The Golden State produces lots of fantastic foods and famous wines that are showcased at special events throughout the state. Here are 11 of our favorite food and wine festivals, in alphabetical order:
AbilityFirst Annual Food & Wine Festival, June
For 52 years and counting, AbilityFirst has staged this delicious one-day festival in Pasadena, celebrating the best in wine, spirits and food — all to help support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Think Caymus wines and Dulce Vida Tequila paired with El Cholo’s legendary Mexican bites. Good stuff every year.
California Avocado Festival, October
“Peace, Love and Guacamole” is the lovely motto of this 40-year-old celebration of the California avocado, held annually in Carpinteria. Enjoy lots of guac and other avocado treats, along with three days of arts and crafts, live bands and more — all to benefit local nonprofit groups. And if you’re confident in your own guacamole recipe, enter the annual contest to win recognition for best guac of the year.
Festival Napa Valley: Taste of Napa, July
Napa Valley’s annual event is a huge arts celebration that usually lasts 10 days (or longer). Folded into that music-dance-cultural exchange extravaganza is Taste of Napa, the fest’s “signature annual tasting.” It’s a heady weekend afternoon of trying sips from more than 100 wineries, paired with local restaurant bites and other Napa products such as honey and beer. Don’t miss this one.
Gilroy Garlic Festival, July
This three-day festival is all about the garlic grown in and around Gilroy, with the added charity element giving it an extra impetus for the community to join in. Get to Gourmet Alley for the scampi, calamari and garlic traditional cookoff, groove to the live entertainment and taste all the garlic-infused treats at this beloved Central California festival that started in 1979.
Gravenstein Apple Fair, April
Grown mostly in Sonoma County’s Sebastopol, the Gravenstein apple’s wonderful tart crunch gives way to sweet honey, but these beauties do not keep. Thus, this annual August festival is the time to gobble them up fresh off the tree — or in pies, spice cake, fritters, butter or covered in caramel. Plus, enjoy live music, fun activities for the kids and more.
Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival, November
This L.A. extravaganza happens in Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, with plenty of room for more than 90 famous chefs, loads of wine, cocktails, craft beers and food stations everywhere. Plus live music, dancing and more fun during this three-day nonstop fun-loving foodies’ weekend bash.
Madera Pomegranate, Fruit and Nut Festival, November
Madera is in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, central California’s renowned “food basket of the world,” so celebrating agricultural bounty is a natural. Pomegranates, almonds and more local crops are the focus of this one-day party, with music, cooking demos and even a Comic Con as part of this fun small-town celebration.
The Annual Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival (Oct. 3-6) always has a lineup of food and beverage experts. Seen here, wine educator Peter Neptune.
Newport Beach Wine Festival, May
One of the prettiest settings for a wine, spirits and food festival is the Balboa Bay Resort, right on the water along the Newport Coast. Three days of exquisite tastes — from a small Friday night winemaker dinner to two huge daytime tastings that feature top-shelf spirits, world-class wines and tasty bites — make this annual fest a big winner.
Paso Wine Fest, May
For 40 years, Paso Robles has celebrated annually with this event, as the region has grown into a major player in fine California wines. Three convivial days are filled with wine and food tastings with DJs spinning tunes, plus small winemaker dinners and VIP events. Choose Allegretto Resort or The Ava Hotel for a welcoming home base right in the heart of Paso.
Pebble Beach Food & Wine, April
Perhaps the poshest annual food and wine festival in the state, Pebble Beach pulls out all the stops for four days of walk-around tastings, special lunches and dinners, with 150-plus wineries and chefs participating. The Inn at Spanish Bay, the Lodge at Pebble Beach and Casa Palmero are among the venues that make this one extra special.
San Diego Food + Wine Festival, November
One of California’s best annual fests for more than 20 years, San Diego foodies celebrate fine food and wine for three days. The third day generally emphasizes Mexico’s enduring culinary influence. We love to go for it all, Friday to Sunday, and stay at the luxurious La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla for an extra-special weekend treat.
Dining and Cooking