The inaugural Desert WineFest is coming to town Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26, to celebrate all things wine, set amongst the palms and mountains at Palm Desert Civic Center Park.
Drink what you like, and like what you drink, while sipping wines from around the globe—plus craft brews and more—in a relaxed outdoor space where fun, exploration and wine education are balanced with artisan shopping boutiques, live music, great food trucks and restaurants, samplings, games and more. And what could make tasting wine all day better? The chance to support the fest’s two nonprofit partners, Family YMCA of the Desert and the Desert Cancer Foundation.
Desert WineFest will be great for everyone (21 and older, of course)—from enophiles to wine novices—with winemakers and winery owners on hand to discuss the different wine varietals available for tasting. With so many wines and activities available, Desert WineFest CEO Scherr Lillico recommends out-of-towners make a weekend out of it, and visit the award-winning hotels and restaurants nearby.
“We’ve envisioned creating a new completely wine-centric event in the desert for a few years, and I’m thrilled to see it come to reality,” Lillico said. “We have had an outpouring of support to date from the community, our partner wineries, lifestyle exhibitors, and sponsors, including KESQ and the OMNI Rancho Las Palmas Resort, plus our really incredible partner charities, Family YMCA and the Desert Cancer Foundation. We look forward to introducing the residents and visitors of Palm Desert and the greater Coachella Valley area to what the WineFest is all about.”
Admission to Desert WineFest includes a commemorative wine glass, unlimited wine and craft brew tastings, bottled water, coffee and other samplings. Limited VIP Garden tickets are also available, as well as designated driver options. WineFest hours are 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday. Carpooling, ride-sharing services and public transportation are highly recommended.
Tickets are now available until at www.DesertWineFest.com, and Coachella Valley Independent readers get 15% off any ticket with code CVI23. Tickets at the door will be available, subject to capacity:
- General Admission (at the gate): $100; includes entry to the fest, a commemorative souvenir cup to keep, unlimited* wine and craft brew tastings, water, coffee, and the overall fest experience.
- VIP Garden (at the gate): $140; provides all that GA does, PLUS tasting wines from more than a dozen gem boutique wineries, which are defined as producing less than 2,500 cases of wine each year; higher end wines, appetizers, samplings, and some seating. Only 400 all-access tickets are available per day, so purchase early. On Saturday only, you also have the ability to enter the fest one hour early (noon).
- Designated drivers are encouraged, and get to join their friends and enjoy all the amenities of the day for only $20 (does not include any alcohol tastings).
The legal bits:
- Must be 21 years of age to be on the premises. (Sorry, no infants, either—ABC rules.)
- Absolutely no pets. Certified service animals are allowed.
- Wineries/breweries reserve the right to limit consumption.
To learn more, or to purchase tickets at early bird rates, please visit DesertWineFest.com.
Desert WineFest is being introduced by the organizers of LAWineFest, with more than 18 years of experience presenting wine tastings in the Greater Los Angeles and Southern California area. The team is excited to welcome this new iteration into the fold.
