National Wine Day (May 25) fell on a Monday this year. Still, that hasn’t dampened our spirits, because luckily D.C. offers plenty of other occasions to enjoy a good glass of wine (or several). We do have our eyes on one specific annual event, whose second edition is coming up this fall. DC Wine Fest® returns with a stellar lineup in October, featuring local vendors and international varieties for all wine-tasting enthusiasts. Continue reading to discover all the details about the festival, and uncover more viticultural events in the area.
What is DC Wine Fest®?
DC Wine Fest® is a wine festival held twice a year at Dock 5 in the Union Market District. It brings together different national wineries and wine labels for unlimited tastings during timed sessions, with music and food vendors in a relaxed setting. This edition’s wineries that will showcase their best and award-winning wines include Tomasello Winery, Fatherhood Wine, Amour Genève, Vinos Libres, and Castlebridge Wine Company. For quick bites, food will also available for purchase by Maryland-based seafood spot Corky’s Crab Cakes and MPANADAS from Columbia Pike Arlington.
Fall Edition 2026: dates, sessions and tickets
The festival’s fall edition will be held on Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17. With unlimited wine tastings, seasonal bites and live music, it will surely be an amazing time. Keep in mind that the event is strictly 21+ and all wine tastings are included in your ticket, which you can get here. What’s more, the festival runs in multiple timed sessions with Early Admission and General Admission options for both days:
- Session 1: Early Admission 12:00–13:00, GA 13:00–15:00
- Session 2: Early Admission 15:30–16:30, GA 16:30–18:30
- Session 3: Early Admission 19:00–20:00, GA 20:00–22:00
📍 Dock 5 @ Union Market, 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Other wine events coming to D.C. in 2026
There are fall tasting events like embassy‑hosted French wine nights and mini‑festivals such as “French Wine Fest!” listed for October in D.C. But if you want to turn up the fun and skip the stuffy side of wine, “An Idiot’s Guide to Wine” is a comedy tasting that blends a hilarious stand‑up set with six seriously good pours—also available this October.
And if you can’t wait till October, you’ll also find themed tastings, rooftop soirées, and wine‑and‑food pairing dinners scheduled throughout the summer, such as “Afrobeats & Wine Festival ’26” and “Chocolate & Wine Tasting: Exquisite Chocolates & Truffles, Wine from Spain” held at The Chocolate House.
17 October 2026 17:30 + more dates
