Serious chefs and household name winemakers trekked off into the woods and onto ridgetops, glasses of Chappellet in hand. The Grand Tasting packed in flavor from places like TreeBones and Ventana and Sierra Mar. Everyone came away with that silly look of enlightened dizziness that comes from flavors that soar as much as they explore. In short, with its version voyage a year ago, the small but talented crew that put on Big Sur Food & Wine served notice that this franchise is going to fun for a long time.
Today tickets went on sale for year two Nov. 4-7 mini epic. Some of the notable upgrades include new digs for the opening act and the Grand Tasting. The Highlands Inn hosts the new Gateway to Big Sur on Friday; Henry Miller Library's grassy redwood-rimmed lawns welcome 12:30-3pm Saturday. Winemaker dinners have only grown in numbers, and the quick-selling "hikes with stemware" have multiplied. It even looks like there are a few more attractive panel discussion/tastings.
Check out the thick schedule of events here.