The San Diego Food + Wine Festival is a multi-day food, wine, and spirits festival in San Diego. It unites top local and national chefs, winemakers, restaurants, and spirit producers. The festival includes tasting events, dinners, parties, and cooking demonstrations at stunning San Diego locations. It’s perfect for foodies, wine lovers, and anyone who wants to explore San Diego’s culinary culture. Judging by last year’s event, the 2025 festival is going to be amazing.
Grand Decant (James Beard Friends Opening Night)
The Grand Decant is the stylish opening event of the festival. It features private tastings of wine and spirits from award-winning brands. The wines include limited-release vintages, rare bottles, boutique brands, and international regions. Award-nominated chefs will be there to pair them with small bites. It is an elegant night out, designed for wine lovers in a classy setting.
Highlights of the Grand Decant
Food from James Beard-recognized chefs:
- Chef Roberto Alcocer (Valle in Oceanside, and Malva in Valle de Guadalupe) will be making dishes using products from Brandt beef, Maple Leaf ducks, and El Faro seafood.
- Chef Gale Gand (winner of the 2001 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef) is making Mini Pavlova’s with Chocolate Cream and Bruléed Bananas. It will be a 1 1/2 inch meringue pillow topped with chocolate whipped cream, a caramelized banana slice she’ll brulée ala minute, then garnish with micro Marigolds and Oyster flowers.
- Chef Nic Webber and Jacob Jordan (24 Suns) wil serve their Birds Nest: smoked swordfish rillette, jalapeño, cilantro
- Carlos Gaytan, Peaso
- Cesar Zapara, Phuc Yea
- Darryl Bell, Stateline Road Smokehouse
- Gale Grand, Tru
- Jay Huang (Nomade)
- Jonathan Bautista, Ember & Rye
- Katsuya Fukushima, Daikaya, Bantam King, Haikan, Tonari DC)
- Lord Maynard Llera, Kuya Lord
- Maeve Rochfort, Sugar & Scribe
- Matt Vawter, Rootstalk Restaurant and Radicato Restaurant
- Ruffo Ibarra, Oryx Restaurante
Some of the Grand Decant Wines:
- David Arthur
- Gemstone
- Hedges
- Knoll Wineries
- Michael David
- Morgan
- Quadry
- San Pasqual
- Willamette Valley Vineyards
- Zialena
Grand Decant Information
- Friday, November 7
- General Admission: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
- LUX: 6 pm – 9 pm
- Julep Venue: 1735 Hancock St., San Diego, CA 92101
- Ticket prices:
- GA $292.62
- Designated Driver $266.77
- VIP $576.97
Grand Tasting
The Grand Tasting is the festival centerpiece. It is held at at Embarcadero Marina Park North. It brings together dozens of chefs, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. You walk among tasting stations, sample bites and sips, meet chefs, and observe live cooking demonstrations. It’s a festive, community experience right at the waterfront. If you love food or wine or both, you’ll find something to love.
Highlights of the Grand Tasting
Chef Roberto Alcocer (Valle in Oceanside, and Malva in Valle de Guadalupe) will be making dishes using products from Brandt beef, Maple Leaf ducks, and El Faro seafood.
Chef Bernard Guillas (author of two award-winning cookbooks, Flying Pans “Two Chefs One World”, and Two Chefs One Catch: A Culinary Exploration of Seafood”) wil be preparing:
Maine Lobster Medallion (Yuzu Creme Fraiche|Pistachio Oi| Smoked Trout Caviar)
Cape Gooseberry Glazed Cervena Elk Loin (Wattleseed| Boniato Tian| Eggplant|Rhubarb Chutney|Cacao Nibs|Port Poivrade)
- Chef Alec Hurley (Beach Break Market and Deeply Nourished) will serve cider-brined chicken – brown butter brussels sprouts, butternut, & pecans.
Other participating restaurants and wineries:
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
- Garibaldi
- Juniper & Ivy
- Kingfisher
- Le Coq
- Marisi
- Piazza 1909
- Roppongi
- Hatozaki Whiskey
- Murder Ridge Winery
- Riboli Family Wines
- Vinera
Grand Tasting information
- Saturday, November 8
- VIP + Early Entry: 11 am – 3 pm
- General Admission: 12 pm – 3 pm
- Embarcadero Marina Park North: 400 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
- Tickets:
- GA $215.07
- Designated Driver $89.22
- Early Entry $318.47
- VIP: $421.87
Grand Fiesta
The Grand Fiesta is the festival’s colorful finale. The event showcases Latin American flavors, Mexican heritage, and Baja cuisine. You’ll enjoy Baja cuisine, regional spirits, and lively music. It’s a cultural, festive celebration that brings together food, music, and community spirit. This is a fun and do-not-miss event.
Highlights of the Grand Fiesta
- Chef Adrian Villareal (Tahona Restaurant) will be making venison tacos (a “picadillo” made with 50/50 venison and beef. It’s seasoned with salsa verde and served over an heirloom corn tortilla with green apple pico, avocado hummus, pepita macha, and crispy golden matchstick potatoes.)
- Chef Uthan Dejcomrunkal (Sovereign Thai) will make their Sovereign Thai Taco with braised pork shoulder, orange-cashew butter, and red chili sauce.
- Other restaurants and wine/beer/spirits participating are:
- Casa Tijuana
- Dockside
- Fuego Santo
- Lucrezia
- Palmys
- Puesto
- Savage
- Seki
- Taco Machin
- Los Javis Mezcal
- Quadry
- Societe
- Suntide
- Twisted Path Distillery
Grand Fiesta information
- Sunday, November 9
- VIP + Early Entry: 11 am – 3 pm
- General Admission: 12 pm – 3 pm
- Liberty Station Ingram Plaza: 2751 Dewey Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
- Tickets:
- VIP $261.60
- Early Entry $199.56
- GA $158.20
- Designated Driver $132.25
Full Schedule
- SDFWellness Pop Up at Fox Point Farms: SUN, 11.2.2025 at 10:00 am
- Bica Block Party Presented by Chef Works: MON, 11.3.2025 at 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
- Bad Boyz of Culinary BBQ Dinner at Ranch 45: WED, 11.5.2025 at 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Flavors of Kapwa: A Filipino Culinary Experience: WED, 11.5.2025 at 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
- Baja Culinary Expedition – Michelin Guide Edition: THURS, 11.6.2025 at 7:30 am – 10:00
- Forkcast: Future of Food Summit: THURS, 11.6.2025 at 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Culinary Cinema Series in Partnership with Coronado Island Film Festival: THURS, 11.6.2025 – SUN, 11.9.2025
- 10 Year Anniversary – Les Amis de Bernard: Louis Latour Signature Dinner: THURS, 11.6.2025 at 6:30 pm
- David Arthur Wine Dinner at Mr. A’s: THURS, 11.6.2025 at 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
- Wines of Georgia: Ancient Roots, Modern Sips: FRI, 11.7.2025 at 10:00 am – 11:00 am
- A Tasting Tour of the Côtes du Rhône: FRI, 11.7.2025 at 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
- Grand Decant: FRI, 11.7.2025 at 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Grand Tasting VIP: SAT, 11.8.2025 at 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Grand Tasting: SAT, 11.8.2025 at 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Grand Fiesta: SUN, 11.9.2025at 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
What to expect
The San Diego Food + Wine Festival is a great tribute to local cuisine. It brings together food, wine, spirits, chefs, and community energy in one place. From the refined Grand Decant to the vibrant Grand Fiesta, each event is very different. If you love trying new dishes and meeting chefs, this festival delivers. Mark your calendar, get your tickets early, and prepare to enjoy San Diego like never before.
