It’s among the biggest, boldest and altogether awesomest foodie events in the US! The fifth annual Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast food & wine festival is back with four days of hands-on culinary activities in one of the most beautiful, undiscovered corners of California.
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I’m stoked to announce that we’ve procured tickets to this year’s exclusive event! While Mrs. Vagabondish and I have never experienced SStCC (that’s what those in the know call it) firsthand, we’re poring over the list of activities, adventure tours and endless food & wine on offer. I think fasting for the week leading up to the event might be wise as it’s unclear how we’re otherwise going to survive 96 hours of pure gluttony and culinary excess.
This year’s event returns to San Luis Obispo County in partnership with Sunset magazine, the premier guide to life in the West. Attendees will learn the best-kept secrets from some of the world’s top wine and food celebrities and discover the latest trends in food, wine, travel and adventure from the experts at Sunset magazine.
Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast Main Event © Brittany App / Kaori Funahashi
The real start of the event is September 25, with an exclusive sunset gathering at the legendary Hearst Castle. Guests can enjoy sweeping Pacific views while savoring wines from the 2014 Sunset International Wine Competition and farm-to-table eats.
The main event kicks off over the weekend on September 27 at Santa Margarita Ranch. It features Chef Central and Winemaker Central ticketed seminars, as well as general admission access to tent tastings featuring leading winemakers, farmers, artisan food purveyors and the sounds of local bands in the Estrada Gardens.
Exploring an Abalone Farm / Vina Robles at Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast, California © Brittany App
A variety of adventure tours will be offered September 25-26, ranging from creating botanical spa products and cooking farm-to-table cuisine to roaming with Clydesdales, winemaking in Paso Robles and experiencing an authentic clambake in Pismo Beach.
As an added bonus (especially pertinent to travelers), visitors can enjoy a Travel & Adventure Stage at the Main Event, featuring presentations by Sunset travel experts.
Saturday night culminates with Sunset in the Vineyard at Vina Robles, when legendary Beach Boys co-founders Brian Wilson and Al Jardine take the stage at Vina Robles Amphitheatre for the final evening event.
Check out this slickly produced video from last year’s event for a glimpse of what to expect this year:
What I’m saying is: if you love sunsets, amazing food and wine, stunning scenic grandeur … and sharing it all with 10,000 other laid-back, like-minded folks, get your tickets now!
Tickets available (though selling out fast!) via Eventbrite. $85 USD per day or $150 for the weekend with a variety of special event and adventure tour tickets sold separately.