Annual Event Features Great Wines, Food, Beer – And Socializing

It is upon us again.

One of San Diego’s top events of the year – a “must-do” on anyone’s social calendar – is taking place the weekend of Nov. 21-22.

It’s the San Diego Wine & Food Festival and it is something I look forward to each and every year. Even though I don’t even live in San Diego!

Yet I drive down from Los Angeles for it, eager to mix and mingle in a different place, one that’s close enough to get to in a couple of hours and also that’s California cool. I love these type of events, too, and not so much because of the food or even the wine, but the opportunity to meet and talk with dozens and dozens of fun people.

And let’s face it; that’s easy to do at wine festivals because by being there, you already all have something in common.

 

 

There’s great food and wines, of course, but this event is great for us beer lovers because there is also liberal pouring of very good Belgian beers Stella Artois (a favorite of mine), Leffe and Hoegaarden. In fact, the beer stations always are the most lively place, especially the last couple of hours of the festival.

The San Diego Wine & Food Festival is also special because it’s more than a single event. It’s several, spread out over an entire week.

The main happening is the Grand Tasting, which takes place Saturday the 23rd on the Embarcadero, a mini island of sorts jutting out into San Diego Bay with views of the Coronado Bridge and the yachts docked in the harbor. It’s hard to beat that location a wine, beer and food tasting!

I always like to warm up to Saturday with the Friday night tasting, called The Vault, which is grand in its own way. It’s been held on a yacht, at the San Diego Air & Space Museum and this year is at the Marriott by the bay.

Additionally, I have attended food pairings with those aforementioned Belgian beers and a really cool welcome reception of sorts on Thursday night.

So for me, it’s well worth the drive down from L.A. And if you’ve never been to it, I highly suggest you check it out, as well.

Cheers!

 

LINKS:
• San Diego Wine & Food Festival Events & Tickets

• The Stella Beer Tent Rocks The San Diego Wine & Food Festival

• San Diego Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting Review

• There’s Great Belgian Beers At The San Diego Wine & Food Festival

• San Diego Wine & Food Festival Links