San Diego Food + Wine Festival Returns for Its 21st Year

San Diego’s biggest culinary event is back, and this year it’s bringing some serious talent. The San Diego Food + Wine Festival runs for a full week in November, featuring James Beard award winners, Michelin-starred chefs, and culinary heavyweights from across Southern California, Mexico, and beyond.

We’re talking Suzette Gresham, Roberto Alcocer, Elijah Arizmendi, and Carlos Gaytán – Mexico’s first chef to earn a Michelin star.

Three Major Events Anchor the Weekend

The festival has evolved well beyond a standard food and wine tasting. With new partnerships from the James Beard Foundation and Southwest Airlines, it’s become a platform where creativity, sustainability, and community intersect. Over 11,000 people come in from across the country for this, and the lineup justifies the trip.

Grand Decant: The Wine Lovers’ Dream

Friday, November 7 (LUX: 6 PM – 9 PM | GA: 6:30 PM – 9 PM)

Grand Decant kicks things off with what amounts to a masterclass in luxury wine and spirits.

Global producers are breaking out their best bottles – award-winning, highly coveted stuff that doesn’t usually make it into mass tastings. You’ll find wines from Paso Robles, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Lodi, Temecula, San Diego, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, Spain, France, and more.

James Beard award winners and nominees will be there serving food designed to pair with these wines. It’s not just about drinking expensive bottles – it’s about understanding how they work with high-level cuisine.

Grand Tasting: The Main Event

Saturday, November 8 (VIP: 11 AM – 3 PM | GA: 12 PM – 3 PM) – Embarcadero Marina Park North

This is the city’s biggest foodie party of the year, set right on San Diego Bay at Embarcadero Marina Park North. Over 200 wineries, breweries, and spirit purveyors. More than 80 of the West Coast and Baja’s top chefs and restaurants. Live music, art, gourmet food companies, and sailboats floating by in the background.

The Chef of the Fest Competition adds some competitive energy to the afternoon. Chefs battle it out for your vote to be crowned “2025 People’s Choice – Chef of the Fest,” which comes with bragging rights, a plaque, and up to $5,000 in cash and prizes. It’s the kind of thing that gets genuinely intense to watch.

Grand Fiesta: The Cross-Border Celebration

Sunday, November 9 (VIP: 11 AM – 3 PM | GA: 12 PM – 3 PM) – Liberty Station Ingram Plaza

The finale happens at Liberty Station and focuses specifically on the rich cross-border culinary and cultural influence of Latin America on Southern California. Award-winning chefs, exceptional wines, craft beer, traditional and unique Mexican spirits, and larger-than-life art installations fill the park.

You’ll catch live music, cultural conversations, and demonstrations diving into Mexican spirits and traditional culinary dishes. It’s a celebration of the Latin, Asian, and BIPOC culinary traditions that have fundamentally shaped the region’s food scene.

More Than Just Eating and Drinking

The festival has grown into what organizers call a “festival of impact” – a place where chefs, winemakers, and food activists from Southern California, Mexico, and beyond come together to advance a more conscious and connected food system.

That might sound lofty, but when you’re there and seeing the collaborations happen in real time, it makes sense.

See You There!

Whether you hit all three major events or just pick one, this is the week when San Diego becomes the center of West Coast food culture.

📆 November 2 – 9
🎟️ Get tickets here
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!