Weekend of Wine, Gourmet Bites & Live Music Comes to Dana Point

The California Wine Festival, one of SoCal’s most popular wine and food events, returns to Dana Point on April 25-26 for a weekend of wine tasting, gourmet food and live music—all set against sweeping ocean views.

The two-day festival will take place on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa and 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.”

The festivities begin with the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting on Friday, April 25, 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.

Saturday’s 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 12pm, with exclusive access to reserve wines and gourmet food vendors.

California Wine Festival celebrates the fine wines and culinary offerings of California. A nationally recognized event series, it aims to showcase the beautiful wines, foods and landscapes of California. Founded in 2004 in Santa Barbara, California Wine Festival has grown to become one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state. Committed to sustainability, 90% of the waste from the festivals was diverted from the landfill in 2022. The festival has also raised funds for local charities across California, including the Foodbank of Santa Barbara, Surfrider Foundation and more.

Festival dates across the Southland include Dana Point on April 25-26; Carlsbad on June 20-21; Santa Barbara on July 18-19; and Huntington Beach on October 17-18.

California Wine Festival 2025 kicks off Friday, April 25 at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa from 6:30pm – 9pm; and Saturday, April 26 at Sea Terrace Park from 1pm-4pm.