Elevate your culinary I.Q.

The 9th Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Promises to be the Best Yet

If there’s one place you should be come March 31 - April 3, it’s Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Its ninth annual installment, this year’s event is guaranteed to solidify this event’s spot as one of the top epicurean festivals in the world. With sponsors including Food & Wine Magazine and Lexus, the luxury event brings celebrity chefs, acclaimed wineries, and eager foodies together for a four-day exercise in indulgence. Set on a jaw-droppingly beautiful stretch of coastline in Northern California, we can’t imagine a more ideal spot to indulge in wine tastings, cooking demos, and dining experiences. Every year, Pebble Beach Food & Wine draws some of the top culinary talent around the world, and 2016’s event is, of course, no exception. This year’s lineup includes more than 100 celebrity chefs, including Daniel Boulud, Guy Fieri, Brian Christopher Kostow, Fabio Viviani, Aaron Sanchez, Hugh Acheson, Brian Malarkey, and Nancy Silverton, along with other big names at the forefront of today’s culinary landscape. Many of these chefs will be featured in specialized events, helping to extend demonstrations, collaborations, and unique dining experiences to attendees. Must-catch cooking demos include Chef Hugh Acheson’s Song of the South, Dive In with Chef Brian Malarkey, Chef Graham Elliot’s Deliciously Whimsical, and Chef Cat Cora’s World Tour. Additionally, collaborative themed events bring chefs together for programs including Everything is Bigger in Texas, Modern Day Italian, the Windy City Reunion Dinner, and the Guy Fierihosted Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que on The Waterfront. The lineup of celebrity chefs and dining events is only matched by the festival’s wine selections. Top sommeliers, Brian McClintick owner/founder of Vitcole Wine Co., Gillian MS, manager and educator of Balance of Luxury Prestige Ray Isle wine editor for Food & Wine, Robin Kelly O’Connor of RKO Vine, Dlynn Proctor MS and brand ambassador for Penfolds, and Emily Wines wine director of Kimpton Hotels and resturaunts, will be present alongside 250 acclaimed wineries, including Louis Roederer Cristal, Salon, Krug, Domaine Leflaive, Scarecrow, Dr. Loosen, Peter Michael, Hundred Acre, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, and Ornellaia to name a few. The 100 sommeliers will be involved in every single event of the weekend, such as The Spellbinding Wines of Antica Terra, Beyond Chardonnay, and Big Bottle Bubbles. Imbibe in style with some of the top names in whites, reds, Champagnes, and more – all while learning more about the ways different varietals pair with different culinary bites. Best of all, these programs can either be purchased individually or packaged together and with hotel stays, through Pebble Beach Food & Wine’s easy-to-use event and lodging selection. Partner properties include the Inn at Spanish Bay and Monterey Marriott, offering attendees a 360-degree luxury experience both during the day at the festival and when returning to their room at night. Attendees can choose events from the a la carte options, or – perhaps the easiest way to ensure you have a hassle-free weekend – opt for the Magnum, Jeroboam, or Imperial packages. But this event isn’t only about epicurean indulgence – it’s also about giving back. Pebble Beach Food & Wine’s benefitting charities include the ment’or, Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Berkley Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Voices for Children. So while you’ll be enjoying a spread of culinary experiences and wine pairings, you’ll also be donating to good causes.