Gastrovino Takes Food and Wine to Another Level in Todos Santos

Todos Santos has two distinct event seasons. The first takes place during the first few months of each year, when the Pacific Coast pueblo magico hosts a series of cultural festivals celebrating music, art, writing and film. The second begins in May and extends through the summer months, with the focus shifting to the culinary sphere.

Gastrovino is the first and best of these palate pleasing events, an annual food and wine festival that pairs fine fare and lively entertainment with wines from Mexico’s premier growing region, Valle de Guadalupe outside Ensenada. The festival, which returns May 5 – 7, was the brainchild of the owners of La Bodega de Todos Santos, a local boutique that specializes in wine and olive oil.

Over the past five years, Gastrovino has continued to grow in reputation, with auxiliary events like a Friday dinner at the historic Hotel California leading up to the main event on Sunday:  a food and wine extravaganza in the town’s plaza publico, complete with musical performances and a silent auction to benefit local causes.

This year, the Friday dinner at Hotel California has been transformed into an elegant White Ball, adding fashionable accents to the traditional feast, which falls on Cinco de Mayo. Saturday brings a GastroTour of the beautiful downtown district, as well as a Blind Wine Tasting Challenge at Jazamango Restaurant, with prizes going to the top three finishers after a flight of 12 wines.

The main event Sunday starts at 2 p.m., and features performances from the winner of La Voz Mexico (a national version of the international television series The Voice), top regional chefs and winemakers, artists painting live, a circus show, and discounted prices on bottles of wine. As always, proceeds are earmarked for charity, with the majority going to the Palapa Society of Todos Santos (which supports children’s causes), and the rest to the restoration of Old San Juan Park. The “after party” starts at the Sky Lounge at Guaycura Boutique Hotel & Spa at 7 p.m.

Todos Santos is less than an hour by car from Cabo San Lucas. Ticket prices vary according to each event, and may be purchased at several locations around Baja California Sur:  La Bodega de Todos Santos and Libreria El Tecolote in Todos Santos; Got Baja in La Paz; and the Wine Market and Galeria Pez Gordo in Los Cabos. For more information, visit http://gastrovino.mx/fest/.

Poster courtesy of Gastrovino Food and Wine Festival.

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