The highly-anticipated event series celebrates its 20th anniversary showcasing the Golden State’s finest wine offerings
Santa Barbara, CA (February 1, 2023) — Following a successful slate of 2022 events, California Wine Festival returns in 2023 with a new lineup of signature oceanfront tasting opportunities, celebrating two decades of world-class wine discovery and everything that makes California the idyllic destination for wine enthusiasts. Entering its 20th event season, each festival pays homage to the vast offerings from winemaking regions across the Golden State, paired with gourmet food selections from local dining purveyors, with live entertainment and expansive coastal views.
Each two-day affair commences with a Friday evening “Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting”, an intimate experience for dedicated wine lovers. Kicking off with a sparkling wine reception, the evening features samplings of hard-to-find trophy wines and offers tasting room exclusives and limited-production bottles hailing from vineyards based in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Temecula and more. Top regional culinary talent will serve delicious hot and cold appetizers to pair with the top-notch wines. Each “Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting” overlooks picturesque waterfront landscapes.
The next day boasts a “Beachside Wine Festival”, a sun-drenched daytime event advancing culinary education and exploration through one-on-one conversations and tastings with culinary and wine representatives hailing from California’s most esteemed wineries and local restaurants. Attendees will have access to hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews. Delectable wines can be paired with samples of artisanal cheeses, fresh-cut fruit, shellfish, salads, olive oil, decadent chocolate and more. Each event will host a live band providing the perfect ambiance to a carefree day while basking in sunshine and enjoying the coastal California scenery.
“It’s phenomenal to look back at when we first founded the festival in Santa Barbara two decades ago to how far we have come today,” says Emily Kaufmann, Executive Director, California Wine Festival. “We’re still here, bigger than ever, and providing the quintessential California experience at more venues across this beautiful state. There are so many phenomenal winemakers and chefs who continue to make our festival a must attend event year-after-year.”
In addition to promoting and celebrating the exquisite wines and diverse cuisine of California, each festival aims to advance charitable organizations from each event locale. Many of the events will feature a silent auction during the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting to benefit organizations including: Sandy Feet Initiative, Surfrider Foundation of South Orange County, Golden Rule Charity and Food Bank of Santa Barbara County.
EVENT SCHEDULE
CA Wine Festival Dana Point — April 14-15, 2023
- April 14: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Vue Lawn
- April 15: Beachside Wine Festival: Sea Terrace Community Park
- Tickets available for sale here.
CA Wine Festival Carlsbad — June 23-24, 2023
- June 23: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, The Gardens
- June 24: Beachside Wine Festival: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Heron Lawn
- Tickets will be available for sale starting March 1.
CA Wine Festival Santa Barbara — July 14-15, 2023
- July 14: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Chase Palm Park, Carousel House
- July 15: Beachside Wine Festival: Chase Palm Park, Oceanside
- Tickets will be available for sale starting March 1.
CA Wine Festival Huntington Beach — November 10-11, 2023
- November 10: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Paséa Hotel & Spa, Sapphire Ballroom
- November 11: Beachside Wine Festival: Paséa Hotel & Spa, Indoor and Outdoor
- Tickets will be available for sale starting June 1.
California Wine Festival is a 21+ event. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit CalifoniaWineFestival.com.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL
California Wine Festival celebrates the fine wines and culinary offerings of California. A nationally recognized event series, California Wine Festival aims to bring attention to the beautiful wines, foods, and landscapes of California. Founded in 2004 in Santa Barbara, California Wine Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and is proud to be one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state. Striving to be a green event producer, 90% of the waste from the festivals was diverted from the landfill in 2022. A for-profit organization whose mission includes giving back, California Wine Festival has helped raise awareness and funds for local California charities including the Foodbank of Santa Barbara, Surfrider Foundation, and more. CalifoniaWineFestival.com
