LA Wine Fest

This years’ LA Wine Fest 10^th Anniversary was located on the Raleigh studio & it definitely did not disappoint because it was even bigger & better than last years’ event with even more wineries, vendors and breweries.
Acura was here to show off their new TL model; they were also handing out these delicious vanilla sea salt caramel which made the experience even sweeter.
Icelandic water was a big sponsor of this event & provided us with clean tasty water that went great with the wine & beer tastings at this event.
Tropical showcased their delicious Mango & Passion Fruit Moscato, which was very popular with the ladies.
Bazaar Boutique had soy candles which smelled just serene & heavenly.
Navarro Vineyards & Winery was here to showcase their tasty wines that ranged from Roses, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay & Gewürztraminer (my favorite).
Stella Artois was on hand to pour their delicious cider & beers.
Laguna Salt Company, which is a family owned company displayed their gourmet, hand crafted salts infused with various herbs & spices.
Elysian Brewing Co. was handing out very good sized pours of their beers. My favorite was the Space Dust.
TossWare showed off their high end plastic clear, recyclable drinking glasses that’s perfect for dinners, picnics, events, catering, or even whole sale distribution. These glasses come in various sizes; from tumblers to flutes and pints.
Eppa SupraFruta Sangria uses certified organic fruit juices in its sangria.
Temecula Valley Wine Growers brought out wines from various wineries for tastings.
Fetzer Wines had tastings on their Chardonny, Cabernet Sauvignon. & Gewürztraminer. My favorite was the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Overall, everything was nicely spread out & there were plenty of wineries, breweries, vendors and food trucks to check out which made this event so much fun to check out. I can’t wait for next years event!

First time attending. Didn’t know what to expect. Had a blast. Got to sample wine, beer and some munchies. Vendors were great with special deals going on during the festival. Fun to get great wine and discounted prices, my wine glass engraved, and goodies to buy to take home. Also enjoyed getting free samples to take home. Will definitely be there next year. But be prepared it was hot! Sunscreen, sun glasses and hat recommended. Great size of crowd, didn’t feel crowded like other festivals. Plenty of time to get around and visit each vendor as we got there half an hour after event started. Definitely worth the money :)

Can we call this once & done? Where to start? Entrance-​depending on where you went for tickets, folks spent $ 89 dollars, or as cheap as $ 45 for the same event! Use GOLDSTAR if you’re really interested in going-that’s the cheaper rate-don’t buy direct from LA Fest. Entrance clue: if you go use Bronson gate entrance-​less known and less crowded!
They also offered a «VIP» area-​a SMALL little area with «premier» wines, some food tastings and a gift bag for an additional $ 20. Again, a rip off as they were of marginal value and the gift bag a joke. But the wineries in that area acted snobby so they must have been good (not).
None of wineries in the main areas are major players in CA, more boutique really. Some were good, others not but the value of wine is strictly to personal taste so we’ll leave it there. Very crowded at the studio lot-​and as the day progressed, heat, crowds and alcohol are not a great mix (some fights/​arguments occurred). Rent-​a-​cops were in evidence at least to control. Nice to get to keep your wine glass, and great that the Stella beer folks also gave out beer glasses.
There is absolutely not enough tables and shade to sit and enjoy. Fight your way through a line to get a sample pour, then either park there to try other offerings from that particular winery or get jostled on your way back out with your 1 oz drink. Can only do that so many times!
Highlight was Acura booth and the free salt & Carmel ice cream-​yum! Lines for food trucks (plan on paying extra $ for food that’s ok-​not a big food truck fan), and not much seating, especially shade seating to enjoy it! Merchandise vendors had some interesting items but had to laugh at the innovation of «disposable wine glasses». A vendor displayed this «novelty».
Last we met with Joel who runs the event. Kindly put, most companies have their figureheads but have others do their talking. Joel needs to consider that. He had to have «keepers» and kept the one area of true shade (the studio’s restaurant area) as his kingdom. He ranted at those who seeked shelter from the sun and dared to enter without his permission.
Having visited other wine events of various size and circumstance, we can definitely say due to the above this was the bottom tier of like experiences and will never return. Save yourselves $, invite friends to bring a bottle over along with something for a pot luck & you’ll have much more fun.

Attended on Sunday
Showed up 25 min after it started and there was plenty of parking and no wait to get in.
Wine fest was fun. Nothing big and fancy. It wasn’t ridiculous crowded either but restrooms are limited so the women’s always had a line (like always). Not as many vendors as I thought there would be and there was only 3 food trucks. But still fun.
Plan on doing it again next year.

I got to try the Winefest for 2015, it did not disappoint!
There were wines, some samples, some goods for sale, a glass engraving booth I didn’t get a chance to take advantage of, some beer booths, and a band from what I remember. Raleigh studio, albeit a smaller studio, is big enough for this event.
I like that they spread out the vendors out like a letter C and it didn’t feel crowded. It also helped that the weather was quite nice.
Strey Cellers Cab was one of my favorites from here. An award winner red, I will look for it at my nearest store next time around.
I got the ice cream from Acura this year. Salt and Straw caramel, thank you Acura! Stella gave out their glasses with their libations.
One thing I though they could have more of was seating and tables. There definitely were not enough. Hey, carrying wine and drinking was hard work, especially when you’re double fisting!
Would definitely come back again! There’s always codes or Goldstar tickets for around $ 50 for this deal.

First time ever going and it was a blast. Lots of vendors, friendly people and of course lots of wine. Make sure you bring comfortable shoes, sun block and a empty stomach. I love the free wine and beer glasses. Plus you can get whatever you want engraved on the glasses. It’s only once a year and I can’t wait to go next year! Cheers!

It was a beautiful warm day the people were so friendly the wineries were plenty it was well worth the money I had a fabulous time we’ll be back there next year

VIP was awesome ahi tuna tacos from Del Frisco! Endless wine tastings? Yes please!

I had VIP tickets to this year’s LA Wine Fest at Raleigh Studios and was quite disappointed.
VIP ticket holders get unlimited wine tasting, designated «wine garden» located all the way in the very back of the lot with a few tables and chairs, and food samples from Del Frisco’s Grille in Santa Monica. We also had a gift bag that were filled with business flyers, business cards, a black note book, and a cheap wine opener. It was ridiculous. The gift bag was NOT worth $ 100 as stated.
There were about 40 wineries present at the event but none were amazing. All were really just mediocre. And some of them were so stingy on the pours. I had a few vendors who literally poured 1 sip. It was ridiculous.
Food truck lines were long and we were lucky to find Poke Poke’s booth so we opted for a small bowl of ahi poke.
To be honest, the event was overwhelming. It was unorganized and not worth the money.

Nice variety of wineries present at the 2014 LA Wine fest, even though it took us a while to find them. The more commercial wine companies (Cupcake) and beer companies (Stella Artios) had the larger displays, at the front. The smaller more expensive wineries, you know, the ones I can’t spell or pronounce, they were a little further in the back and harder to find. See more at

I have to agree with the other 1-​star reviews here. I drove all the way up from Temecula to attend this event. It was my first time and will be my last. No sense in repeating what’s already been said– the other folks who rated the event poorly are correct in their assessment.
If you want to see how an event SHOULD be done, head across the street to Paramount Studios where they host «LA Times | The Taste». I’ve been to to that one 2 or 3 times and it was much, much better. This year (2014), it will be held Aug 30^th — Sept. 1^st.
Or, head on over to the Fairplex in Pomona on June 21 for the public unveiling and tasting of the award-​winning wines, spirits and beers of the Los Angeles International Competition set in the breezy Wine & Beer Marketplace. This is probably my favorite event all year!

I’m glad to have only paid half the price, but $ 40+ is still too much for such a disorganized, poorly planned, cheapfest.
1 — ENTRANCE. We arrived 15 minutes prior to opening. As the doors opened, the event staff yelled out that a separate line for those with printout tickets could enter. They were not clear about it and attendees were asking each other, causing chaos right by the entrance. Digital proof from one’s smartphone was not accepted, then 15 minutes later, it was accepted. (Doh!) Goldstar ticket holders without printouts, with printouts, with digital tickets, with whatever… confusing!
You had to stand in multiple lines to get in a line that goes to another line, that goes to yet another line. Worse than the DMV!
2 — IDENTITY /​LEGAL. My name was on the Will Call ticket. I told her my name and pointed out my friends that purchase included. The lady didn’t ask for my ID, or any of our ID. I could have made up who I was and could have slipped in non-​ticket holders and underage people. The event staff was making up their minds as to what the flow would be. All their different ideas were just bad. (One of my friends was a professional event planner, who pointed out the what they should have done and how to pick up the pieces of the mess. We needed to keep a positive attitude and just had to laugh at the whole thing.)
2 — DIRTY GLASSES. One of the reviewers pointed out the dirty glasses. I agree wholeheartedly! They were opening the boxes and handing it out to us. We used the water bottles to swish and clean our glasses ourselves.
3 — QUALITY OF EXHIBITORS. I liked a handful of exhibitors, but the wine was embarrassing! Mediocre quality.
My star goes to the beer companies, most especially Stella who brought their game on! They were giving away full-​glasses of their various beers (and cider), with a free glass! I drank more beer than wine at this wine fest. Stella was the most prepared and the best vendor, hands down!
4 — SUN AND SHADE. For a 2p-​6pm event on a hot Summer day, there was not enough shade to accommodate the attendees. It’s in a film lot! I’m sure they could have rented a fake cloud or fake wind. People were cramming themselves on a small staircase and turned it into seating and shade. It was sad to see some vendors who look like they could only afford to rent an umbrella. Rent some trees! Rent some benches! Rent some hay! Whatever. Give us a chance to sit and or cool off even for a minute.
5 — FOOD. All the bad alcohol and no crackers. (Bring food if you plan to attend this in the future!) Sadly, it took the Mac & Cheese food truck 45-​minutes to serve us 2 grilled cheese sandwiches. (I’m not sure why this food truck would place someone in their staff who was a first timer on a day like this.)
Heck, bring your own chair!

The LA Wine Fest was quite a disappointment for me from the prospective of value. We paid $ 50 a pop to stand in very long lines while the sun blared at us. All the wines that I tried were mediocre and the food samples consisted of nuts and bread slices. I had to pay $ 5 for a tiny taco from a food truck or otherwise I would have gotten drunk on cheap wine in half an hour. Our group made the best out of it but I wouldn’t recommend it if you are looking for a relaxing time.

I’m having a nicely chilled glass of rosé, as I’m typing this. No, I’m not at LA Wine Fest. I’m at home after spending almost an hour at Raleigh Studios with the masses in the hot sun, fighting to maintain my patience while standing in line for what tasted to be mediocre wines.
Things started off wrong when we stood in line for our wine glasses. The line wasn’t moving because they had run out of glasses, and someone finally told us we should go to the other side of the studio to get out glasses. So we fought our way through the crowds and got to the other side. Once we got our glasses, we thought we we’re going to be in the zone — tasting some good wines, eating some nice little snacks. That didn’t happen.
The lines for all the wine and liquor were long waits. The event was obviously oversold. Some of the vendors didn’t seem to care, and in fact, they seemed like they were purposely serving slowly to give the impression that the huge lines were a sign a quality. One wine guy was chugging his own glass of wine while we waited and then he engaged other customers in a long conversation and ignored everyone else. Multi-​task much?
Also, the number of wine vendors was greatly outweighed by vendors for other stuff. I thought being named LA WINEfest meant there would be a lot of wine. On a side note, I know where to get noxious cigars, handbags, Über info, breathalyzer testers and Acura Cars on a Saturday afternoon if you’re interested.
This event had been checked off the check list for good.

Every year, this event gets bigger and better. It doesn’t disappoint. I am not a wine connoisseur, however, I am burgeoning wine enthusiast. I have found that attending this events not only had developed my palate, but also helped me identify the types of wines that I like and those that I don’t.
The event itself, now in its ninth year is held at Raleigh Studios. The organizers make good use of the space. Tickets are about $ 85 but you can find a good deal on one of those online coupon sources. The tickets grants you admission to the event (if you enjoy the full event it’s about 5 hours); a tasting glass and program. Food is available for purchase (food trucks). Water is included (there are two water stations).
Suggestions after having attending the last three seasons:
— Bring a hat/​sunglasses
— Wear sunscreen
One good thing about this event is the restroom facilities — they are actual restrooms and portable potties — this is always a plus.

This event is quiet fun. You get to learn new wine and products out there. It’s like going to a trade show. The event was held at the Historic Raleigh Studios which is across the street from the famous Paramount Studio. So makes it really fun to go thru the lots of the studio as if you work there as a star. Be sure to come right on time or maybe a little early, otherwise you have to park in the streets even though the parking structure is near by. It can be a walk. It’s fun with several food trucks that you can try new things. I am looking forward for next year’s event.

I tend not to gravitate towards events like these because as a non-​connoisseur of wine, I get easily overwhelmed by tasting too many wines and I lose my flavor bearings. I can’t tell you how many tasting blitzes I’ve come home from, only to discover that I don’t actually like the bottles I’ve purchased.
In that regard I really liked the LA Wine Fest. Held this month at the Raleigh Studios across from Paramount, it was a very manageable festival with a good amount of wine vendors, and a few beer & cocktail offerings as well. There were a handful of food vendors, food trucks and one semi-​permanent window (Hot’s Kitchen). I tasted everything from prosciutto, gourmet olive oils and balsamics, to amazing cheeses! I even got to sit in on a wine & cheese pairing seminar where I had some of the best aged cheddar I’ve ever had. Delicious!
And despite all of the wine vendors pouring & selling their bottles, it was easy for me to leave with just a couple of favorites (Jada FTW!). I feel like I learned a little bit more about wine, how it’s produced, as well as my own palate.
The food truck offering was fairly scarce, but after sampling wine, beer, and cocktails, there wasn’t much room for food anyway.
Cheers!

I came here on the 2^nd day (Sunday) of the event as a volunteer. I have to say the coordination was not really there for volunteers. when i arrived, a large group of us was waiting around for the coordinator. we all got difference colored wristbands, and then were finally sent off to our posts. i ended up handing out water for over 4 hours, but was left alone the second half of my shift and had to use the restroom really badly! but we weren’t allowed to leave our posts unattended, and no one came by to check on me or swap out workers. bad times.
eventually, the vendor i was working for came by and i asked him to help me get released from my post. i also felt like i was being pressured to be a salesman for the water. while i was already genuinely friendly to vistors, i was also told to tell people the PH of the water was 8.4, that you have to ask for the product at ralphs because it’s not out on the shelves, the other stores in can be found in, where it’s sourced, who owns the company, why you should drink it at room temperature, the type of recyclable plastic the bottle is, and all about the shipping containers that they come on. it was really hard work and i didnt think i was being paid enough (nothing) to be a salesman. i would have preferred lugging ice around to all the booths.
i wish there had been more food at the event. 99.9% of the vendors were wine or other alcohol. there was one griling cheese stand and one salad dressing stand giving out bites of romaine lettuce.

LA Winefest has become a family tradition! In my family going somewhere more than once makes it a tradition, we are easy like that.
Last year as I was browsing the events section of Goldstar I came upon Winefest. I had never been to anything like it and decided to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. Winefest is held at Raleigh Studios located on the border of Good and Evil LA. Seriously, when you get off the freeway and drive through the hood you will see what I’m talking about. Nonetheless Raleigh is a great venue to hold a festival or any outdoor event. LAWF (LA Winefest) is perfect for beginners, wine enthusiasts, and faux novices. I wouldn’t imagine someone wanting to show off their expertise would have any fun. After a few glasses its more of a wine drinking.
There are a TON of vendors, including food carts with delicious treats (for an additional cost). Upon entry you get a free souvenir glass and let the guzzling (tasting) commence. I’ve always enjoyed myself and look forward to the next event.
Goldstar and LAWF website sells discount tickets. Money saved never hurts.
PS wear comfortable shoes, I seem to have forgotten this 2 years in a row. Better luck next time.

This event was a blast! Saved a few buck$ buy purchasing discount tix on Goldstar. There were TONS of wine vendors so there were numerous selections to choose from. There were also vendors for chocolate, juice, coffee, dipping sauces, salad dressings, and cars at the event. I liked that the vendors could sell items on site. There was also live entertainment all day on Saturday.
The Raleigh Studios lot restaurant was open during the event & the menu looked delicious! There were also TON of food trucks with all types of cuisine. The only thing that I would change is that the food wasn’t included so you had to purchase it separately from the food trucks or the onsite restaurant (in addition to your admission ticket). Other than that, this event was a huge success!