San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

The 11th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is an international showcase of the world’s premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods. Held November 16-23, the event benefits culinary arts and enology scholarships awarded by The American Institute of Wine & Food and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. Over 200 wineries, breweries and spirit companies, 70 of San Diego’s top fine dining restaurants, and 30 gourmet food companies will participate in the weeklong epicurean experience that features wine and cooking classes, chef dinners, and multiple tasting events. The legendary Grand Tasting transforms beautiful San Diego Bay into a food lover’s paradise, and at the “Chef of the Fest Competition,” San Diego’s best chefs take center stage.
This year’s festival features rare tasting experiences including the great Spanish wines of Vega Sicilia’s Unico from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s; a First-Growth Bordeaux tasting of all five First Growths of the 1855 Bordeaux wine classification including Chateaux Lafite, Latour, Mouton, Margaux and Haut Brion; and a 1,000 Point Tasting of ten 100 point wines presented by Kia K900, this year led by the acclaimed Master Sommelier Fred Dame. Additionally, the festival attracts celebrated chefs from across the country including Gale Gand, RJ Cooper, Suzette Gresham, Katsuya Fukushima, James Campbell Caruso, and many more. (www.sandiegowineclassic.com)

Photography by Denise Jones, Kevin Hulett, and Joey Hernandez