Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival. Photos by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.
Fresh ocean breezes, marina views, and an abundance of wine and drink vendors made the Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival a festive, memorable weekend.
The pandemic brought the festival to a two-year halt, making the luxurious festival’s 2022 return extra welcome.
Newport Beach’s elegant Balboa Bay Resort was home to the festival, which took place over Memorial Day Weekend. Perched just above the bay and marina, Balboa Bay Resort features waterfront views and lush landscaping.
I attended one of the festival’s Grand Tasting events. We savored four hours of water-adjacent relaxation while enjoying flowing wine pours and fresh cocktails made with premium spirits. A bounty of coastal-inspired bites, including platters of freshly prepared sushi, rice paper lobster rolls, sliders, beet panzanella, caprese salad spears, sandwiches, an array of desserts, and much more was served throughout.
Casamigos, Ketel One, Patron, El Silencio mezcal, Hampton Water, Cutwater Spirits, Spritz Society, Probitas Rum, Rabble wine, and Finnish Long Drink were just a few of more than 50 vendors sharing and educating about their liquid wares with attendees as yachts and boats floated by.
Patrón Tequila’s margarita bikes were a popular attraction. Pedaling the bikes activated blenders, creating fresh, icy Patrón margaritas.
Though my ticket was comped, I can’t deny that $125 is a very good value for a festival of this caliber. The attendees were spread out amongst dozens of vendors, making for brief lines and waits. Platters of fresh sushi and other tasty bites made on the premises were constantly brought out, and high-quality cocktails and wine flowed. In addition, valet parking was included in the ticket price. Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival is definitely worth the drive to Newport Beach from LA!
