California Wine Festival, Southern California’s premier wine festival event producer, will make its highly anticipated return to Dana Point for a weekend of world-class wines, gourmet bites and live entertainment. The two-day festival will take place on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa and the Sea Terrace Park, set above the picturesque Dana Point Harbor.
“Dana Point is always a special location for us, with guests returning year after year,” said Emily Kaufmann, Executive Director of California Wine Festival. “We’re thrilled to partner once again with the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa and to return to Sea Terrace Park. It’s the perfect setting for enjoying exceptional wines, delicious food and live music by the coast. We can’t wait to share this incredible weekend with wine lovers.”
Event Details
Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting
Friday, April 25 | 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa
The festivities begin with the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting, where guests can sample limited-edition wines from renowned wine regions such as Napa Valley, Sonoma and Paso Robles. Set against stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, this VIP experience includes a sparkling wine reception and an opportunity to meet winemakers and owners. Guests can participate in a silent auction featuring rare wines and exclusive tasting tours, with proceeds benefiting the Sandy Feet Initiative, a nonprofit supporting siblings of children with special needs through beach activities like yoga and surfing. Live entertainment will be provided by Adam Lasher.
Beachside Wine Festival
Saturday, April 26 | 1 – 4 p.m.
Sea Terrace Park
The Beachside Wine Festival will be the main event, inviting guests to taste wines from hundreds of California’s finest wineries paired with gourmet bites from top local eateries. The festival will be complemented by live music from Upstream, a Caribbean steel drum band, bringing a tropical vibe to the coastal event. For a premium experience, VIP guests will have early access to the festival, starting at 12 p.m., with exclusive access to reserve wines and gourmet food vendors.
Festival Sponsors & Highlights
- Sponsors: Wine Spectator, Sommsation, Icelandic Water, Piper Sonoma, Renewal by Andersen and Wild Fork Foods.
- Participating Restaurants: Brio Tuscany Grille, Butterfly Brittles, Cookie Stop, Farm Fresh Home Foods, Glasspar Restaurant, Goufrais Southern California – Cocoa Confection, Horizon Sales, Icelandic Glacial, Krave Asian Fusion, Lantern’s Edge, Lunaolivo, Mendocino Farms, p.o.p. candy co., Savory Bites, Seven Barrels Olive Oils and Aged Italian Balsamics, Sundried Tomato Bistro and Catering, Trevor’s at the Track, Waterloo Sparling Water and Wild Fork Foods.
- Notable Wineries: Adobe Road Winery, Austin Hope Winery, Bezel from the Cakebread Family, Burtech Family Vineyard, Carol Shelton Wines, Don Tomas Vinedo, Double Bond Wine, Goldschmidt Vineyards, Harvey and Harriet, Hawk and Horse Vineyards, High Flyer Wines, Kubani Wines, Michael Mondavi Family Wines, Mizel Estate Wines, Navarro Vineyards, Pasmosa Sangria, Priest Ranch, PRP Wine International, Puppy Love & Compassion, Quench + Temper, Rombauer Vineyards, San Simeon, Tara Bella Winery, Vinera Wine Society and Wine Guy & Wine Gal.
California Wine Festival is a 21+ event. For more information, please visit CaliforniaWineFestival.com.
