Wine Festivals in California 2026

The wine trade's most exclusive access event — a Sotheby's auction of unique cuvées made exclusively for the event, preceded by three days of barrel tastings at 200+ participating Napa wineries. Trade-only, but licensed buyers can register remotely to bid on one-of-a-kind Napa lots. The Grand Barrel Tasting on Saturday is the week's centrepiece, offering unreleased 2024 vintage access months before commercial release.

One of America's most glamorous food and wine weekends, Pebble Beach Food & Wine takes place each April at The Inn at Spanish Bay along the Monterey Peninsula — setting 135+ acclaimed chefs and 150+ world-renowned wine producers against the Pacific Ocean backdrop. The 2025 lineup featured Alice Waters, Nancy Silverton, and a roster of Michelin-starred talent, while tasting pavilion access and the Walk-Around Package make it more accessible than its luxury reputation suggests. Wine country road trip potential is high: Carmel Valley and Monterey are minutes away.

The ultimate convergence of world-class music, food, and wine, drawing 120,000 fans over three days at the Napa Valley Expo. Celebrity chefs share stages with A-list headliners while 200+ wineries pour at curated tasting stations throughout the grounds. The Culinary Stage — where rock stars and Michelin chefs collaborate live — is unlike anything else in the festival world.

A beloved three-day immersion into one of California's greatest Zinfandel appellations, where 50+ wineries open their doors with food pairings, barrel tastings, and direct access to winemakers and founders. Now in its 35th year, the event has a loyal following and offers remarkable value — three days exploring a coherent, world-class wine region with no single large-venue crowds. The Dry Creek Valley scenery in late April is stunning.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance's flagship public festival, featuring 120+ local wineries at the Paso Robles Event Center across a long weekend of grand tastings, winemaker dinners, and culinary experiences. The Grand Tasting on Saturday is the headline event, but the multi-format weekend — from intimate Paired Paso dinners to the Sunday sparkling showcase — rewards those who stay the full weekend.

The broader Auction Napa Valley weekend extends beyond the main auction to include vineyard tours, curated barrel tastings at private estates, and the iconic Napa Valley Wine Train Legacy Experience — all coordinated around the charity auction centrepiece. For those who can't secure main auction tickets, peripheral weekend events offer significant Napa Valley access during the region's most convivial few days of the year.

Southern California's most photogenic wine event pairs hot air balloons, country music headliners, and Temecula Valley wine tastings at scenic Lake Skinner over three June days. The evening Balloon Glow — dozens of illuminated balloons reflected in the lake — is genuinely extraordinary. Drawing 35,000-40,000 annually since the 1980s, this is the region's signature summer event.

Sonoma County Vintners' premium charity auction event, anchored by a Friday welcome reception and Saturday live auction at a prestigious Sonoma winery venue. Now evolved from the historic Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, this is the region's premier charity wine event, raising funds for Sonoma County nonprofits. The VIP access lots include private winery experiences rarely available to the public.

All of October becomes wine country festival season in Paso Robles, with the featured Harvest Weekend (third weekend of October) anchoring month-long events at 200+ wineries. Grape stomps, vineyard tours, barrel tastings, and winemaker dinners happen across the rolling hills at their most golden. The decentralized format means fewer crowds and more genuine access to producers.