New Hampshire's Most Serious Wine Program, Full Stop
Bedford Β· Manchester Β· Contemporary New England/American Β· Visit Website β
Reviewed April 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bedford Village Inn hits differently than anything else in New Hampshire β over 8,000 bottles with a dedicated wine bar called Corks on premises signals this place is dead serious about what's in your glass. There's a sommelier on staff, which in this state is not a given, and the list reflects actual curation rather than a distributor's sales sheet. You feel it immediately: this is a wine destination that happens to serve food in a AAA Four Diamond dining room.
Italy is clearly the house obsession, and Tuscany anchors the cellar β Banfi's Poggio alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino shows up as a marquee bottle and it earns its place on any serious list. The Banfi portfolio is well represented beyond the flagship, with the Belnero and the underrated Albarossa (a rare Piedmontese varietal) adding some range. California gets solid representation too, with Jordan and Duckhorn anchoring the domestic side for guests who want something familiar done well. The depth here goes well beyond what you'd expect from a New England inn, and the regional breadth β Italy to Napa, with stops in between β rewards explorers and comfort-seekers alike.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is an unusually generous pour program for this part of the country, and the range covers enough ground to keep things interesting across multiple visits. Prices land between $12 and $18 a glass, which is honest money for the quality level on offer. The Principessa Gavia Gavi makes a strong case as an everyday white pour β crisp, food-friendly, and priced accessibly.
Principessa Gavia Gavi β $12-$14/glass
Gavi is one of Italy's most undervalued whites β bright citrus, mineral backbone, and food-ready acidity. At this price point inside a Four Diamond dining room, you're getting a genuinely good bottle at bar prices.
Banfi La Lus Albarossa
Almost nobody outside of Piedmont has heard of Albarossa, which is exactly why you should order it. It's a rare cross of Nebbiolo and Barbera that produces something dark, structured, and totally distinctive β the kind of bottle that makes you feel like you discovered something. Most guests walk right past it for the Brunello.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Duckhorn Merlot is a perfectly fine wine that you can find at every airport lounge and hotel bar in America. It's not bad β it's just the path of least resistance on a list this good. You're at a place with 8,000 bottles and a sommelier. Don't order the wine you already know.
Banfi Poggio alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino + Roasted or braised beef entrΓ©e
Brunello is built for red meat β the high acidity and firm tannins cut through richness while the Sangiovese fruit holds its own against bold flavors. At a Contemporary New England kitchen that takes proteins seriously, this is the move for a special occasion bottle.
π₯ The Bottom Line
Bedford Village Inn is the best wine destination in New Hampshire and it's not particularly close β 8,000 bottles, a real sommelier, and a dedicated wine bar make it worth the drive from anywhere in the state. If you care about what's in your glass, this place belongs on your list.
Manchester Β· Manchester Β· Wine Bar / Small Plates
Vine Thirty Two is doing the most credible wine program in Manchester, and by a comfortable margin. Send a friend here β just tell them to skip the Whispering Angel and ask questions.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester Β· Manchester Β· Mexican
Margaritas Manchester is a fun night out, and the bar program clearly gets the attention. The wine list is not the reason to come here β order the cocktails, enjoy the room, and don't overthink the glass pours.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Millyard Β· Manchester Β· Casual American
Come here for the burgers and maybe a beer β the wine list is an obligation, not an attraction. If wine matters to your night out, this isn't your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester Β· Manchester Β· Modern American Grill
110 Grill Manchester is the wine equivalent of a reliable friend β not the most exciting person in the room, but they always show up and they never let you down. Send your friends here if they want a decent glass with dinner and zero stress; just don't send the Burgundy nerds.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow Β· Manchester Β· Mexican
Shorty's is a margarita bar that happens to have wine on the menu β and the wine knows it. Come for the frozen drinks and the fajitas; leave the wine list to collect dust.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow Β· Manchester Β· Tex-Mex
Cactus Jack's is a fun place to eat Tex-Mex and throw back a margarita, and that's exactly the order of operations we'd recommend. The wine list is an afterthought dressed up as a menu section β don't send a friend here for wine unless the friend truly doesn't care about wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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