It's time to bid farewell to our spiked egg nog and greet this new year with appreciation for some finer spirits. New Hampshire Wine Week, or sometimes Winter Wine Week, supported by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, is actually a season-long wine tasting celebration.

Official festivities kick-off next week on Monday, January 21^st and will continue into March through the beginning of spring. The pinnacle NH Wine Week event is the NH Wine Week Winter Wine Spectacular on Thursday, January 24^th in Manchester. This event, as always, will benefit the Easter Seals NH in their mission to help individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives.

I am no wine expert, by any means. I appreciate a good Chianti for flavor and nearly any white wine for fragrance (though I don't usually imbibe the dryer pours). I have been to a couple of wine tastings, they can be pretty fun! If you're a novice wine drinker, here are a few basic vocab words to get you started! The Chicago Wine School has a great full list! See below for some upcoming NH Wine Week Events near you!

Aroma: the portion of the smell of a wine derived specifically from the grape variety, as opposed to that portion of the smell derived from other sources.

Balance: a balanced wine is one whose constituents--sugar, acids, tannins, alcohols, etc.--are evident but do not mask one another. A young red wine--tannic and acidic-- is not considered balanced because these two characteristics mask the other flavor elements of the wine, which, given time, may display themselves.

Bananas: very young wines--tank samples, wines that have undergone a very cold fermentation or freshly bottled wines--will often smell like bananas.

Clean: having no off-odors or off-tastes.

Dry: a dry wine is one without noticeable sweetness. Technically, a dry wine retains little or no sugar after fermentation.

Finish: the sensual impression -- long or short, strong or weak --that lingers after you have swallowed a wine; a.k.a. "aftertaste".

Flat: a wine without acid tang.

Flowery: an indeterminate fragrance akin to flowers in general.

Fruity: a pleasant fragrance from ripe grapes made into wine; a berry-like quality akin to fruits in general.

Full: see big, a full-bodied wine.

Grapey: similar to fresh, also applied to wines which smell and taste like fresh-picked grapes.

Here are some NH Wine Week events for the next week. Looking for more NH Wine Week events? Check out the NH.com Events Calendar at www.NHEvents.com and search under subject category Food and Drink.

Concord, NH: NH Wine Week Celebrity Guest Bartender
Wednesday, January 23, 6pm - 8:30pm
Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire hosts Michael Phillips, co-owner of Michael David Winery, as guest bartender at O Steaks and Seafood, 11 South Main Street, Concord. For more information and to make a reservation, which is highly recommended, call (603) 715-5624.

Amherst, NH: NH Wine Week Single Vineyard Wine Tasting Seminar
Wednesday, January 23, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Merry Edwards, winemaker from Merry Edwards Winery, RP Imports and LaBelle Winery host an exclusive wine tasting seminar at LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101, Amherst. Six single vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs will be sampled side by side in a formal sit-down tasting with expert commentary from the winemaker. Space is limited to 25 participants. The wines will be available for purchase at LaBelle Winery on the evening of the seminar only. Tickets are $75.00 per person. Click here for more information and to order tickets.

Manchester, NH: NH Wine Week Cellar Notes for Easter Seals NH
Wednesday, January 23, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Join four winemakers for a reception, wine tasting and bottle signing - Gérard Bertrand from Gérard Bertrand Winery; Clay Brock from Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards; Gove Celio from Neal Family Vineyards; and Peter Mondavi, Jr. from Charles Krug Winery-Peter Mondavi Family Winery - at Puritan Backroom Conference Center, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester. Hosted by Horizon Beverage Company, MS Walker, RP Imports and Southern Wine & Spirits of New England. Tickets are $35.00 per person. For more information and to order tickets, call 888-368-8880 or order online at eastersealsnh.org

Portsmouth, NH: NH Wine Week Wine Dinner
Wednesday, January 23, 6pm
Antonio Zaccheo, Jr., winemaker from Carpineto, and Horizon Beverage Company host a wine dinner at Black Trumpet Bistro, 29 Ceres Street, Portsmouth. Tickets are $75.00 per person plus tax and gratuity. For more information and to order tickets, call (603) 431-0887.

Manchester, NH: NH Wine Week Winter Wine Spectacular for Easter Seals NH
Thursday, January 24, 6pm - 9pm
Don't miss the most spectacular wine event in the region at the Center of New Hampshire Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm Street, Manchester. It's a night filled with nearly 2,000 quality wines with winemakers from all over the world and fine food from the area's best restaurants and chefs. Explore the Grand Tasting, $65.00 per person, or heighten your wine experience with Full Access to include Bellman's Cellar Select featuring our finest selections, $125.00 per person. For more information and to order tickets, call 888-368-8880 or order online at eastersealsnh.org.

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