VIP-only one-day wine and food festival on the Newport Dunes waterfront, anchored by the Bubble Garden and 35+ top restaurants.
The Pacific Wine + Food Classic is an annual one-day festival on the Newport Dunes waterfront featuring premium California and international wine producers, 35+ top OC and regional restaurants, chef demos, and a deeply curated tasting environment. As of 2026, it's marketed as a VIP-only experience—there is no "general admission" tier; every ticket includes unlimited tastings and shaded lounge access.
If you care about wine and food at the high end, this is one of the most efficiently dense tasting environments in OC. The 2026 spotlight is the Bubble Garden—a dedicated high-end sparkling wine lounge—and the Paso Robles Grand Wine Experience, plus the Taco Garden for serious bites. Direct producer access without retail markup, sommeliers happy to talk, and a 21+ adult crowd that takes the program seriously.
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026, ending at 5pm. Tickets typically run in the $150–$250+ range and routinely sell out—if you see them in early summer, buy them. Every ticket is scanned, no exceptions. Despite older guides calling the food "light," 35+ restaurants make this one of the most food-heavy festivals in OC; most attendees find the unlimited tastings sufficient for a full meal, but the 5pm end time means you'll still want a dinner plan. 21+ strictly enforced. Newport Dunes parking is tight—valet exists, but rideshare (Uber/Lyft) is the smarter call given the unlimited pours. Ticket prices subject to change—confirm current pricing on the official event site before purchasing.
This skews affluent and wine-serious by design—the VIP-only positioning means it rarely feels casual, and that's the point. The 2026 format is more focused than the older multi-day version: one intensive Saturday, anchored by the Bubble Garden and Paso Robles experience, with the charity auction taking a back seat to the tasting and winemaker engagement. If you want a full weekend, check for satellite dinners at local restaurants on the Friday prior.