between wineries. Over 20 cellar doors offer food pairings, live music, and exclusive releases accessible only on festival weekend. Flat to rolling terrain makes cycling accessible to all fitness levels.

A self-drive wine and food trail across eight Lovedale Road wineries in the Hunter Valley, each hosting a unique long-table lunch on a May weekend. Ticket holders drive between wineries at their own pace, with wine matched to courses at each stop. The Lovedale precinct's intimate scale and cellar door character gives it a more personal feel than Hunter Valley's main events.

A month-long celebration of Hunter Valley wine and food throughout May and June. Events range from opera in the vines and long-table lunches to blending workshops and cheese-and-wine pairings. As Australia's oldest wine region (since 1828), the Hunter offers a unique mix of tradition and modern wine tourism.