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Wine Festivals Uncorked: Enjoy samplings from Albana to Zinfandel

September is harvest season, and what better crop to sample than grapes... especially those that have undergone the alchemy of winemaking. Wine festivals abound across the country, and aficionados, critics, social sippers, and weekend wine warriors are all welcome at these autumn odes to the vine. Wine expert and LocalWineEvents.com founder Eric V. Orange gave us his top picks for this season’s events. (Links for festival information and tickets are online at his Website.)

Maryland Wine Festival (September 19 to 20), Westminster, MD
Though it certainly doesn’t have the cachet of Sonoma, the Piedmont Plateau in central Maryland is quickly making a name for itself in the world of wine. If you need evidence, look no further than this annual harvest festival in Westminster, a town right in the heart of the state’s wine-producing region. About a 45-minute drive northwest of Baltimore, this two-day event provides visitors a chance to taste more than 200 wines and a wide spread of local cuisine. And here’s the best part: It’s a real bargain with admission only $20 for your own wineglass and samples.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair (October 3 to 4), Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County is iconic California wine country, and its biggest tasting festival doesn’t disappoint. With well over 1,000 wines, many locally produced, the sheer range available is a major draw. But as the organizers are quick to point out, the two-day event is a highlight of all the county has to offer, not just wine. Local produce, livestock, arts, homemade crafts, and flowers are on display, and many are available for purchase. Tickets are $36 for one Friday afternoon sampling or $68 for the entire event—but considering that includes admission to the World Championship Grape Stomping competition, you may want to splurge.

New York City Wine and Food Festival (October 8 to 11), New York, NY
This massive spectacle of culinary glitz and glam in the Big Apple is worth checking out—with famous chefs such as Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis from the sponsoring Food Network and even more famous scenic backdrops in Manhattan and Brooklyn. But don’t let that distract you from the good stuff—the wine and food. Savor samples from world-renowned winemakers and dozens of NYC restaurants at the Grand Tasting on Pier 54. (The price of admission is big league, too, $150.)

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (September 25 to November 8), Orlando, FL
Admittedly, a resort best known for its amusement parks doesn’t scream enophile destination, but this huge Epcot event may surprise you. Lasting 45 days, it offers daily attractions with tastings (for instance, from the French areas of Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone, Alsace; $95), wine and food pairings (from Italy, Japan, or Morocco; $55), and varietal classes (Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon; $80), to name just a few of the dining, dancing, and regional wine festivities.

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (November 18 to 22), San Diego, CA
Ever since this five-day festival’s debut in 2004, the city has received increasingly serious national attention for its wine and restaurant scene. The largest of its kind in Southern California, this festival showcases the products of 170 wineries and 70 of San Diego’s most elite eateries. Sip and swish at the four-hour Grand Tasting Event on Saturday ($125 in advance) on the Embarcadero Park North, featuring ocean breezes and views of San Diego Bay. (Smaller events are $50 and up.) —Bill Donahue