La Jolla Art & Wine Festival Returns This Month for 16th Year

The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival (LJAWF) is celebrating its 16th year, with an array of craft wines, beers, spirits, and flavors from San Diego and beyond.

On Sept. 28-29, the weekend-long fine arts festival will feature a Wine & Beer Garden with selections from more than 40 breweries, wineries, and distilleries, as well as a selection of bites to sample with the drinks.

“This year’s Wine & Beer Garden will feature a wide range of tastes and sips that can satisfy anyone’s appetite,” said Brenda Chand, executive director of the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival.

“Art comes in many forms, and our vendors do an excellent job of incorporating creativity into their craft.”

Wine and mead lovers can taste selections from La Jolla Winery, LJ Crafted Wines, Bird Rock Fine Wines, Ramona’s Blue Honey Wines and Meads, and Ramona Valley Vineyards Association, San Diego’s Orfila Vineyards and Winery, and neighborhood winery Pali Wine Co. 

Participants can explore wines from further north from Paso Robles to Sonoma with Wine Guy & Wine Gal, The Shepard Collection, Adobe Road Winery, Wente Vineyards, and Kobrand Fine Wine and Spirits, as well as exclusive selections from DOCG Imports, Vinera Wine Society, The Vinho, and PRP Wine International. 

Beer and kombucha aficionados can sample brews from La Jolla-founded Puesto, San Diego’s Burning Beard Brewing Company, Cerveza Azteca, and kombuchas from Bücha Hard Kombucha and Boochcraft.

The festival also features mixology, including selections from La Jolla’s Marisi and Roseacre, canned cocktails from woman-owned Melograno, spirits from minority- and woman-founded Fierce & Kind, and locally-owned Storyhouse Spirits — and the world’s first ready-to-pour oat milk espresso martini, Busa. Attendees can sample low-sugar spirits from Above Board, canned cocktails from Big Shot and Post Meridiem, and alcohol-free versions of familiar favorites from !MPROV.

The festival also features drinks found across the, world including  Solento Tequila and Izo Spirits (Mexico) and Sake High (Japan).

There are also bites and treats to enjoy with the drinks, including savory foods from Duke’s La Jolla, The Birdseye, Paradisaea, and Piatti, gourmet cheeses from SmallGoods American Cheeses and Provisions, and sweets from Bethlehem Baking Co.

The event will also showcase regional and international fine art, offer hands-on and family-friendly activities, and host an extensive silent auction with items ranging from fine art to week-long vacations.

The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival is a non-profit organization with a mission to bring needed funds to the San Diego Unified School District, art to the community, and to promote La Jolla and its merchants.