January Wine Festivals & Events

January wine festivals in California are scarce compared to the height of the festival season, summer through the fall grape harvests and into the pre-Christmas holidays. Though you won't find large numbers of wine festivals throughout the state in January you will find great wine tasting opportunities. In fact, January is the optimum to go wine tasting if you seek low-key, less crowded experiences.

ARCADIA: California Wine Festival January 25-26, 2025 at Santa Anita Racetrack. Enjoy one of the biggest wine tastings in the region and take in a full day of live racing and music on the home stretch of the race track. Includes wine sampling, souvenir glass, race voucher and more. Location: 285 West Huntington Drive, Santa Anita, CA. $37-67, santaanita.com

NAPA: Zinfandel Experience ZinEx January 30-February 1, 2025 in Napa Valley. Grand Tasting Feb. 1, 1:30-4 p.m. CIA at Copia, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $275, zinfandelexperience.com

SACRAMENTO: Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, January 28-30, 2025
Sacramento Convention Center
Sacramento, CA
$40-up for non-members, unifiedsymposium.org
The Unified Wine and Grape Symposium introduces attendees to more than 80 speakers and 600 wine exhibitors. More than 80 guest speakers in the field of viticulture present new research -   stay current with rapidly evolving wine and grape industry. January 28-30 | Exhibits: January 29 & 30

CAMBRIA: Art & Wine Festival January 23-26, 2025
$40-up, CambriaArtWine.org    
Cambria Chamber of Commerce
The  annual Cambria Art & Wine Festival celebrates fine wine and original art found on the California Central Coast. The Main Event offers three days of wine tasting venues including a two-day Artists Faire, with demonstrating artists, plus an art auction and multiple wine tastings throughout the village shops. In addition to the Main Event there is a Friday night Kickoff Party which includes a five course dinner prepared by Cambria's finest restaurants paired with local wineries.  Participants include approximately 45 vineyards, 6 restaurants, 80 artists.

LOS ANGELES: Uncorked LA Wine Festival January 25, 2025, 5-9 p.m.  
Union Station
800 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
$73.44-up, uncorkedwinefestivals.com
Head over to Union Station, for more than 50 wineries, food trucks, and music are in store at this completely unpretentious festival of fine wines. Union Station is located in the heart of LA's vibrant downtown. Wine tastings are included, while food is sold separately. 

HEALDSBURG:  Winter WINEland January 17-18, 2026, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ticket price will include wine tasting at all of the participating wineries for the weekend.
 $, wineroad.com/events/winter-wineland/
Age 21 and older only -- no babies or children permitted
Two glorious days along Wine Road - Northern Sonoma County--meet winemakers, taste limited production wines, new releases or library wines. All participating wineries highlight a Vintage, Varietal or Vertical tasting for the weekend. Winter WINEland invites you to travel from winery to winery, visiting the ones you are interested in exploring.

NAPA: Napa Truffle Festival January 16-19, 2026
Napa Valley, CA
Event-goers prepare to forage for wild mushrooms and may have opportunities to meet renowned truffle experts . The signature event is the Napa Truffle Festival Marketplace inviting guests to watch cooking demos, sample and buy specialty foods, wines and other culinary merchandise. A la carte tickets and two special packages are available: the Epicurean and the Grand Truffle Weekend.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.