Here is all you need to know: the date, the wineries, food, entertainment and ticket information.
The dates are Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. Friday is the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting and Saturday is the main event, the Beachside Wine Festival at Sea Terrace Park. The California Wine Festival, a series of wine festivals in Southern California that includes Dana Point, is known almost as much for the spectacular ocean-view locations as it is for the actual events.
“We had such a successful event last year and are ecstatic to be back in Dana Point, this time at the majestic Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa overlooking the gorgeous Southern California riviera,” said Emily Kaufmann, Executive Director, California Wine Festival. “This is such a wonderful way to kick off our 20th year celebrating the finest wines that this beautiful state has to offer.
Here is a breakdown of Friday night’s and Saturday’s events.
Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting Dana Point
This is a special experience for wine connoisseurs that involves a sparkling wine reception and sampling of hard-to-find reserve wines. It offers tasting room exclusives and limited-edition wines originating from vineyards based in California’s most distinguished wine producing regions. Chefs from the Dana Point area serve hot and cold appetizers to pair with the wines, including Chef Rob Wilson of Glasspar Restaurant and Executive Chef Joseph Tripi of Trevor’s at the Tracks.
There is live entertainment from Kalina & Kiana, a songwriting pop duo that has opened for Justin Bieber and The Bangles.
There is also a silent auction with bidding on items such as exotic wines, tasting tours and dining certificates. Proceeds from this auction will benefit Sandy Feet Initiative, an organization dedicated to recognizing and supporting siblings of children with special needs, through instructional and safe beach days. The festival itself will also benefit The Surfrider Foundation of South Orange County, whose mission is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches.
Beachside Wine Festival Dana Point
The afternoon event involves wine tasing from several top California wineries, local craft beers and, almost as a bonus, artisanal cheeses, cured and smoked meat, breads, olive oil, fresh-cut fruit and sweets.
The festival has wines from California’s best vineyards based in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Temecula and more.
Notable wineries attending include: Adobe Road Winery, Barlow Vineyards, Bellante Family Winery, Benovia Winery, Bernardus Winery, Bonny Doon Vineyard, Capriccio Sangria, Carol Shelton Wines, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Dani Gold Wines, Doffo Winery, Ehret Winery, Family Wineries Direct, Goldschmidt Vineyards, Inman Family Wines, King Frosch Wines, Le Vigne Winery, Lloyd Cellars, Locatelli Winery, Mad Lab Wines, MCV Wines, Michael Mondavi Family Wines, Miner Family Wines, Mounts Family Winery, Navarro Vineyards, New Zealand Wine Navigator, Pasmosa Sangria, Prager Winery & Port Works, Quench + Temper, Riboli Family Wines/San Antonio Winery, Russian River Vineyards, Sojourn Cellars, Tara Bella Winery, The Green Wine, Vezer Family Vineyard, Vinera Wine Society, Wild Horse Winery, and Wine Guy & Wine Gal.
The VIP Pavilion has a large food area with Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa’s new restaurant, Outer Reef, specializing in coastal seafood; Arteseans Seafoods Inc. serving scallops; Brio Tuscan Grill offering samples of its noted Northern Italian cuisine and The Real Empanada.
Other South Orange County restaurants are Beachfire Bar & Grill, Crumbl Cookies, Gino Angelini Authentic Italian Sauces, Glasspar Restaurant, Goufrais Southern California, Horizon Sales Corp, Icelandic Glacial, Kelly’s Croutons, Kerrygold USA, Lei’d Cookies, Mahogany Smoked Meat, Trevor’s at the Tracks, SiSi Cakes, Smokin’ Crackers and What A Dish Cafe & Catering.
Live entertainment features Upstream, a reggae, calypso, soca and steel drum band.
Icelandic Glacial returns as “Official Water Sponsor” and Lloyd Cellars is the “Official Stage Sponsor.”
California Wine Festival is a 21+ event. Tickets are available for pre-sale here. For more information, please visit CaliforniaWineFestival.com.
Leave a Reply