It's the Granite State, not the Grape State, but New Hampshire, from Jan. 27-Feb. 2, the 9th Annual New Hampshire Wine Week gets underway, sponsored by the state's liquor commission, with intimate wine dinners, exclusive panel discussions and tastings, and the largest wine even in northern New England, dubbed the âWinter Wine Spectacular.â The N.H. Liquor Commission created wine week in 2005 after two years of the âSpectacular,â the largest wine event north of Boston. The event gives customers the chance to sample some of the 7,000 wines available at the state's 77 liquor and wine outlets, and meet with nationally and internationally acclaimed winemakers at dozens of events throughout the state.

âWith more than $272 million in wine sales last fiscal year, which marks a 7.3-percent increase from the last year, New Hampshire is a significant player in the wine world,â said Joseph W. Mollica, commission chairman, in a press release. âThe wine world has taken notice: New Hampshire is wine country.â

The week's events include celebrity bottle signings at select outlet locations, celebrity wine dinners and three signature events. It ends with the 11th Easter Seals Winter Wine Spectacular at the Radisson Hotel Manchester Jan. 30, with nearly 1,800 wines, food, silent auction and raffle, and raises money for Easter Seals New Hampshire. Tickets for the grand tasting are $65 each, and tickets for access to that and Bellman's Cellar Select are $125.

For a full list of participants and more information, visit www.nhwineweek.com