#1 Food, Wine & Restaurant Industry Event
The two-weekend-long event invites guests to chat with winemakers and sample wines right out of the barrel. Unlike other events of its kind, the event offers no food pairings, and is strictly about the wine (for which the area is celebrated). It draws participation from some 140 wineries. Next: March 4-6 and March 11-13, 2016
#2 Food, Wine & Restaurant Industry Event
In 2015, the event drew more than 95,000 guests (up from its 2014 attendance of 80,000). Held in Gilroy’s Christmas Hill Park, the festival offers foods including garlic ice cream, along with live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and cooking demonstrations. Its revenue this year was approximately $2.1 million. Next: July 29-31, 2016
#4 Food, Wine & Restaurant Industry Event
Supporting the Food Craft Institute, the festival offers dishes prepared with local ingredients. Held in Jack London Square, it also has artisan beers, local wines, and food. More than 500,000 guests have attended the event since it launched in 2009. In 2015, the specialty was drought-friendly fare. Next: Fall 2016
#5 Food, Wine & Restaurant Industry Event
More than 30 vendors donate desserts to the festival, which benefits Project Open Hand. Other highlights include a chocolate and wine pavilion, an ice-cream-eating contest, chef demonstrations, and a silent auction. Some 40,000 guests attend each year. Next: September 2016
#6 Food, Wine & Restaurant Industry Event
Restaurants, wineries, and epicurean artisans participate in the day, which includes wine and food tastings, a barbecue grill-off, and chef demonstrations. The event is hosted by San Francisco magazine. Next: October 10, 2015
#7 Food, Wine & Restaurant Industry Event
The benefit for Daniel Webster Elementary School has been an annual sellout since it launched in 2011. It draws 800 guests to Pier 70 each year and offers samples from 30 local restaurants and bars. Next: Spring 2016
