Get Ready for Fall: 2 Orange County Wine Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss!

In lieu of journeying to Napa Valley or Valle De Guadalupe, where crowds and costs escalate, consider staying local during the harvest season to indulge in a plethora of wines from California and Mexico. Two upcoming wine festivals will spotlight these fruitful regions.

On November 8 and 9, make your way to Huntington Beach for an opportunity to taste top wines from California’s renowned wine regions at the California Wine Festival at Paséa Hotel and Spa. This event will showcase a selection of rare and reserve wines alongside popular offerings from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, and Temecula.

The event will feature wines from notable California producers such as Adobe Road Winery, Bellante Family Winery, Bernardus Winery, Doffo Winery, Dracula’s Daughter Prosecco, Hunt Cellars, Michael Mondavi Family Wines, Navarro Vineyards, Santa Rita Hills Wine Alliance, Silva Road, Williams Selyem Winery, and Wine Guy & Wine Gal.

Accompanying the wine tasting, chefs from Huntington Beach and other Southern California locations will provide an array of dishes perfect for pairing with wines. Featured eateries include Duke’s Huntington Beach, Shorebird, Kai, Cucina Alessa, Bluegold, SiSi Cakes, Miss Mini Donuts, Mendocino Farms, and LSXO.

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Attendees can anticipate live performances including Chris Copeland’s acoustic pop classics, surf melodies from Matt Hurray, soulful sounds by “American Idol” finalist Adam Lasher, and island-inspired music on guitar from Hawaii’s own Joni Llamedo.

The exclusive Friday tasting event takes place from 6:30 PM until 9 PM, featuring some of the rarest wines in the state. Guests are encouraged to dress in their most elegant resort attire. The Saturday tasting runs from 1 PM to 4 PM, with doors opening at noon for VIP ticket holders, offering a more lively and relaxed environment.

The occasion is strictly for those 21 and older, so arranging childcare beforehand is advised to ensure a carefree experience.

Tickets run $90 to $235; visit CalifoniaWineFestival.com for more details.

Find it: Paséa Hotel and Spa, 21080 CA-1, Huntington Beach

On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Chaak Mexican Food and Wine Festival, billed as the first event of its kind in the U.S., pays tribute to the wines and culinary culture of Mexico. An entire block of Old Town Tustin will shut down to traffic and transform into a gastronomic party featuring more than 20 wineries from Baja California, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí.

Co-created by Tom Bracamontes, founder of La Competencia Imports, the largest importer of Mexican wines in the U.S., and Ed and Gabbi Patrick, owners of Chaak and Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen, the festival will feature such Baja-based wineries and wine sellers as Tresomm, Tresparauno, Tribos, Vinisterra Vitivinícola, Viñedos Llano Colorado, Hacienda Florida and more.

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“We’re thrilled to bring Mexican wines to the forefront and offer a unique opportunity for people to meet the winemakers and taste these exceptional wines, which showcase the rich diversity of Mexico’s wine regions,” said Bracamontes in a written release. “This is a rare event, not just for wine lovers, but for anyone looking to experience the rich cultural heritage of Mexico through its wine and food.”

Guests will also enjoy fare from Yucatán and Mexico’s northern regions with bites prepared by Orange County standouts Chaak, Gabbi’s, Socalo, Gema and Maizano.

“Our goal is to make this an annual celebration that not only showcases Mexico’s wines but also promotes the next generation of Latino wine professionals,” said Patrick.

Chaak Mexican Food and Wine Festival is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. on October 19. Ticket prices are $108 to $135. For further details, visit lacompetenciaimports.com.

Location: 215 El Camino Real, Tustin

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!