I’m pretty sure at one point I’ve joked with someone that “San Diego is a pretty nice town, it’s just a little too far from wine country.” It’s hard not to love San Diego’s climate and atmosphere, but historically, it hasn’t exactly been high on any epicure’s list of destinations. Apparently that is changing pretty rapidly, though, as America’s obsession with food continues to spiral to new heights, and the dining scene continues to evolve.

There has never been a shortage of wine and food lovers in the town, however, which explains why, for the past seven years, the folks that put on the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival have had no problem filling the event up.

A four day extravaganza of wine and food tasting, classes, and parties, it is definitely THE wine and food event to go to for anyone in the area. I mean, come on — any weekend that starts with a wine rave is going to be an epic one to remember. You can check out the schedule on the event’s web site for details on winemaker dinners, classes, and more, but the centerpiece of the whole weekend is the grand tasting on Saturday, November 19th, where more than 170 wineries and spirits purveyors will be pouring their booze and local chefs will be cooking up tasty bites for everyone to eat.

If you live in the area, love wine and food, and don’t mind a bustling crowd, you’ll probably have a blast.

2011 San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival
November 16-20, 2011
Grand Tasting, November 19, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Embarcadero Marina Park North
500 Kettner Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101

Tickets start at around $50 for classes or the wine rave, and the grand tasting costs $125 for a basic ticket ($65 for a designated driver). Tickets can and should be purchased in advance online.