Cheers TO THE CALIFORNIA
eating out
by tony reverditto
WINE FESTIVAL
ENJOY DRINKS, FOOD AND MUSIC AT THE BIGGEST WINE FEST UNDER THE SUN
A
s Southern California continues to open up after a two-year hiatus, the California Wine Festival (CWF) is back, and promises to be better than ever. Voted one of the Top 10 festivals in the U.S., the CWF will return to Dana Point with the oceanfront tasting events taking place on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. Guests will indulge in tastings of more than 200 wines from across California, combined with gourmet food selections from some of Orange County’s fine dining restaurants accompanied by lifestyle exhibits, live entertainment and those incomparable coastal views. On Friday evening, the festivities will begin with a Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting at a new oceanfront location, the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. This intimate experience is specifically geared towards enthusiastic wine lovers. A sparkling-wine reception will kick off the festivities with samplings of hard-to-find trophy wines as guests arrive. Tasting room exclusives and limitedproduction wines hailing from vineyards based in California’s most illustrious wineproducing regions will take center stage during the tasting extravaganza. Renown
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chefs from the Dana Point area will serve hot and cold appetizers crafted to pair with the showcased world-class wines. Guests can participate in a silent auction, which includes unusual wines, tasting tours and dining certificates. Proceeds will benefit the Sandy Feet Initiative, an organization that supports siblings of children with special needs, through instructional and safe beach days. The festival will also benefit The Surfrider Foundation of South Orange County, whose mission is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean and beaches. “We are thrilled to be back in Dana Point where guests can enjoy the sunshine and stunning coastal views while sipping delicious wine as live music is playing. That is what California is all about,” said Emily Kaufmann, executive director of the California Wine Festival. On Saturday, the Beachside Wine Festival will be at Sea Terrace Park. The afternoon event will include culinary education and exploration with one-on-one conversations and tastings with culinary and wine experts hailing from California’s top wineries and local restaurants. Attendees can choose
from hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews. Superb wines can be paired with a plethora of small bites such as artisanal cheeses, breads, fresh-cut fruit, shellfish, salads, decadent chocolate and cakes. Sponsors will include Total Wine & More, the “Official Glass Sponsor,’’ hosting the special pavilion featuring a selection of international wines. Icelandic Glacial will return as “Official Water Sponsor” and Lloyd Cellars as the “Official Stage Sponsor.” Sponsors will include Doubletree Suites by Hilton Doheny Beach, Compass, and Welk Resorts. Some of the sponsors will host interactive activities during the Beachside Wine Festival. Another option is to stop by the Celebrity Cruises booth to sample Jackson Family Wines and learn about new destinations and itineraries, as well as the opportunity to win an Alaska cruise for two. Alternatively, in gratitude for the winemakers and winery owners working at the event, Gold sponsor Shopify will host a Winemaker Oasis in which pourers can take a breather throughout the day to grab food, water or a soothing massage. The festival will highlight rare and reserve vintages, as well as popular pours from
