San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary | November 18-24

August 15, 2013

Tickets for the 10th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, Southern California's largest wine and food festival, are now on sale.  The wine and food festival takes the spotlight this November 20-24 for its 10-year-anniversary in what promises to be the its largest celebration yet.  The star-studded event takes place in the heart of downtown San Diego, with over 20 opportunities to satiate enthusiasts' appetites for luxury wine and food throughout the week.

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is an international showcase of the world's premier wines and spirits, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods.  The five-day epicurean experience celebrates San Diego's fresh and flavorful food and drink scene with over 20 citywide events, wine and cooking classes, chef dinners, Cooking Light and Health's The Fit Foodie 5K/10K presented by Citi®, and multiple tasting events throughout the week.  The Festival's legendary Grand Tasting transforms the beautiful San Diego Bay into a food and wine lover's paradise, featuring 200 wineries, breweries and sprits from around the world, 70 local restaurants and gourmet food companies, and the Chef of the Fest Competition where San Diego's best chefs take center stage.

The food and wine festival attracts the nation's most celebrated chefs including James Beard award-winning chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Gale Gand, Antonin Careme medal holder Suzette Gresham, 2009 Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington Robert Wiedmaier, Food & Wine Magazine's 2013 Best New Chef of the Year Alex Stupak, host of Food Network's Mexican Made Easy Marcela Valladolid, celebrity chef (and soon-to-be San Diego restauranteur) Richard Blais, and cheese authority and author of Mac & Cheese, Please! - Lauren Werlin.

Local culinary standouts also fill out the roster of chef all-stars, including Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room, Javier Pascencia of Mision 19, Chad White of Plancha Baja Med, Brian Malarkey of Searsucker, William Bradley of Addison, Carl Schroeder of Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, Jon Sloan of Roy's Restaurant, 2012 Chef of the Fest winner Tommy Fraioli of Sea Rocket Bistro, Jason Knibb of NINE-TEN Restaurant, Aron Schwartz of Marina Kitchen, Jason McLeod of Craft & Commerce, and Jeffery Roberto of Sushi on a Roll.

Citi cardmembers can purchase preferred tickets which will give them special access and perks with a Citi credit or debit card July 31 through October 15 at www.citiprivatepass.com.  Citi cardmembers will enjoy exclusive benefits at the Festival including access to a Citi "fast pass" lane, a Citi hospitality lounge, and reserved seating at the Grand Tasting. Citi cardmembers, along with Festival attendees supporting and participating in The Fit Foodie race, can also relax and recharge in the Citi Refuel Station at The Fit Foodie Finisher's Village.

Tickets to the 10th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival are available for purchase online.  Preview the schedule of events and featured celebrities online at www.sandiegowineclassic.com.  Be sure to get your tickets to events early, as many have sold out quickly in years past.