The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival is COMING BACK n 2025 and you’re not going to want to miss it. Mark your calendars and block out the first week of OCT 2025 right now so you won’t be double booking the date once it’s announced. My educated guess is it will be OCT 4th and 5th, 2025, but it could be the weekend before or after. Look, just block it out and click this button below for updates.
What is the del mar wine + food fest???
The Del Mar Wine + Food Fest features dozens and dozens of San Diego’s BEST restaurants and chefs along with plenty of top notch California (and beyond) wines all set out for you to sample. But don’t think this is like your standard “Taste of San Diego” street fair. At the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival you can expect gourmet bites that show off the skills and ingredients. Want to see?
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE DEL MAR WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL?
Two glorious days in the sunshine fields of the Del Mar Surf Sports Park, formerly known as the Del Mar Polo Fields. Rows and rows of booths handing out near full size portions of everything from Pastrami sandwiches to sushi, every plate is prepared with a sense of artistry and finesse that you don’t expect at a food festival. No no no, this is not like a Costco sample! And the people watching is nearly as much fun as the tastings.
file this under: my biggest gripe and complaint on the del mar wine + food festival
So much food, so much wine, so many beverages. I’ve been to many food festivals where the long lines led to a tiny “happy size” bite, sort of like getting one Skittle when you were expecting a handful. The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival isn’t like that. And that’s my biggest complaint - too much food! Too much wine!! Every plate was huge, big ole bites, giant portions, full size mescal margaritas, which meant that I either had to be super selective or eat until I was ready to burst.
OK, so I ate until I was ready to burst but next year I’m going to try a different strategy and not eat breakfast, not even a crumb. I might even resort to a salad the night before. I mean it, the food is so good that you will be bummed out when you have to pass up another bite of fresh sashimi or say “no thanks” to more BBQ’d waghu beef. Caviar? No, too stuffed. Damn it!
SPLURGE ON THE VIP TENT - YOU WON’T REGRET IT!
Seems like every event these days has a VIP tent and some are worth it, some are not. For the Del Mar Wine + Food Fest it’s definitely worth it starting with the fun vibe of a live band at the VIP Reception to the upgraded wines and food in the tent. Unlimited oysters that would make a hungry otter happy, all freshly shucked. Champagne, caviar, duck liver pate, it’s everything you wished it could be. Add to it the VIP restrooms (fancy), the VIP parking (nice), and just being a VIP if only for a weekend. I feel so special.
SUM IT UP, WALLY
I really like the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival. The site is huge and the crowds manageable so unlike some events where it’s like walking down the Midway at the Del Mar Fair on the Fourth of July, the Del Mar event is sophisticated and civilized. Lines are short - the longest line was for the insanely good ice cream and event that only took 5 minutes. Most of the booths were walk up ready with plates ready to go.
So mark your calendars and check back for when tickets go on sale. The Del Mar Wine and Food Festival is coming back in 2025 and you’re going to want to be there.
