After an endless lockdown, wine lovers will be happy to know that California wine festivals are back, just in time for California Wine Month in September!
Are there others you think should be included? Let us know in the comments.
If you’re not heading to Cali this summer but want to hit a wine festival, make sure to see our state-by-state wine festival guide.
California Wine Festivals to Sip In
BottleRock Napa Valley
September 3-5
Experience Napa Valley wine, beer, music, art and restaurants the 2021 festival. Acts include Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, and many more.
Capitola Art & Wine Festival
September 11-12. Downtown Capitola.
Stroll the Festival and admire the talent of over 160 fine artists while sipping wines from 22 Santa Cruz Mountain wineries.
Lodi Grape Festival
September 16. Lodi Event Center, Lodi.
What started out as a small food festival has evolved into a four-day event filled with entertainment, food, vendors, a carnival and wine tasting.
LOS ANGELES: : LAWineFest
June 4-5, 2022
The annual Fest combines tastes of wines from California and around the Globe. The ‘Celebration of All Things Wine’ offers tastes from 50+ wineries, numerous craft breweries, plus artisan boutiques and gourmet food trucks for purchase. There are also two special Boutique Winery gardens that offer tastings from boutique wineries producing under 2,000 cases of wine per year (separate ticket). The Fest offers live music each day, Saturday is Roots Rock and Sunday will be “Jazz at the Fest” with some of our exciting jazz friends.
SANTA BARBARA: California Wine Festival
July 15-16, 2022
Don’t miss the annual California Wine Festival, in beautiful Santa Barbara – one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state! This beautiful city is the original home of the CWF, a spectacular gathering of wine, food, music and fun at the beach! A true world-class resort city, Santa Barbara attracts sophisticated visitors from around the world many of whom spend a few days by the beach tasting great California wines. A hip crowd of wine lovers flock to the three-day Festival, making this one of the most desirable consumer wine events of the year.
CARLSBAD: California Wine Festival
May 20-21, 2022
DANA POINT: California Wine Festival
April 22-23, 2022
San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival
November 9-13, 2022
The San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival spotlights the culinary scene of America’s Finest City, with events focusing on the city’s latest trends, including: its commitment to sustainable seafood, fermentation, and exploring the neighboring gastronomy of San Diego’s bordering Baja region.
The California wine festival culminates with the Grand Tasting on the scenic San Diego Bay featuring over 60 of San Diego’s top Chef’s and restaurants as well as over 200 international wineries, breweries and spirit companies, chefs, culinary personalities, and gourmet food. The festival sees over 10,000 wine and food aficionados from across the nation for the biggest wine and food celebration in Southern California.
TEMECULA: Balloon & Wine Festival
June 3-5, 2022
California Wine Festivals to Revisit in 2022
Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival
TEMECULA: Balloon & Wine Festival
MONTEREY: Monterey Wine Festival
SANTA BARBARA: Santa Barbara Wine Festival, June 25, 2022
LIVERMORE VALLEY: Taste Our Terroir
MAMMOTH: Wine Weekend
WINEderlust
What is your favorite California wine festival? Are there others we should include in the our list? Tell us in the comments…
Sip in more of California wine country…
Exploring Calistoga in Napa Valley
Wine Facts Every Wine Lover Should Know About Napa Valley
Exploring The Towns of Napa Valley
Elaine N. Schoch
Elaine Schoch (pronounced the German way – Shock) is the editor and founder of Carpe Travel as well as an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 and certified American Wine Expert. She is married to The Husband and has two kids, Princess One and Two – who’s interest and knowledge in wine is quite extensive. Not to mention the stamps in their passports.
I love this list! ZinFest in Lodi is held every May and is a wonderful wine festival. It’s not just about Zinfandel — all types of wines are served, and the presentations by sommeliers and winemakers are fun and interesting.
Great tip about ZinFest – thanks!
Two great El Dorado County Wine Festivals: Winecation Sept 17-18 and Fair Play Harvest Festival Nov 5-6
Thanks for the sip tip!