Malibu Food & Wine

Malibu Food & Wine is a three-day food and wine festival held annually in Malibu, California — staged across a 1,000-acre ranch with programming spanning September 18–20, 2026, and single-day General Admission tickets starting at $199. The event takes place at Saddlerock Ranch, a historic estate in Malibu's wine country that sits against the Santa Monica Mountains and includes working vineyards. Co-founded by Chef Marcel Vigneron, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and Top Chef Season 2 runner-up, and Lauren Rae Levy, who brings 25 years of branding and luxury partnerships experience, the festival is structured as a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.

Malibu Food & Wine runs across three distinct days rather than compressing programming into a single session. Friday, September 18 opens the weekend, Saturday serves as the main event day, and Sunday closes with final tastings and dinners. The format layers elevated tastings, immersive dining, and curated activations — including a segment called A Taste of Malibu, which spotlights local restaurants personally selected by the co-founders, many of which were affected by the Woolsey, Franklin, and Palisades Fires. Each participating chef is paired with a culinary student from the Institute of Culinary Education for hands-on mentorship throughout the weekend. Partner wineries include Chappellet, the Napa Valley estate founded in 1967 and known for Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside wine retailer Wally's, which holds Wine Spectator's Grand Award for eight consecutive years.

Tickets are structured by experience depth: General Admission is $199 per day, and VIP Seated Dinner access is $599. A full weekend pass is listed at $750 (reduced from $1,125). The festival is notably family-inclusive — guests ages 12–20 receive discounted tickets at $70, ages 4–11 at $30, and children under 4 attend free, making it one of the few California wine festivals designed to accommodate families. Guests are encouraged to book accommodations through the festival's hotel partner, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, where a special rate is available with proof of ticket purchase by calling 818-575-3000.

Saddlerock Ranch sits within the Malibu Coast wine region, where the marine influence from the Pacific moderates temperatures and extends the growing season. The area is known for producing Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon across its mountain-facing slopes. The festival's emphasis on California vintners and locally sourced cuisine reflects the region's identity as both a wine-producing area and a culinary destination shaped by its proximity to Los Angeles.