This Multi-Day Foodie Fest Was One for the Books
Finish your vegetables! Dinner before dessert! Or simply: sip and savor. For those who dare to defy dining etiquette, we hope you made it to the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival this year. Absolutely no rules applied to this choose-your-own culinary adventure, where attendees ate and drank their way through an event featuring 80 of San Diegoās top restaurants and 200 national and international wines. Spread out on the spacious lawn at Surf Sports Park in the beautiful city of Del Mar, this six-day event (Sept. 6-11) featured mind-blowing dishes from San Diegoās best restaurants and beverage brands from South Chula Vista to North San Diego County.
Complete with exclusive VIP lounges, live music and readily-available cocktails at every turn, the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival is worth adding to your calendar for next year. For now, weāre presenting a highlight reel of all the eats, drinks and events from this yearās fabulous festival.
A West Coast Welcome
A vibe best described as warm and hospitable emanated from the event even before entry, where guests rode golf-carts straight to the entrance. A double-decker music bus, rocking with current top hits and throwback jams, welcomed guests as they picked up complimentary wine glasses to be used for samples throughout the day. Gracious vendors filled every tent, eager to explain what their restaurant, winery or business was all about. Connections formed left and right as brand-new businesses made themselves known to soon-to-be-customers and long-time city favorites garnered praise by regulars. Along with the tastings, guests picked up business cards, coupons and special event offerings at every stop.
Fine Wines + Crafty CocktailsĀ
Wine varieties spanned the map, from Napa Valley all the way to New Zealand. In addition there are home favorites like Little Italyās Pali Wine Co. But wine wasnāt the only beverage on tap. Cocktails, seltzers, kombuchas and even CBD drinks were available just as abundantly as the wine, like at the impossible-to-miss Milagro Tequila and Monkey Shoulder Whisky bar pop-ups, featuring their iconic rotating cocktail-shaker truck. At the Milagro Bar, mixed margaritas and tastes of their signature tequila were popular, while the Monkey Shoulder bar next door was stirring up specialty cocktails at the Monkey Mixer. Tropic Like itās Hot, the tropical blend of Monkey Shoulder Whisky, club soda, pineapple juice, simple syrup, lime juice and coconut made it one of those drinks that had you studying the ingredients to later recreate at home!
Exquisite Eats
The cityās finest foodāfrom zesty seafood samples to decadent dessertsāwere paired with the variety of beverages available. One of the best parts? Snaking through the samples in any order you pleased. Even if that called for a slider as an appetizer, an ice cream cone for the main course and oysters for dessert. We donāt judge.
The shrimp-on-a-stick from La Jollaās Paradisaea neighbored the plum-cinnamon doughnut from Dodo Bird Donuts. Everyone scooped up those savory and sweet samples as quickly as they were offered. The Brandt beef experience, a beautiful installation of top-tier meat samples from Solana Beachās Ranch 45, couldnāt be missed either. No matter how you chose to navigate, a shortage of samples simply did not exist. Going back for seconds was always encouraged.
Prizes + Play
As if attending the event wasnāt exciting enough, several tents offered lucky guests the chance to win prizes. Gift cards, exclusive experiences, and fun giveaways kept the energy high. At the Volley Tequila Seltzer booth, guests played a basket toss game to win a can, koozie, or even a full pack. For the photo-ready crowd, The Lounge Boothās professional photography experience was the perfect way to capture the day.
Location + Ambiance
An experience begins with one very important thing: a prime location. Del Mar is one of San Diegoās most charming neighborhoods, blending upscale vibes with a laid-back, oceanside feel. Just two miles from the water, the 114-acre Surf Sports Park served as the perfect gathering spot. Lush grassy fields added to the natural beauty, while the September sun kept things warm and inviting. As always, Del Marās signature style was on full displayāwide-brimmed hats, summer dresses, and casual button-downs everywhere. Guests sipped, savored, and strolled, taking in the adorable lounge stations and macramĆ© passageways with effortless charm.
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isnāt word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
