A first-timer's guide to the 2026 Food Network NYC Wine and Food Festival (Oct 15-18). What to book ahead, what to decide on the spot, the three things you have to do, how to get to the Seaport, whether to drive, which day is best, and what not to do.

Zimmi's team opens Bar a Part, the 15-seat West Village wine bar; the Public Theater's Astor gets a serious wine program from Josh Nadel; a wave of new sake-and-wine bars hits NYC; and NYCWFF (Oct 15-18) plus Wine Spectator's New York Wine Experience (Oct 22-24) are taking reservations. Plus North Fork harvest weekends and the chillable reds to drink now.

New York gains a new Master Sommelier at Bourbon Steak NYC, the Dame team's 18-seat walk-in wine bar Friars lands in the East Village this October, and the fall calendar fills in with NYCWFF, the New York Wine Experience, and NYC Wine Fest. Plus: chillable reds and orange wine define the season.