California Wine Festival Returns to Carlsbad
Wine lovers, rejoice! Whether it’s red, white, or orange you choose to imbibe, the California Wine Festival has something for all. This year, the festival festivities kick off in Carlsbad at the lush Park Hyatt Aviara Resort from June 23-24th. Friday evening kicks off with a Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting, an intimate experience for the upmost wine aficionados, complete with exclusive varietals and limited-production wines paired with some of North County San Diego’s finest foods.
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. While the festival is a for-profit organization, their mission includes giving back by helping raise awareness and funds for local California charities including the Foodbank of Santa Barbara, Surfrider Foundation, and more.
Throughout Friday evening, guests will have the ability to participate in a silent auction, bidding on items such as exotic wines, tasting tours and dining certificates. Proceeds from this auction will benefit Golden Rule Charity, an organization dedicated to helping people in the hospitality industry during unexpected hardships. Festivities continue on Saturday afternoon, with the Beachside Wine Festival. Attendees can expect one-on-one conversations with wine and food greats from across California. Guests will have the opportunity to experience hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews paired with artisanal cheeses, breads, olive oil, fresh-cut fruit, decadent desserts and more.
Notable wineries attending include: Adobe Road Winery, B.io, Bellante Family Winery, Bernardus Winery, BONDLE Wines, Capriccio Sangria, Carol Shelton Wines, Carruth Cellars, Cuvaison Winery, Doffo Wines, Double Bond Wine, Goldschmidt Vineyards, HALL Wines, Halter Ranch, Kessler-Haak Vineyard & Wines, Le Vigne Winery, Lloyd Cellars, Michael Mondavi Family Wines, Miner Family Wines, Navarro Vineyards, New Zealand Wine Navigator, Pasmosa Sangria, Russian River Vineyards, Stonehouse Cellars, Wilson Creek Winery and Wine Guy & Wine Gal.
Of course, no festival is complete without live music. Friday’s Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting will feature soulful, acoustic melodies from former American Idol finalist, Adam Lasher. Saturday’s Beachside Wine Festival will once again feature Upstream, SoCal’s premier live reggae, calypso, soca and steel drum band.
After Carlsbad, the California Wine Festival will make its way to Santa Barbara from July 14-15th, and then culminates in Huntington Beach from November 10-11th.
Please note, California Wine Festival is a 21+ event. Carlsbad festival tickets are available for sale here. For more information, please visit CalifoniaWineFestival.com.
California Wine Festival Executive Director, Emily Kaufmann, and FestForums CEO, Laurie Kirby