Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

SAN DIEGO WINE FESTIVAL IN CARLSBAD AVIARA JUNE 28, 29, 2024: LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT TICKETS!

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California Wine Festival in Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

Discount Tickets Now Available for the CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL!

Time is running out so let me be quick about this. The CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL is a wine and food fest held at the Park Hyatt Resort in Carlsbad, CA. The event runs June 28th to the 29th and I have discounted tickets!

There are two events:

SUNSET RARE AND RESERVE TASTING EVENT: Guests are invited sip on fine wines and taste a variety of delicacies at the beautiful Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club & Spa's - The Gardens. This is an elegant VIP event for true fine wine lovers, located in one of San Diego County's most beautiful coastal cities – Carlsbad. The limited number of tickets sell out quickly (due to the rarity of the wines being poured). A sparkling wine reception is just the prelude to an evening of sampling rare and reserve wines, some already out of circulation and impossible to find are poured, to an adoring crowd dressed in their finest casual/elegant resort wear.

BEACHSIDE WINE FESTIVAL: VIP/Early Entrance @ 12PM and General Admission at 1PM. The quintessential California wine tasting experience – sun, sea, food, wine and music – all come together at this sun-splashed wine fest overlooking lush rolling hills with the shimmering Pacific beyond at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort's Heron Lawn. By 1:00 pm the joint is jumping at this Camelot-like white-topped tent village. Wine oenophiles will find hundreds of fine wines, regional craft brews and a dizzying variety of foods to sample. Artisanal cheeses, breads, olive oil, as well as shellfish, salads, chocolates, cakes, and more! A live band keeps the beat for this all-day feast for the senses where wine and food are king and queen.

WHY DOES LOCAL WALLY THINK THIS IS POSSIBLY THE BEST WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL IN SAN DIEGO????

OK, I know there are other larger Wine and Food Fests in San Diego and I love the all but there’s something about the California Wine and Food that makes me double love it. First off, unlike the other festivals that are huge and require a bit of thought and planning the California Wine Festival is straightforward. You park right there next to the resort and unless they changed it this year parking is free. There’s no massive queuing and nervous anxiety before you get in, you just get in a short line and you walk in.

And now the best part - you want wine, you walk up and get wine. You want food, you just grab it. That’s because unlike other events where it can get as busy as the midway at the San Diego Country Fair on a holiday weekend, the California Wine Festival is very manageable, crowded enough to be festive but easy enough to get what you came for, namely wine and food!

And the wine! The food! All good stuff and all normal portions, no happy sized samples here. I mean, the fried chicken booth (best fried chicken to rival Thomas Keller) was handing out full chicken thighs. No tiny tacos but full sized tacos. And you can go back again and again to get more without having to think about the length of the line.

What a deal!

And bottom line is the price - the standard ticket is just $65 with the discount which is a steal. Have you priced out wine tasting lately? Hall Wines, who will be there, charges $40 per person at the winery but it’s included with your ticket price and unlike the winery you can ask for more. And more!

So look, I’m just going to say that you should go. If you like wine, if you like food, if you’re looking for a fun event to hang out with friends at, then do this one. You won’t be sorry, I really love the California Wine Festival!