Elite Traveler Summer 2020

Newport Beach Wine & Food NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, USA Newport Beach epitomizes laid-back California glamour. It has pristine beaches, incredible restaurants and friendly residents who are happy to share their idyllic town with visitors. This hospitality moves to the next level during Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival, when some of the town’s most glamorous estates open their doors during the signature estate tour and progressive lunch hosted by celebrity chef Richard Blais, where guests enjoy a dish at each estate in a moveable feast. The weekend mixes premier events — including the opening gala dinner, Cristal champagne and Petrossian caviar pairings, Opus One vertical library tastings and a VIP golf tournament at Pelican Hill — with casual grand tasting events and a waterfront barbecue at Newport Harbor. This year’s edition takes place October 8-11 and features local restaurants alongside celebrated chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa, whose cooking demonstration and lunch is one of the weekend’s hottest tickets, and master sommeliers who guide you through the intimate wine panels and tastings. Be sure to buy a ticket that includes access to the Diamond Club Lounge, which hosts private meet and greets with the sommeliers and chefs, has exclusive wine tastings and the chance to join the mailing lists at some of Napa’s most prestigious vineyards. - KS newportwineandfood.com

Clockwise from left A Cristal champagne and caviar pairing; chef Nobu Matsuhisa; the palm-fringed venue at sunset