Uncork those bottles

“Come quickly! I am tasting the stars!”

— Said to be uttered by Dom Pérignon upon tastingcreating sparkling champagne

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Love the best in food and wine? Get both at a spectacular new event, Laguna Beach Uncorked! An International Wine & Food Fest, slated from 1 to 4 p.m. March 10 on the Festival of Arts grounds.

Twenty-five Laguna Beach restaurants will be participating in the event, put on by the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau, offering tastes ranging from South African peri-peri to Asian fusion to classic American fare.

The prestigious wineries showcasing their libations come from such far-flung areas as the Rhône River valley of France and the Rías Baixas submerged river valley of Spain. Tiny Thompkin Cellars of Costa Mesa offers local flavor, while Napa/Sonoma, Pacific Northwest, Australian, Italian, Spanish, South American and South African wines round out the selection.

“Last year, Laguna Culinary Arts hosted an opening night event — part of Laguna Beach a la Carte — in their parking lot and welcomed 400 guests. The event featured wines of California and food prepared by their culinary students,” said Ashley Johnson, the bureau’s marketing manager. “This year, we wanted to create a signature event that would draw a larger crowd, so we decided to hold it on the Festival of Arts grounds and worked to bring [the Children’s Hospital of Orange County] on board as the beneficiary. We have also added international wines, beer and sake to the mix.”

Johnson credited the efforts of Nancy Milby, executive director of Laguna Culinary Arts, in coordinating with the 24 participating wineries, Cismontane Brewing Co. and TY KU Sake.

“We are very excited with the caliber of food and beverage offerings this year,” Johnson said. “I think it’s also a nice value to enter an event and have access to all of the tastings without having to buy separate taste tickets. We want our guests to experience all Laguna Beach has to offer in the culinary realm.”

Johnson added that Waste Management, one of the event sponsors, also will be on hand during the event.

“They will be in attendance to ensure that we have a zero-waste event, with all food and organic waste separated on site and taken to their processing facility where it will be turned into a sustainable product,” she said.

To further add to the “green” value, all attendees will be given a commemorative wine glass.

Tickets start at $75 for a presale ticket, or are $95 at the door. Additionally, 150 VIP tickets also are available for $125, and include a 10 a.m. wine seminar with Orange County’s first master sommelier, Peter Neptune; early entrance at noon to the Uncorked! Event; a Laguna Beach tote bag; and complimentary parking based on availability near the Art-A-Fair grounds.

General admission ticket holders will be granted free parking in the Act V parking lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road, dependent on availability, with free shuttles running between Act V and the Festival of Arts from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

All guests must be 21 and up; IDs will be checked upon entry.

This year marks the second annual Laguna Beach a la Carte, themed as a food and wine experience, of which Laguna Beach Uncorked! is the banner event. It will run from March 8 to 11 and includes prix-fixe restaurant offers and winemaker dinners, special events, cooking demos and more.

Johnson said some of the major events this year include “A Taste of K’ya Bistro” at the Rooftop Lounge in the Casa del Camino; “Sunset & Savor” at the Surf & Sand Resort’s pool deck; “Snack, Sip, and Surf” at the Deck at the Pacific Edge Hotel; “Garden to Table: A Culinary Experience” at Studio in the Montage Resort & Spa; a gospel and champagne brunch at Tivoli Too!; and a chef demonstration and cooking class at Nirvana Grille.

For more information, call the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau at (949) 497-9229 or visit https://www.lagunabeachinfo.com for a full brochure detailing Laguna Beach Uncorked!, as well as all of the Laguna Beach a la Carte options. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.lagunabeachfoodies.tix.com or call (800) 595-4849 24/7.

If You Go

What: Laguna Beach Uncorked!

When: 1 to 4 p.m. March 10; wristband distribution begins at 12:30 p.m.; noon entry for VIP guests

Where: Festival of Arts grounds, Laguna Beach

Cost: $75 presale general admission; $95 at door; VIP $125

Information:lagunabeachinfo.com

Participating Laguna Beach restaurants:

230 Forest Avenue

The Beach House

Broadway by Amar Santana

Claes Ovation

The Deck

Dizz’s As Is

Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen

French 75

House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer

Katsuya

K’ya Bistro Bar

Laguna Culinary Arts

Las Brisas

Mosaic Bar & Grille at Montage

Mozambique Steakhouse

Nirvana Grille

Royal Hawaiian

Sapphire Restaurant & Pantry

Splashes Restaurant

Starfish Laguna

Sundried Tomato

Tabu Grill

Three Seventy Common Kitchen + Drink

Tommy Bahama

Watermarc Restaurant

Participating wineries:

Axel

Beacon Hill

Belasco de Baquedano

Bernardus

Boekenhoutskloof

Chateau Montelena

Domaine Serene

Fairview

Famille Perrin

Frank Family Vineyard

Fuedo Maccari

Hedges Family Estate

La Playa

Louis Michel & Fils

Marqués de Murrieta

Michele Chiarlo

Neil Ellis

Tenute di Nozzole

Penfolds

Retour

Thompkin Cellars

Tres Sabores

Vincent Delaporte