If your 2017 resolution was to do more or drink more, this is the list for you. That’s right. These are the wine events where you can feel right at home swallowing, rather than having to spit that good stuff out into a receptacle (and risk splashback, a real and present danger). These are also the events where you won’t break the bank buying a ticket.
February
South Beach Wine & Food Festival (2/22-26, Miami Beach) – Where else can you sample food from over 50 restaurants while rocking out to beats DJ’d by Ingrosso, and then attend a yoga session afterwards? SOBEWFF programming offers something for pretty much every interest. Guests can indulge their inner wine-o, engage in a food fight hosted by Guy Fieri, or attend a clambake hosted by Bobby Flay at this 5-day event.
March
Pebble Beach Food & Wine (3/31 – 4/3, Monterey, CA) – If tasting in an idyllic setting is your thing, check out Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Each year, the incredibly scenic Pebble Beach brings over 100 sommeliers and 250 winemakers to the California Coastline. Last year’s event included culinary discussions, a barbecue with Guy Fieri, and the opportunity to dine with Cat Cora. This year’s tickets start at $100.
April
BottleRock Napa Valley (5/26-28, Napa) – You can have your cake and eat it too. BottleRock gives concertgoers a curated Napa tasting room experience. Rather than a typical festival experience where wines are poured in the same way across dozens of stalls, guests can experience each wine in a setting designed by the winery itself, from the decor down to the flooring. Bonus: on top of the already star-studded lineup (this year’s includes Maroon 5 and the Foo Fighters), guests can witness mashup performances from Michelin chefs. In 2015, the surprise hit was Iron Chef Morimoto teaching Snoop Dogg how to roll sushi. 3 day tickets are already sold out, but individual day tickets still remain.
June
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival (6/1-4) – While this year’s event details are yet to be released, Southern food lovers are sure to find favor in this three day feast. Last year’s affair featured creative tastings with a Southern flair, such as Champagne with Louisiana-style seafood, crab cakes and wine, or a flight of wines matched with comfort foods like mac ‘n’ cheese and MoonPies. Tickets are not yet on sale.
August
Epcot Wine & Food Festival (8/31-11/13, Orlando) – The most shared event on Facebook is a wine festival held at.. you guessed it — Disneyland. Why is it the most shared event? As a child-friendly event, perhaps it finally gives parents a reprieve from days of theme park rides in a setting that their kid will still enjoy. The festival also boasts an insane amount of food; so much so that the Disney blog recommends planning in advance or picking out one section of food to try. Tickets aren’t onsale yet, but stay tuned for updates.
October
NYC Wine & Food Festival (10/12-15, New York City) – The largest food and wine festival in NYC turns 10 this year, so expect extra celebrations to be planned. While the lineup is yet to be released, the event will take place across the Big Apple. Guests who want to forgo the traditional tented tasting experience can buy into individual sections of the event, such as a Koreatown-inspired k-pop party, a “Midnight in Paris” sweets session from Dominique Ansel, or an intimate dinner with David Bouley.
November
San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival (11/13-19, San Diego) – The cool thing about this fest is that it truly caters to both foodies and wine enthusiasts. Guests who want to geek out with industry professionals can buy a ticket to a SommCon(R) tasting, which happens to occur at the same time. Those who are more interested in wine paired with food from celebrity chefs can purchase tickets to the Grand Tasting. While this year’s activities are yet to be released, the event promises to include a diverse range of tastings, wine dinners, and classes.
These are the major wine events to have on your radar that are still affordable and accessible to large numbers of people. We’ll continue to add to this list as we hear about more events throughout the year. Have an event you think should be here? Send us a tip!