San Diego has a hidden gem of a wine festival and it’s returning this June, 2025, to the Carlsbad Aviara Park Hyatt Resort. It’s big enough to be fun, the crowds are smart and sophisticated, the wine as plentiful as the San Diego sunshine. I go every year because it’s just so easy to have a good time and unlike the other larger wine and food festivals it’s priced so you don’t have to think twice. Before I forget, here’s the basic info you need:

CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL

DATE: JUNE 2025, FINAL DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

LOCATION: CARLSBAD PARK HYATT AVIARA RESORT

TICKET INFO CLICK HERE

Cal Wine Fest — Poggio Leano Winery from Temecula

what to expect at the california wine festival in carlsbad

The California Wine Festival is broken into two parts - the first is a fancy sunset reserve wine event, very nice and a great event for wine lovers. The second is the “beachside” event, though the beach is a few miles away for those of you not familiar with the Park Hyatt Resort. Still, you won’t care as you walk from booth to booth sampling wine after wine. All the wine regions in California are here, from local favorites from Temecula to Paso Robles and Napa and Sonoma. You can go basic and sample it all at the various booths, perhaps stopping for a bit to listen to the live band, or go VIP and relax at a table and enjoy some of the reserve wines.

Interspaced with the wine booths are food samples, from insane fried chicken to decadent ice crea,. Want to see what I ate?

SHOUT OUT TO GUS’S FRIED CHICKEN AND JENI’S ICE CREAM!

The California Wine Festival isn’t like some of the giant wine AND food festivals where the food and wine share the billing. Wine is definitely the star here but there’s plenty of food to keep you from going hungry and I have to give a huge shout out to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, possibly the greatest fried chicken you will ever have and I love fried chicken. It’s hot out of the oil, crispy, juicy, insane. And they give you full size pieces. Next year I’m heading straight to their booth and getting in line again and again.

Jeni’s Ice Cream has to be some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had, certainly as good if not better than Salt & Straw with a location near the La Costa Resort and another in North Park. The Birthday Cake was a funfetti delight and so good I went back twice. I know, this is a wine fest and I should be drinking wine but Jeni’s ice cream was so good I totally forgot about the wine for a while and just indulged.

The VIP tent has a few more options for food and reserve wines and is worth the extra cost if you want a shady table to kick back and relax with. Though there is something to be said about going from booth to booth and trying them all.

Inside the VIP tent at the California Wine Festival

Is the California wine festival worth it?

Are you going to make me talk about the fried chicken and ice cream again??? Of course it’s worth it. Tickets were just $65 in 2024 and for that you got to sample dozens and dozens of wines, bask in the sunshine, dance a bit to the band, it’s the perfect San Diego Saturday. Add to that free parking and unlimited fried chicken and ice cream… OK, I really liked Gus’s friend chicken and Jeni’s ice cream! But yes yes yes, the pricing for the event is cheaper than a couple of tasting flights at a winery and can you put a price on how much fun you’ll have? Love it!

Were you there?

A few highlights of all of the wines I tried. Yes, I tried them all! (lie)

California Wine Festval Coming JUNE 28TH and 29TH, Carlsbad Aviara Park Hyatt - What Wineries Will Be There? Worth It?

May 15, 2024Local WallyComment

Good times at the California Wine Festival at Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, CA

The California Wine Festival is one of my favorite wine and food fests in San Diego. It’s more low key, more manageable, more relaxed than some of the other big events. You want wine, you walk up and get it. More food, no problem. And the north country beach vibe is all over this event, it’s really a great way to spend an afternoon with friends or neighbors.

And don’t worry that the wineries are second rate - You’re sure to find a ton that you love including wineries from Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, as well as some local wineries. Here’s the list:

Adobe Road Winery

Austin Hope Family Wines
Barlow Vineyards
Bellante Family Winery
Bernardus Winery
Darcie Kent Estate Winery
Doffo Winery
Double Bond Wine
Dracula’s Daughter Prosecco
Esfuerzo Wines
Goldschmidt Vineyards
Hall Wines
Harvey & Harriet
Hawk and Horse Vineyards
Head High Wines
King Frosch Wines
Kubani Wines
Lloyd Cellars
MCV Wines
Michael Mondavi Family Wines
Miner Family Wines
Navarro Vineyards
New Zealand Wine Navigator
Pamec Winery & Vineyard
Pasmosa Sangria
Poggio Leano Winery
San Simeon Wines
Santa Rita Hills Wine Alliance
Sinegal Estate Winery
Tehachapi Winery
Wente Vineyards
Wine Guy & Wine Gal

The event extends over two days. Overlooking expansive lush green vistas beneath string lights at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort’s The Gardens, Friday evening kicks off with a Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting, a special experience for wine enthusiasts. A sparkling wine reception begins the evening of sampling hard-to-find reserve wines and offers tasting room exclusives and limited-production wines descending from vineyards based in California’s world-class wine producing regions. Popular North County restaurants will serve delicious hot and cold appetizers to pair with the decadent wines.

During the evening event, guests will have the ability to participate in a silent auction, bidding on coveted 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.

The Next Day….

The next day, this wine tasting experience continues with a Beachside Wine Festival taking place at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort's Heron Lawn. The festivities will allow guests to improve upon their wine education and exploration through intimate conversations and tastings with winery representatives hailing from California’s world-famous wineries as well as culinary talent from the region’s most lauded restaurants. Guests will have the opportunity to experience hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews, paired with bites from the many culinary establishments present. The VIP Pavilion will feature a selection of reserve-level wines as well as craft brews along with special seating adjacent to the resort’s award-winning golf course overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon nature preserve.

Insane Food at the California Wine Festival

Don’t forget about the food!

Top-tier restaurants from North San Diego County and beyond serving delectable appetizers to accompany the festival’s exquisite wine selections include: aficio22, Aquamar California Rolls, Beshock Ramen, Bluewater Grill, Carlsbad Cookie Company, EPAA! Empanadas, Farm Fresh Home Foods, Gino Angelini Authentic Italian Sauces, Goufrais Southern California - Cocoa Confection, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, Icelandic Glacial, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Kelly's Croutons, Kerrygold, Krave Asian Fusion Restaurant, Mendocino Farms, Orfila Vineyards Tasting Room & Kitchen, Ponto Lago, p.o.p. candy co., Prager Brothers Artisan Breads, Savory Bites, Señor Grubby's and Grubby's Poke, Seven Barrels Olive Oils and Aged Italian Balsamics, Swoon, Torsap Thai Kitchen Carlsbad, and Waterloo Sparkling Water.

Tickets start at $65 - that’s a steal when you compare this to other wine and food festivals charging $200 to $400 per person!

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