Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Wine festival comes to Dana Point this Weekend


DANA POINT More than 200 wines will be poured at Doheny State Beach when the California Wine Festival adds Dana Point as one of its locations for a three-day celebration starting Thursday.


When Don Fritzen and his wife Kami, who own Evergreen Events LLC which runs the festival, were looking for points north of San Diego to add as a location for the festival – which marks its seventh year in Santa Barbara in July – they found that Dana Point had the five things essential for such an event: sand, sea, wine, food and music.


And, at Doheny State Beach – where the main event occurs on Saturday – there's plenty of it.Plus a sixth: parking.

"We found what we wanted. (Parking) doesn't sound very romantic but it's a beautiful beachside park (with a) large grassy area and we're expecting a couple of thousand people" who all drive, said Don Fritzen.

Having San Diego as a festival stop before, Evergreen Events looked at Malibu for a festival stop and worked its way south and discovered Dana Point.

"We're expecting a great festival in Orange County this year," said Fritzen in a news release. "Orange County is 'Wine Lover Country' with a reputation for supporting wine events like no place else. We're really excited about the new Festival and the high level of enthusiasm in Orange County!"

About 100 exhibitors will be on hand Saturday, including some 60 wineries, Fritzen said. Fine Orange County restaurants and microbreweries, including Left Coast Brewing Company, Inc., of San Clemente, will also be present.

"We have a loyal following among the wineries and people who attend follow (the festival) from venue to venue," Fritzen said.

Cost for the Saturday's beachside 1 to 4 p.m. event is $75 at the gate, $59 in advance, and buys unlimited food and wine sampling. Two smaller events also are planned at the Ritz-Carlton on Thursday and at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Friday.

For detailed information on all events and times or to purchase tickets visitwww.californiawinefestival.com or contact info@californiawinefestival.com.

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