California Wine Festival will return to Santa Barbara on Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, bringing two days of wine tastings, gourmet food and live entertainment to the city’s waterfront.

The festival, which originated in Santa Barbara, will feature wines from producers throughout California alongside food from local chefs and artisans. The event is designed for guests 21 and older and includes all wine and food tastings with admission, as well as an 18-ounce commemorative wine glass.

“Santa Barbara will always hold a special place in our hearts because it’s where the California Wine Festival began,” founder Emily Kaufmann said. “There’s nothing quite like enjoying California wines just steps from the ocean surrounded by incredible food, music and community.”

The weekend begins with the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, July 17, at Plaza Del Sol at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The evening opens with a sparkling wine reception followed by tastings of rare and reserve wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County. Guests will also enjoy gourmet appetizers, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, olive oils and live music.

The Beachside Wine Festival will be held from 1-4:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at Chase Palm Park, with VIP admission beginning at noon. The event will feature hundreds of California wines, regional craft brews and food from participating chefs and food artisans. Guests can sample appetizers, chocolates, breads, olive oils and seafood specialties while enjoying live music overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

A highlight of the afternoon is the “Best Tri-Tip in the 805” barbecue competition, sponsored by Traeger. Attendees can sample entries from Convivo, Costa Kitchen & Bar, Craft Wood Fired Catering, Mac’s Tip Smokehouse, Meraz Catering, Oak and Fire and Santa Barbara WoodFire Catering before voting for their favorite team.

VIP ticket holders will receive early admission and access to the VIP Pavilion, featuring food and wine pairings from The Blue Owl, Buena Onda Empanadas, Doms Taverna, Finch & Fork and Vibe Caviar.

Participating wineries include Adobe Road Winery, Akash Winery & Vineyards, Alma Rosa Winery, Aperture Cellars, Bernadus Winery, Bezel from the Cakebread Family, Brick Barn Wine Estate, Burtech Family Vineyard, Cakebread Cellars, Caymus Vineyards, Cuvaison, Double Bond Wines, EHRET Winery, Foley Family Wines & Spirits, High Flyer Wines, Kiler Canyon Vineyard, La Lieff Wines, Lloyd Cellars, Macchia, Malibu Wine Company, Michael Pozzan Winery, Mizel Estate Wines, Prescription Vineyards, Priest Ranch, Rombauer Vineyards, Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance, Shale Oak Winery, Terra Amata Vineyards, The Vinho, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Turning Tide Wines, Vincent Vineyards, Williams Selyem and Ysidro Sake Spritz.

Food and beverage partners include aficio22, Aquamar, The Knock, Buena Onda Empanadas, Butterfly Brittles, CHZ GUY/Coastal Specialty Foods, Costa Kitchen & Bar, Crepería El Chisme, Doms Taverna, Finch & Fork, Gino Angelini Foods, Goufrais Southern California – Cocoa Confection, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, Marisella, Montecito Gourmet Wine & Coffee, p.o.p. candy co., Rhino’s Glazed Almonds, Santa Barbara WoodFire Catering, SB Craft Jerky, SiSi Cakes and The Blue Owl.

Festival sponsors include Andy Gump, BMW, Brick Barn Wine Estate, High Flyer Wines & Priest Ranch, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, Lifetime Remodeling, Lloyd Cellars, Pacific Surfliner, Renewal by Andersen, System Pavers, The Point Market, Traeger, WDT Wealth Partners and UBS Financial Services Inc.

Organizers said the 2026 California Wine Festival Santa Barbara will benefit the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, supporting its mission of providing nutritious food and resources to individuals and families throughout the region.

The Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting will be held at Plaza Del Sol, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. The Beachside Wine Festival will take place at Chase Palm Park, 236 E. Cabrillo Blvd. For tickets and information, visit californiawinefestival.com.