The Main Event

The Main Event will highlight the talents of winemakers, celebrity chefs, brew masters, fishermen and artisanal food producers who call Central Coast home.

Main Event Hours
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, 2012 Locals Discount
Use code LOCAL for 15% off Main Event ticket price.

This four-day culinary exploration will play host to a two-day Main Event held at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch on September 29 and 30, 2012. The Main Event will highlight the talents of winemakers, celebrity chefs, brew masters, fishermen, artisanal food producers, Sunset experts, and many more artisans and producers from Ventura to Santa Cruz who call the Central Coast home.

Wander the Marketplace and taste from over 100 local wineries, sample small bites dished-up from local restaurateurs, and enjoy vendors showcasing their craft. Relax in the Estrada Garden with a beer from one of the local breweries, listen to music from the Music Stage, or stroll through Sunset’s Garden and Backyard Farm. You can meet the families and growers at the heart of the Central Coast’s incredible produce at the Farmer’s Market to Meal. In-depth wine and cooking seminars are offered throughout the weekend and give attendees a deep-dive into a specific varietal or cooking technique. Cost is $20 per seminar with purchase of your main event ticket. Finally, speed through the Infiniti Test Drive track on the ranch airstrip.

History of the Santa Margarita Ranch

Santa Margarita’s fertile valley and year-round flowing creeks led the Spanish padres to establish a farm with assistance from the Chumash Indian population, and in 1787 it was formally recognized as an outpost of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Just one day’s journey from San Luis Obispo and the San Miguel Mission, it was a convenient layover for travelers on El Camino Real. The Asistencia was built circa 1817, and is one of the first recorded uses of mortar in California. Today the 13,900acre ranch is owned by the Rossi, Filipponi, and Wittstrom families, whose management practices have been recognized with several stewardship awards. Using a rotational cattle grazing program has allowed perennial grasses to return, a lush riparian habitat to thrive, and the regeneration of many oak trees. Moreover, a 975-acre vineyard was one of the Central Coast’s first to employ resource conservation practices. The ranch has once again become the site of grand fiestas, host to many non-profit fundraisers, and tours and private events throughout the year. Santa Margarita Ranch is also the home to the Pacific Coast Railroad which loops two miles around the property capturing the beauty of the ranch.