Del Mar Wine + Food Festival

This was my second year at the DMWFF, and it felt much bigger than last year's. There were entire sections I couldn't get to because I was simply too full. Next year, I'll remember to start at the back of the event and work my way forward; it felt like the back had all the steak and meat options, and I missed out on trying much of it this year. I'm not complaining, though! It's a LOT of food. It's a LOT of wine. It's over-indulgence at its finest. This is the most expensive food festival I've attended, aside from a few software conferences in San Francisco that had almost as much food. Upon entering the Surf Sports Park grounds, you have to drive down a long, winding path until you reach the parking booths, where you have to pay $20 for parking (card only, no cash). When you drive up to the entrance of the festival, there are two rows of parking. You could try your luck and drive up to the front, hoping for a spot. I did, and it paid off—I parked pretty close to the entrance. After entering and grabbing my free wine glass, I made my way around from tent to tent. It's just so much; it's overwhelming! I took a cinch bag with me in case I wanted to take anything home (swag, food for the dog, flyers, etc.). It's really difficult trying to balance a glass of wine, my phone, and a plate of food. You have to get creative. THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE TABLES AND CHAIRS! (Not sure who needs to see that, but PLEASE add more tables and chairs so people aren't dropping food everywhere. And add more trash bins, too.) Overall, I love this event. I wish there were a winter or spring version—I would definitely go! Pricing is a bit high. Thankfully, both years my ticket was free thanks to Yelp and the DMWFF. I did pay for an extra ticket for my wife. There are promo codes out there to knock 20% off or more; you just need to do some digging. Cheers! And thanks for the memories (and indigestion)!

I’m STILL thinking about the Grand Tasting from last year. Like… how was that real life?! Wall-to-wall flavor bombs, drinks that slapped (in the best way), and just pure joy everywhere you looked. I was literally giddy walking through it — like a kid in a candy store, but for grown-ups who love a perfect bite and a strong pour. The vibes? Immaculate.
The chefs? Bringing HEAT.
The wine? Flowing.
The people? All in. Honestly, it was one of the best days I’ve had in San Diego. If you love food, love fun, love living — GO. Do not miss it. Grand Tasting is that girl.

If you’ve never been to the Del Mar Food + Wine Festival, you’re missing out as there are so many good bites from local and celebrity chefs, and the wine and cocktails are just as good. The whole vibe is relaxing but still feels special, especially with the ocean nearby. I went to a few events during the week, and every one was fun, well-organized, and totally worth it. Definitely putting it on my calendar again for this year.

Full on pieces of bone marrow per person…need I say more? Ok I’ll say more….worth it! So many amazing restaurants and bars. Adult friendships can be hard to maintain with kids and busy schedules, so this is one of those things my husband and I throw out to our group of friends… It’s the best way for everybody to meet up catch up eat good food and drink good drinks!! Also love all the fun vendors That show up. Love discovering and local businesses. SD Mag team knows how to throw a party

Late to the party, but had to share… Finally getting around to writing this, but the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival was too good not to shout out. From the second I walked in, it was like being dropped into foodie heaven—sun shining, wine flowing, chefs doing their thing, and zero stress. The Grand Tasting was a total highlight. So many local legends under one (very sunny) sky, serving up bite after bite of absolute magic. I lost count of how many things I tried, but I have no regrets. Also, shoutout to the cocktail stations—who knew tequila tastes better when there’s a live band playing and your shoes are in the grass? Every corner had something going on—from celebrity pickleball matches to chill lounges, it all felt really curated and cool without trying too hard. It was just fun. Already dreaming about next year. If you’ve never been, add it to your list—trust me.

Overpriced, dusty, low attendance, no ambiance. Some good exhibitors, but definitely not worth the price of admission.

The second annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival was held early last month at Surf Soccer. The venue was the practice fields of the local women's professional club, the San Diego Wave. Having also attended the inaugural festival in 2023, I can say that this year's Grand Tasting weekend was close to 50% larger in the number of vendors. One of the benefits of setting up on these grounds was that there was plenty of open space, almost too much. The walk to reach some of the displays was quite far, and I felt bad at how isolated these vendors were. I volunteered to help with the festival setup and gladly drove one of the golf carts around to get to different parts of the layout. The VIP tent was much further in the back this time. Another aspect that I appreciated was the nearby on-site parking. The charge was $20 per vehicle, but the proximity was worth the price. I attended both days and the weather cooperated nicely. If anything, a strong breeze kicked up occasionally which made objects (e.g. business cards and pamphlets) that were not secured down a risk of becoming a flying hazard at the booths. Upon checking in, we each received a bracelet that permitted in-and-out privileges and a complimentary wine glass commemorating the event. A double decker bus functioned as the stage for a live band that played tunes throughout the two afternoons. There were several spots that had sofas, chairs, stools, high top tables, etc where you could relax and enjoy the food and beverages. I do have to say that the Saturday spread was better than Sunday mainly because the latter had at least 10 to 20 percent fewer vendors. The Brandt Beef section was extremely popular as several booths utilized the different meat cuts provided by the purveyor to showcase the creations of the restaurants. Another highlight was the full serving of bone marrow offered by the folks at Marisi. Although it was very unhealthy to consume that much fat, the bone marrow made for a photogenic shot.

Thank you Audrey and Yelp for hooking me and my husband up with tickets to this amazing food and wine festival!! I was introduced to so many chefs and food vendors. Parking is $20 in a dirt lot. We went early to park closer to the entrance. Check in was super quick, and we received wine glasses to hold and sip drinks. Highly recommend bringing a tray or container to hold all of the small samples otherwise you won't have enough hands! There were all different areas with different DJs playing music in each area. Very cool and few chairs and lounge seating throughout.

This was my second year attending the Del Mar Wine and Food Festival. A dream come true for food lovers and wine connoisseurs, the event was a massive production with hundreds of vendors. The venue was so vast that it was impossible to sample everything on offer. I loved the lively atmosphere, great music, and comfortable seating areas. With many freebies and merchandise giveaways. I can't wait for next year's festival! Thank you again to Yelp and Audrey for generously offering a ticket for this incredible event!

Amazing time at the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival again this year. Thank you so much to the DMWFF & Yelp (yay Audrey!!) for the opportunity to go! This year's Grand Tasting was bigger and better than last year - a ton more wine and even more food places. I tasted so many things!!!! But here were a few of my favorite: --Tako (Old Town): a brand new sushi place carved out of El Sueno, which FANTASTIC fresh fish. They had a yellowtail sashimi in a citrus ponzu which was insanely flavorful. My fave thing of the festival, maybe, because it was so fresh and different from everything else. --Little Frenchie (Coronado): My other fave thing at the festival! They were doing a little salade lyonnaise with lardons - I asked for it veg and it was crazy yummy. Just frisée, truffle vinaigrette, and a perfect little fried quail egg on the top. Yes, please!!! --Matsu (Oceanside): So thoughtful to have a vegetarian amuse for all of us. Squash, pepitas (IIRC) & a crema. Yum! I sent some other vegetarians over there too. --Stella Jean's: Ube ice cream & mango sticky-rice ice cream. YUM. Thank you. Delicious! --Little Fox (Oceanside): cute little frozen custard/chocolate bonbons. The one with corn masa was especially delicious. --Amalfi: I've had your pizza before. But the crust is so delicious that I was still scarfing it up even if I really wanted to try new stuff! YUM. --Lia's Lumpia: thanks for doing a cool vegetarian thing with fried mushrooms. Tasty! Wineries: --Rombauer: I only had the Carneros Chardonnay, but it was super tasty! --Volatus Paso Robles: I had a yummy "Charlie", their Paso Robles Chard. Also delicious (& I'm not usually a chard drinker - it was too early in the day for me to be having serious reds!) --I also had a lovely orange wine and can't remember the name of the winery (sob). I will look through my bag again and see if I took a card! Other Drinks and booths: --California English! The nicest guy in the little Pride area was manning the booth - and the cocktail with earl gray was crazy yummy. --Dr. Bronner's: So much joy from the woman manning the booth. AND I got me some free peppermint Dr. Bronner's, which I love! Coffee: --Mostra was in the house! Loved trying one of their sweeter drinks, cuz I usually get a Brazilian cold brew there or the mushroom-latte thing. Yum. --Cafe Moto also had two great cold brews on tap. Thank you for caffeinating us - and honestly these are my two fave roasters in SD. I honestly only had one thing all day that I thought was nasty (I won't name & shame the restaurant since no one paid extra to go there) - but I will say it was a bar so perhaps their cocktails are great and their food is ick? (but someone else told me they loved the thing I found nasty, so different palates!). Anyway, this is one of the most exciting events of the year in San Diego. Thrilled to have this here in North County & I hope to go next year too!!

I attended 2 days of the Del Mar Wine and Food Festival during its second year. Day 1 was an Early Entry ticket courtesy of Yelp. Thank you CM Audrey, the Yelp Community, and of course the DMWFF for the very generous opportunity to attend! Day 2 was from volunteering. This year's event was bigger than last year, with many more vendors. It was also more spread out, so it seemed less crowded and the lines seemed shorter. My friends and I had an amazing time! One big section of the event was dedicated towards the Big Queer Food Fest. It was very festive with music, props for photos, games, swag, and a giant burrito that you could ride. The event was a huge success! I look forward to next year's festivities!

Wow, wow, wow! Before I start my review- a HUGE thank you to Audrey, Yelp, and DMWFF for such a generous offer! You see, I love outdoor festivals....throw in sunshine, small bites, delicious drinks, and I'm a happy camper! My partner and I were super smart by taking a quick bus ride from the Escondido transit center to Del Mar....let's be responsible! We arrived promptly at 12pm to take full advantage of the 'early entry'. Checkin could have been a bit smoother. The wine glasses were on the other side of checkin, almost behind the bathrooms. Next year, I hope they model it after other festivals- check ID, bag check, ticket, bracelet, wine glass. My partner and I usually have a game plan at these types of events, but without a map of vendors, all we could do was roam, eat, and drink. It was glorious! While everything we ate was memorable (good and bad!) Brandt Beef stole the show. Their brisket...my god. Smoked for 12 hours. Rested for 12 hours. I'll take it all! There were plenty of wineries present- some local, some not so local (yes, I'm looking at you, New Zealand!). Besides wine, there was mezcal, a few local breweries, and some cocktails.....there was literally something for everyone! I'm a white wine girl. I'm pretty sure I tried every white wine at the festival. I'm not a quitter! This was such a wonderful afternoon and I hope we get to do it again next year! Thanks again Audrey, Yelp, and DMWFF!

Amazing! Thank you Audrey for inviting me to this event. It's a 2 day event in Del Mar at the sports complex. It's a long drive or walk in. So if you Uber or Lyft, it's like a 1 mile walk in, which is ok get exercise. Then you drive in dirt path for a while until you park in dirt lot. About the event, there were hundreds of restaurants and wineries there, a few hard liquor vendors. You will need to come for 2 days to try them all! There were a ton of wineries from Temecula, Napa, Sonoma, etc. probably 20-30 vendors. Shout out to bottaia winery for a delicious white! Tullmore whiskey had 2 types, a win! I believe regular tickets are $225 for a day and seriously going to bring my fiance next year. It's worth it. Most notable was beef corner with about 7 or 8 vendors serving Brandt beef from the same farm. Brandt beef taco and bbq brisket wow full send! Glassbox sushi, hand roll can't go wrong. Red O ceviche, wow so flavorful and different with a bit of tomatoe zang! Tajima ramen mini bowl made my day! Harrahs casino served cioppino. Anyway, awesome event. I will come again.

I attended this festival for the first time courtesy of Yelp and our amazing community manager Audrey L., and I have to say I was pretty impressed! First, don't let the name fool you, there is not just wine and food at this event. There was also other spirits like whiskey, Kombucha, and even non alcohol options like Yerba Mate. The food was incredible and had so many options, everyone will find something they like. They had basic items like burgers and tacos, but also oysters, shrimp, and rarer items like foie gras! The food was being made right there so you were getting fresh items as well. It would be very hard to try everything but you'd have fun trying for sure. There were also some booths that gave out free swag, or offered you to take extra items. For example, Yerba Mate told us to take extra cans, and i got a mini shot glass that looked like a beer stein. The only problem I had was trying to carry everything when I left! I would definitely recommend this festival and would go back. It's a great couples outing or even a girls day out. My tips would be to wear comfortable shoes as the parking lot is dirt and gravel, and the venue itself is on the grass, but lots of walking and not a lot of seating around. Bring your appetite, and pace yourself with the drinking and hydrate. Also bring sunblock and sunglasses as there is not a lot of shade, although the day was beautiful! Definitely check this out!

This was my first time at this event and it was FUN (also a bit overwhelming) There was a huge selection of drinks (wine, beer, liquor, cocktails, sparkling soda, energy drinks), food (cheese, tacos, ceviche, ramen, burgers, bone marrow, brisket, ice cream, cake...) and MORE! STAND OUTS: ceviche from Red Os, the ramen from Tajima with pork and the oyster shooter from Harrah's (the guy gave me two!). I enjoyed all the cheese from Temecula's Grazing Theory - it was a good match with the Vermentino from Doffo. Loved all the Baja wines too. ALSO PRETTY AMAZING: were the hummingbird cake from Mmm.. Cakes, a coffee rubbed brisket (from I forgot where) and and an unmarked stall called TAKO (no signage) with really cool guys/chefs there. I wish my stomach was bigger! lol Parking was rough as there was a long line and it was unpaved, but once we got in - it was a good time! I would recommend this event if you enjoy food and wine and meeting other foodies. Many of the vendors were open to questions and explained the food sample. I got some info about the restaurants and I'll def stop in to some of the ones that were new to me. TIPS for next year: bring good walking shoes and a hat, have hand wipe and know where the bathrooms are! Also bring a little shopping bag as some vendors were giving away brochures, swag and other free items.

What a great festival! I do think some stuff was organized a little weird for not being the first year such as the wine glasses being so far off the path at first and then they moved them inside the festival area later. There were a lot of staff members standing around because like 5 were giving wristbands and only one was scanning tickets. Seems it would make more sense to have 3 and 3 If anything but maybe they didn't have many scanners. Also there was a lot of open space where they could have added more seating. However the food was great and plentiful! We were so stuffed. My husband actually gave up but I had to try everything. I loved that there was more than just wine to drink. We don't drink much but that tea at tanners though - glad to live in Oceanside cuz I'll go just for that. There was also some photo ops and samples of non food items. I think the high price keeps the crowd low so there was never more than like maybe 10 people in line for any given stand. I did win a ticket so it was basically a bogo and I don't know if I would return if we couldn't get them around a similar price that we paid. Full price is just too rich for us. But if you have money to spend this is a great event for it

This event is 5/5!!! I was sooo impressed by the selection of food and wine at this event. I am so grateful to have come for yelp elite. I got to have all sorts of food: sushi, sashimi, burgers, bone marrow, tacos, all of it! They also have a lot of drink options other than wine; they had tequila, rum, gin, lots of seltzer tastings. I really enjoyed this event! They had games and prizes all around and the place was so spacious. I really recommend this if you're looking for a fun thing to do that includes unlimited food and drink!

This was bigger than last year! They did such a great job. Wow! I look forward to this every year. All the vendors were great. The food was so good. Tanners Burgers are always a hit. The seafood chioppino from Harrahs was fire! It was fun of scallops, shrimp and clam. The atmosphere was fun. I left so full!

This was my second year at the DMWFF, and it felt much bigger than last year's. There were entire sections I couldn't get to because I was simply too full. Next year, I'll remember to start at the back of the event and work my way forward; it felt like the back had all the steak and meat options, and I missed out on trying much of it this year. I'm not complaining, though! It's a LOT of food. It's a LOT of wine. It's over-indulgence at its finest. This is the most expensive food festival I've attended, aside from a few software conferences in San Francisco that had almost as much food. Upon entering the Surf Sports Park grounds, you have to drive down a long, winding path until you reach the parking booths, where you have to pay $20 for parking (card only, no cash). When you drive up to the entrance of the festival, there are two rows of parking. You could try your luck and drive up to the front, hoping for a spot. I did, and it paid off--I parked pretty close to the entrance. After entering and grabbing my free wine glass, I made my way around from tent to tent. It's just so much; it's overwhelming! I took a cinch bag with me in case I wanted to take anything home (swag, food for the dog, flyers, etc.). It's really difficult trying to balance a glass of wine, my phone, and a plate of food. You have to get creative. THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE TABLES AND CHAIRS! (Not sure who needs to see that, but PLEASE add more tables and chairs so people aren't dropping food everywhere. And add more trash bins, too.) Overall, I love this event. I wish there were a winter or spring version--I would definitely go! Pricing is a bit high. Thankfully, both years my ticket was free thanks to Yelp and the DMWFF. I did pay for an extra ticket for my wife. There are promo codes out there to knock 20% off or more; you just need to do some digging. Cheers! And thanks for the memories (and indigestion)!

What an amazing event. I wish I went earlier because I had such a blast. The overcast was perfect because drinking and sun isn't always the best mix. The food vendors were great way to get to know more places, people in all over San Diego. It woke me up to the amazing chefs, curated drinks that San Diego has to offer. I look forward to enjoying of some of the new restaurants full menu, drink, laugh and enjoy my way around all that San Diego has to offer. Thank you for a wonderful experience. I can't wait for next year. I will go early, get a ride and prance around Del Mar enjoying the entire event. Thanks for a wonderful weekend.

So much wine, food, and spirits, roughly in that order. The booths are really spread out so you'll definitely get your steps in. They could definitely use more covered seating areas for those who didn't buy a VIP package. I wish there were slightly more food options, but the restaurants that were there provided tasty bites. Bring a tote bag for random giveaways. I'm sure this event will only get better and better as more vendors join the party.

I was not one of the lucky few who got in through Yelp since my partner purchased tickets for us several months back (with the 20% discount). I love fancy schmancy food festivals, and this might top them all, at least in comparison to other food festivals in the same price tier. Not that any of them are bad, but there are several reasons why this is top notch. The Location Because it is on such a huge field, the vendors are able to spread out and it is easy to get some space away from other people unless you are looking for a seat (in that case they are closer together). It also adds to a more relaxed feeling than the other food festivals. San Diego Food & Wine festival is near the Embarcadero which has to navigate the sort of hilly and rocky area along with the walking paths. Celebrate the Craft is more intimate since it is in the back area of the Torrey Pines Lodge facing the golf course, but there aren't enough seats for everyone. I will say that one is a bit more unique due to the chefs "crafting" a special dish for the event. It is my second favourite food event around the same price. Lastly, Zoo Food & Wine Brew doesn't feel the same, but it's at the San Diego Zoo, so its definitely got its own special qualities. The food offered isn't at the same level as the other imho, and is a little more squishy. One downside is getting in requires driving onto the dirt path and all the way inside to find parking. Many people got dropped off near the entrance and actually walked the entire way in. I saw some people get back into (Ubers?) cars to give them a ride the rest of the way. I imagine if you were one of the girls in high heels it was not very fun! I know I would have struggled! The Food Everything was absolutely delicious here - lots of popular destinations such as Tribute, Glassbox, Herb & Wood, Juniper & Ivy - a wide range of foods (udon, fried chicken, pork belly, sushi, beef tartar, tacos, brisket, sliders, etc), in addition to other vendors selling small items. There was SO much food I really regretted not having a second stomach. We even got the early entry admission hoping that we could take advantage of it and be able to eat more. The VIP section had the really top rung (hello, Warung Rie?) establishments I've been wanting to go to but have not been lucky enough to snag a reservation at! If you leave hungry you've done the festival wrong. I left SO absolutely full I wanted to eat more but absolutely could not. The Wine Unfortunately I do not drink so I cannot speak to that, but for most people who enjoy their wine, I feel like this is a great value if you want to try different wines, and other hard liquor. My partner's family drank lots of wine and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It's unlimited after all. Some areas of improvement Towards the end they removed the hydration stations - I think it would have been helpful to continue to stock them as much as you can as I was fairly thirsty after eating all that food! Slightly more shaded areas or more tables to stand up at - finding a balance so it doesn't get crowded. Luckily it was mostly overcast that day, but I can only imagine if it had not been how sweltering it would have felt and thirsty everyone might have felt. I brought a sun umbrella just in case the sun was going to come out that day. Luckily it only came out for a short period of time. If I had a ton of money I would love to go every year, but I usually end up just choosing one food festival to go a year for a treat. Considering this is their second year, I was pretty happy with the event and with everything. Everyone was super nice and the food was delicious. If you like trying a lot of higher end restaurants in one place and love trying different wines and other alcohol, I definitely would recommend coming here for a special occasion.

Audrey took it to the top, once again. The early entry ticket added an excellent hour to the Mona Lisa field with delicious food and wine before the general access time. Check in, entry wristbands, get your glasses in the left side and explore the field with your empty soul and stomach. Remember to take it in slowly since yummy food and good wine and spirits are unlimited but your body is. Get some bubbly to go with ahi sashimiw and scallop carpaccio and hand rolls to start with, taste some award winning local Temecula wine including gold medal Cougar Vermentino. Then drifting down to the VIP tents to get Brandt prime beef and tasting some CRU New Zealand red. There are so many choices of these tasty beef to choose. Don't want to miss sipping the Pink Negroni while enjoying the hearth roasted bone marrow Marisi. How about some Mango Milk punch to taste the south of the border tequila in some sophisticated form. Cannot skip the Harrahs ponzu oyster shooter and salt and fins specialty pan roast. Still room for fat, get some pork bellies Tajima ramen. Find a seat or lounger and rest your feed. The sipping some distilled volka to fire up your mood for more exploration. Drifting to Coronado to taste the Salade Lyonnaise with Porc confit and Quail egg from Little Frenchie Bistro Bar A Vin then heading to La Jolla Sea & Sky to enjoy the Ahi Tuna and bone Marrow tostada served in front of your eyes by the chef. If you had enough alcohol the get some Tethos ( non alcoholic wines). How about some more beef Tatar with fresh chicharones from Herb&Wood. Time for dessert with icecream, and orange liquors and return for more. Then I don't remember what come after just know that I got some nice chocolate getting out to the parking lot.

This was soooo much fun and I am so thankful I got to rep Yelp Elite by going. I took my bestie with me and we ate so much. As my bestie said to me, "this is what I imagine your heaven is like, surrounded by delicious food and being able to have tastes of everything" It IS my idea of heaven. We lucked out and the weather was perfect. The event was really spread out so you never felt like you were surrounded by or with hoards of other people. The VIP event areas did look extremely crowded. We didn't do much alcohol tasting but we tasted at least 80% of the food and we were there for 3 hours. We would have tasted 100% of the food but we were absolutely stuffed by the end. We kept wishing we could have brought doggie bags to bring things home for later lol. This event would be a really fun date or fun to do with a group of foodie or drinking friends. There were so many vendors here for both food, alcohol as well as a few random other things. They had DJ's playing lots of great music. I wish they had had a dance floor with dancing because it was great dance music. The whole vibe was really hip and upbeat. Here are my takeaways, besides the fact that is is a great event: No need to spend more money and purchase the Early Entry. Audrey had gifted me Early Entry but we didn't really notice any difference in quality or quantity of food or length of the lines before and after 1pm (12 pm was early entry and 1 pm was regular entry). So if the Early Entry price is above your budget you will not miss anything by buying the Regular Entry. Parking was $20 and they only take cards, no cash. You have to walk in on a dirt road so wear the right shoes. They do check your bags as you enter. If you are a strict vegetarian or vegan there will be very little for you to eat. For vegetarians there was a fantastic veggie taco by City Taco and there was a cheese stand with all kinds of yummy cheeses. There were also a few desserts and soups that probably qualified as vegan and or vegetarian. The majority of the food was heavy on meat or seafood. Pretty much everything we tried was amazing. There was even this funky avocado cake with avocado foam that was too die for from Georges in La Jolla. It sounds weird but it wasn't. The portions were HUGE. Now I am a big eater and even I got stuffed quickly. Many places gave out full size tacos, large full sized sliders, full sized bowls, etc. We remarked about how generous these restaurants were to serve such big portions. Because the portions were so huge and I started to get really full I wasted a lot of food by just taking one or 2 bites to get the taste. We asked at numerous places if they could cut the burgers in half but they all said they had no knives. I would have preferred to be able to split some things so as not to waste food. They could definitely cut the portion sizes way down so there wasn't as much food waste because with the amount of offerings, even if they were smaller portions you would would still come away completely stuffed. And we didn't even add alcohol to all that food - if we had we probably could have eaten even less. There seemed to be just as many food tents as wine/alcohol tents. There was even a non alcoholic wine table. There were only a few desserts. Most things were savory. Everyone was really friendly from the attendees to the vendors. Many vendors gave out coupons to use later at their regular locations so it was like getting a twofer! My favorite sweet item was the ice cream from Little Fox in Oceanside. So delicious and they gave me a coupon for a free cone next time I go there so now I will definitely hit them up again. There were only a few lines here and there but they moved so quickly. I think because there were so many vendors that even with the number of guests, not that many people hit each place at the same time. It was VERY hard to find plain water. They had tons of sparkling water and alcoholic drinks and kombucha and beer but finding plain bottled or canned water was near impossible. Finally at the very end we spied some aluminum bottles under a table cloth and found the plain spring water. It would be great if they put out more sping water in the tubs with the sparkling water. We didn't need bubbles taking up space in our bellies. Harrah's gave out oyster shooters!!!! Sooo good and they had an amazing seafood dish too. All in all 5 stars all around! I highly recommend this event!

So many food and wine vendors. Great wines and amazing food. Wide open space, friendly faces, and flowing wine. Haven't had 1 bad thing so far.

THE TEN PEOPLE YOU MEET AT WINE FESTIVALS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Our ancestors somehow converted sugar into rum, agave into tequila, and grapes into wine. What has our generation contributed, aside from somehow turning soy, rice, or almonds into milk? So lower your expectations as I now present the 10 people you'd run into at today's Wine Festivals. THE CHIANTI KAREN The fine full-bodied Capri Sun is telling her to go dance but her brain is telling her to go home old hen and sprinkle blue glitter on the new red wine stain. This is how you remain a top seller on Etsy. THE SOPHISTICATE {*tastes wine*} Mmm, is this a red? A 2020? That sure was a good year. WOW THIS ONE TASTES LIKE WINE TOO. I'M LIKE 5 FOR 5 NOW. KEEP 'EM COMIN'! THE SUBURBAN WINE MOM Always bragging about her smart kids. Like OK we're just gonna sip our wine and pretend your kid didn't just ask how many years she's been 7 for. THE LONER Wants to be alone. He resents your presence and is constantly looking to break away. And what part of that $7 WalMart T-shirt makes you think he'd like to join the $500 wine club? THE INFLUENCER Asks you to video all of her sips for Yelp. From every angle. ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO SMASH THAT LIKE BUTTON AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW. THE TRADITIONALIST Enjoys a glass of wine for it's health benefits. The other glasses are for his witty comebacks and flawless dance moves... He is really good at wine. THE PARTY ANIMAL Brings his own box of wine and parties like it's $19.99 while blasting music out his earbuds. He can pinpoint the subtle undertones of apple, cherry, and armpit. This self-proclaimed FBoy often has a black eye or a hickey. THE THERAPIST Judging whether the 700 grapes you drink in a bottle of wine is why you're gaining weight. Asks you probing questions about life and work and is now making you rethink your life choices. THE FUGITIVE Has a fake name on his badge and keeps looking over his shoulder. Carries a Swiss Army knife to open his wine and also to keep others away from his wine. Usually wears a bucket hat and oversize sunglasses. THE FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF A FRIEND Went to high school with your cousin. You spend the next two hours referencing people you both kind of remember. Knows which wines pair best with gloating. Pro tip: This festival had top-shelf wine and food to match! Enjoyed the samples from: Brandt Beef, Tanners, and Le Parfait for dessert. The best wineries were Caymus, Caruth, and Chateau Montelena. Favorite blends were: "Don't Be Sad", "He's So Not Worth It", and "You Deserve Better!"

First time attending the Del Mar Food and Wine Festival. I have to say I was very impressed. We got in early, and that was nice due to being cooler and not so crowded. We ate and ate....oh my god so much food. We had wagu on a stick, tacos, octopus pasta and pastry items! There lots of wine vendors there. We saw some of our favorites from Paso Robles The Austin Hope Winery. We also saw some of our local wineries like Doffo Winery from Temecula. There was a closed off area that offered select meats, spirits and tequila. Very nicely put together. Thank you Audrey for this great event. And thanks to the Del Mar Food and Wine Festival.

Wow! What a fabulous event! Thank you Audrey and Yelp for making these tickets available to us. We arrived early, checked in and waited with our other Yelp friends until it was time for early check in at 12pm. There were rows of vendor tents offering food, wine, spirits, give aways, everything! It's impossible to get a taste of everything that was offered. I did my best. There were so many local restaurants that we were able to taste for the first time. So many wines offered. My favorite stop was the Brandt beef area. We were able to sit and rest a bit. The beef tastes they served were amazing! I took home a Brandt Tallow custom made candle. It says you can light it and use it as a dip for breads. How about that? Once the 1pm general admittance people started flowing in it got more crowded. Oh the perks of having that early entry ticket courtesy of Yelp! Thanks to a tip from Karen N, I packed our Tobin James plastic plates with wine glass holder. The best thing ever for a wine and food festival. You can fit several food tastings and a glass of wine on the plate. So many people asked me where I got the plate. It's always great to see our yelp friends, a few who we just saw at the RGW event! It was also nice hanging out with our new yelp friend, Toby. Love the friends we have made through Yelp! Thank you Yelp!

My husband and I had such an amazing time at the Del Mar Wine & Food festival! We chose to Uber in which was nice because we were dropped off right up front. Getting in was easy and before we knew it we were eating and drinking everything we could fit in our stomach. We both liked how spread out the event was so we didn't feel like we were bumping into other people. Can't wait to go back next year!

We had a great time at the Del Mar Wine + Food festival. There were tons of vendors to choose from with foods like tri tip, brisket, fried chicken sandwiches, tacos, and more! The was a wide selection of wines as well as mezcal and whiskey stations. The venue itself is perfect for the event as it's open and flat making it easy to walk around the festival and revisit our favorite spots. We're looking forward to it again next year!

This is the second time I attended the Del Mar Wine and Food festival and enjoyed it so much! The food is from the best Southern California restaurants and chefs so needless to say the food was amazing. I loved all the wine selections and craft cocktails. The best part was the short waits for the food and drinks. Definitely add this to your to do list for 2025!

The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival was an amazing time! Great food and delicious wine and it was a perfect day. There was such a nice variety of food to cater to anyone's tastebuds and also more than just wine for those that enjoy other beverages! 10/10 experience!

Amazing. Great atmosphere. Good food and drinks. Vendors were kind and generous. This venue was well set up.

First time at Del Mar Wine + Food Festival and it did not disappoint! The variety of food that was there was just amazing! There seemed to be at least one restaurant for every type of cuisine there is. Personally, I have celiac disease so went in optimistic but also not too hopeful that I was going to be full at the end and boy was I wrong! The chefs were so knowledgeable and I can't tell you how refreshing that is. If the dish wasn't gluten free and there was a way to make it GF, the chefs were more than willing to do so! Wine is also not a favorite of mine and I was so excited to see all of the different varieties of alcohol they had so that I could partake in all of the festivities! I absolutely loved all there was to do! Not only was there delicious food and drinks, there were also a variety of vendors from sunglasses to hats to health and wellness. The space is absolutely perfect for this festival! There was so much room to spread out and not feel like you are sardines in a can. I am already counting down the days until next year. This event is absolutely spectacular and I will definitely be bringing all my friends and family next year! DMWFF 2025 we're coming for you!

What a wonderful time today at this Del Mar event!! Everything went so smoothly, from the moment of driving in. Great parking, nice attendants, FANTASTIC food made by incredible chefs and staff, great wine and drinks, the list goes on and on. It was a food festival filled with heart and soul for sure. Can't wait til next year!!!!