Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

SD Wine Food Fest Events

Top Events at San Diego Wine and Food Festival 2025

Local WallyComment

The San Diego Food and Wine Festival returns for its 21st year in a row with so many events that it’s hard to keep track so as your local expert whose been to this event nearly every year since 2004 let me cut right to the chase.

The Grand Tasting: Nov 8, 2025

This is the event most people think of when you mention the San Diego Wine & Food Fest. Held in the huge grassy area behind Seaport Village, officially called Embarcadero Marina Park North, it’s rows and rows of food and wine stands featuring chef driven food and top notch wines and spirits. This is no lousy “that’s it?” event, think live music smoke from the grills, chefs with tweezers, it’s the best of the best when it comes to food festivals.

Tickets start at around $215 and if you’re wondering if it’s worth it, the short answer is yes. This is more than a food sample fest, it’s a food and wine event that will take your mind off the world and remind you of how good living here in San Diego is.

The Grand Fiesta: Nov 9, 2025

Sometimes called the Taco TKO or TacoFest, this is a lower key event featuring just tacos and wines from Mexico, along with live music and plenty of tequila and beer options. If you live in San Diego then you know we have great Mexican food so expect gourmet quality tacos at this laid back event. Honestly, I LOVE this event because it’s so easy to just hang out with friends and enjoy the ambiance and food. This event, held at the giant park at Liberty Station, has tickets that start at $158 per person.

The Grand Decant: Nov 7th, 2025

In inside event held the night before the Grand Tasting event, the Grand Decant is a massive exploration of luxury wine and spirits featuring wines from around the world. Small bites but this is mainly a wine event for wine lovers. There’s even a very exclusive LUX event for those seeking the ultimate intimate wine tasting experience, limited to just 50 guests. Tickets start at $292 per person.

more San Diego food + Wine Festival events

And if that wasn’t enough there are events in the week prior that include dinners at Mr. A’s, a Louis Latour Signature dinner, and a Culinary Cinema Series held in partnership with the Coronado Island Film Festival.

My advice if you haven’t been to this event before? Get some friends and go to the Grand Tasting. Come hungry, get there on time, and get ready for some amazing food and drinks. Pro Tip: Take the trolley or Coaster and enjoy the short walk to the event space and avoid parking and driving.

San Diego Wine + Food Fest 2024: Twenty Year Anniversary Special Events announced! Nov 2-10

Local WallyComment

San Diego Wine + Food Fest Celebrates 20 years!

I had a feeling that the 2024 SAN DIEGO WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL was going to be insane. After all, it’s the 20th anniversary and that’s not nothing. They just announced their headliners and events and let me tell you that they pulled out all stops to create a week long experience that’s going to blow you away.

For those of you who haven’t been to this event before the San Diego Wine + Food Festival is a week long “immersive journey into the world of gastronomy”. OK, that’s a mouthful so let me break it down. On Nov 9th there’s what’s call The Grand Tasting event held along the bay in the large grassy peninsula behind Seaport Village. You’ll find rows and rows of booths handing out glasses of wine and unlimited bites of gourmet food. This is the big event and here’s the link to get tickets. It’s possibly the best wine and food event in the country.

On Sunday, Nov 10th, there’s a smaller event held at the park in Liberty Station that’s just tacos and more wine and more drinks. That’s called The Grand Fiesta and is a favorite of mine, a low key and laid back afternoon with tacos, tacos and more tacos, live music, it’s a killer event and and feels so very San Diego. Tickets are a less expensive than The Grand Tasting making it a good event to attend if you just want to see what all the fuss is about. Take my word for it, you will love it. Here’s ticket info for The Grand Fiesta. I go to both events, they’re different but both super fun.

Headliners for the SD Wine + Food Fest 2024

But there’s more to the San Diego Wine + Food Festival other than those two main events. During the week are more events to keep your food and wine spirit indulged. This year features a blend of James Beard award winners, chefs of Michelin star restaurants, celebrity chefs and personalities from Food Network and Top Chef, and includes exclusive dinner events, special tastings, even an excursion into Mexico’s wine region. You’re going to be glad that your company still lets you “work for home” because you’re going to want to do all of these events.

This year’s roster includes culinary luminaries like Alice Waters, Elizabeth Falkner, and Mexico’s first chef to earn a Michelin star, Carlos Gaytán, and many more. 

Here’s a calendar of everything happening from Saturday, Nov 2, all the way through the next weekend. You’ll want to check out the complete list but here are some of my favorites.

  • Love thy Neighbor(hood): Food and art exploration of Barrio Logan, Sunday, Nov 3. Ticket Info

  • Sabores Eternos Pairing Dinner: Six courses exploring the vibrant traditions of Mexico’s Day of the Dead - paired with wine, of course. Wednesday, Nov 6th, Ticket Info

  • Baja Culinary Expedition - Michelin Guide Edition: Tour Valle de Guadalupe’s most prestigious wineries and restaurants. Luxurious and delicious. Ticket Info

  • Amizetta Napa Valley Winemakers Dinner: Limited seating at the beautiful L’Auberge Del Mar Adelaide restaurant with bubbles, wine, and appetizers while mingling with the winemaker and somm Cristina Merrigan, followed by a meticulously crafted late harvest fall menu dinner that promises to elevate this to an evening to remember. Ticket Info

  • Mister A’s Tasting Experience: The OG of San Diego elevated dining, Mister A’s stunning views of the city are surpassed by this rare opportunity to experience Revana, a highly allocated California cult wine. Ticket Info

And there are more events, more neighborhood excursions cooking classes, caviar and bubbles, the list goes on and on. Want that complete list again?

Let me close by saying that The San Diego Wine + Food Festival deserves to be on your calendar. Pick some events during the week and cap it off at The Grand Tasting and The Grand Fiesta and you’re living large, San Diego style!

    • Ray Isle (Author, The World in a Wineglass, Executive Wine Editor, Food & Wine Magazine,)

    • Maynard Llera (Kuya Lord, LA, 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: California)

    • Clarice Lam (Author, Breaking Bao, 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist Best New Restaurant)

    • Carlos Gaytán (Hà, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, 1-star Michelin; Paseo, Anaheim; Tzuco, Chicago; Top Chef; Bocuse d’Or Team Mexico)

    • Anne McBride (Vice President of Programs, The James Beard Foundation)

    • Roberto Alcocer (Malva, Valle de Guadalupe and Valle, Oceanside, 1-star Michelin)

    • Charlotte Randolph (Inaugural Michelin Sommelier of the Year, co-owner of Californios, San Francisco, 2-star Michelin)

    • Matt Crafton (Winemaker, Chateau Montelena, Calistoga)

    • Danielle Nierenberg (President, Food Tank)

    • Ruffo Ibarra (Orix Restaurante, Baja, Bocuse d’Or)

    • Suzette Gresham (2-star Michelin Aquerello, San Francisco)

    • Travis Swikard (Michelin Bib Gourmand, Callie, San Diego) 

    • Claudia Sandoval (Claudia’s Cocina, Master Chef Latino)

    • Kevin Gómez (North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024; Aruba Day Drink, Tijuana)

    • Jairo Villalvaso (Bocuse d’Or Team Mexico, Beef, Baja)

    • Cameron Ingle (Marisi, La Jolla)

    • Drew Deckman (1-star Michelin, Conchas de Piedra, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja +  31THIRTYONE)

    • Oliver Seki (Seki Restaurante, Baja, Bocuse d’Or)

    • Marcelo Hisaki (Restaurant Amores, Baja, Michelin + Bocuse d’Or)

    • Gerardo Carrera (Sabina Sabe; Oaxaca, #22 World’s Best Bars 2023)

    • Ewan Bennie (Young Blood; San Diego, #49 World’s Best Bars 2022)

    • Mawa McQueen (Mawa’s Kitchen, Aspen)

    • Ming Pu (James Beard Policy for Change Boot Camp Alum, Brooklyn and The Butcher, New Albany, IN)

    • Matt Vawter (James Beard Foundation Awards 2024 Winner Best Chef: Mountain; Rootstalk, Breckenridge, Colorado)

    • David Alarcon (Fuego Santo, Piedra Santa, Baja)

    • Esteban Lluis (Michelin Star 2024, Damiana, Baja)  

    • Mairym Monti Carlo (Netflix, Food Network)

    • Hugo D’Acosta (Winemaker, Casa de Piedra, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja)

    • Lulú Martinez (Winemaker, Bruma Winery, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja)

    • Oscar Torres (1-star Michelin; Animalón, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja)

    • Javier Plascencia ( 2016 James Beard Award Nominee Best New Restaurant, 1-star Michelin, Animalón, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja)

    • James Trees (2020 James Beard Award Finalist Best Chef Southwest; Esther’s Kitchen, Las Vegas) 

    • Juan Cabrera (Casa Tijuan, Baja)

    • Diane Moss (Project New Village)

    • Bob Kamensky (CEO of Feeding San Diego)

    • Jonathan Bautista (James Beard Foundation Awards semi-finalist 2023; Ember & Rye, Carlsbad)

    • Jiranan Tanvilai Mo, Eo Pitiwartarlai, JuMi Pitiwartarlai (Sovereign Modern Thai, San Diego)

    • Javier Caro (La Justina and Oja y Valle de Guadalupe, Baja)

    • Denise Grande (Solare Ristorante, San Diego)

    • Ken Cook (President, Environmental Working Group)

    • Mark Kropczynski (AAA Four Diamond; The US Grant Hotel, San Diego)

    • Gustavo Arellano (Los Angeles Times)

    • Danny + Dante Romero (Two Ducks, The Lion Share, Ponyboy, San Diego)

    • Eduardo Salgado (Food & Wine en Español’s Best New Chef 2024; ‘Emat, Baja)

    • Anthony Wells (James Beard Foundation Awards semi-finalist 2022; Juniper & Ivy, San Diego)

    • Reyna Venegas (Bocuse d’Or Team Mexico Manager; Rancho La Puerta, Baja)

    • Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter (Theology and Religious Studies, USD)

    • Stephane Voitzwinkler (AAA Four Diamond; Mister A’s, San Diego)

    • Miguel Angel Guerrero (La Querencia, La Esperanza, Baja)

    • Bernard Guillas (Maître Cuisinier de France)

    • David Sim (Kingfisher, San Diego)

    • Jennifer Gilmore (CEO of Kitchens for Good)

    • Clare Fox (Executive Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders)

    • Martin San Roman (Former Bocuse d’Or Team Mexico; Dobsons, San Diego)

    • Carlos Esquivel (Corazón D’Petra, Baja)

    • Ian Ward (Ponyboy, San Diego)

    • Angelo Sosa (Tia Carmen, Kembara, Phoenix, Top Chef)

    • Josh Orr (Master Sommelier, Broadbent Selections)

    • Touré Folkes (Executive Director of Turning Tables)

    • Jaz Brisack (Union Organizer, Starbucks Workers United)

    • Emily Burgueno (Head Seed Keeper, Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel)

    • Beau du Bois (America’s Top 25 bartenders by The Daily Meal; Roma Norte, San Diego)

    • Jack Ford (Owner/Rancher; Taj Farms)

    • DuVal Warner (Ranch 45, Solana Beach)

    • James Montejano (Executive Chef, L’Auberge Del Mar)

    • Gale Gand (Food Network Personality, Two time James Beard Award Winner, Restaurateur, Author)

San Diego Wine + Food Fest 2023: Sonoma Wineries Will Be There and So Should You!

Local WallyComment

Get ready to experience Sonoma County, one of the world's premier winegrowing regions, at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival!  The Grand Tasting Event will be held on Nov 11th, 2023 - this is the huge tasting event on the large grassy area behind Seaport Village with rows and rows of pop up eateries and wine samples, unlimited food and wine and sunshine!

Sonoma County is known for its commitment to sustainably farmed grapes, multi-generational family farmers, and for producing word-class wines. With over 100 varietals, 19 distinct growing regions, over 1,800 grape growers and more than 425 wineries in Sonoma County, there's never been a better time to explore and taste. 

Sonoma County Winegrowers is bringing your favorite wineries and wines to the Grand Tasting. Come visit the Sonoma County Winegrowers tent, taste incredible wines, meet the winemakers, and experience the region while enjoying the beautiful views of San Diego Bay.