Live Fire Food & Wine Festival

Live Fire Food & Wine Festival is an annual food and wine festival held each spring in Temecula, California — the 2026 edition on April 19 was the third annual outing, with general admission priced at $175 and VIP at $250. Organized by Corkfire Kitchen, the restaurant at Temecula Creek Inn, the event runs approximately four hours and pairs invited chefs with Temecula Valley AVA wineries in a single afternoon session on the inn grounds.

What sets Live Fire Food & Wine Festival apart from other Temecula events is its cooking format: every dish is prepared outdoors over open flame — grills, wood-fire ovens, and live-flame rotisseries — so attendees watch food being made in real time rather than picking up pre-plated bites. Roughly 20 chefs participate, and the smoke-and-char character of the food pairs naturally with Temecula Valley's red-leaning wine program. Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache from local producers are well-represented in the region and align with the bold flavors the cooking format produces.

General admission begins at noon and closes at 3:30 PM. VIP ticket holders, at $250, receive early entry starting at 11 AM, adding an extra hour of tasting time — which is why VIP tiers have historically sold out first. Designated driver pricing is listed as TBA. Temecula Creek Inn offers on-property lodging, making it a practical base for attendees traveling from outside the area. For 2027 announcements, Corkfire Kitchen's website at corkfirekitchen.com is the primary source for ticket release dates, which typically come three to four months in advance.