As most of you know by now, I love wine.  Not only drinking wines that I know and adore but also discovering new and exciting wineries and varietals, I blame my Santa Maria/Central Coast roots for my affinity to learning about wine!  I also love when my love of wine (and food) benefits a great cause like Desert Aids Project.  If you follow me over on Instagram chances are you have seen my posts about this weekend’s 1st Annual Rancho Mirage Wine and Food Festival here in the Coachella Valley and probably entered the giveaway to win a pair of tickets to the festival!  The inaugural event will take place this Saturday February 17th from noon to 4pm at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater and Community Park.

The festival will feature over 200 unique wines from some of my personal favorite wineries including Justin (my favorite Cab), Ascension Cellars (I adore their rose), Hitching Post Wines (I went to high school with the Ostini boys of Hartley-Ostini so this one holds a special place for me), and local favorite Coachella Wines.  Plus, there will be over a dozen more wineries that I am not familiar with, I can’t wait to sip my way through the afternoon, finding new favorites!

To balance out all the wine there will also be over a dozen local restaurants serving up culinary delights!  I have been on a serious poke kick lately so I am definitely looking forward to Haus of Poke, I have been dying to try them since they opened last year.  I am also so excited to try bites from Acqua Bistro which recently opened it’s doors at the River in Rancho Mirage, Catalan Mediterranean, and The Edge Steakhouse located at the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage.  Yum!!!!

There will be plenty of music, fun, and a silent auction with 100% of proceeds benefiting Desert Aids Project.  Tickets are still available and I have a special promo just for you!  Use NDWINE at checkout to save $10 per ticket!  I hope to see all of  my desert friends there in support of Desert Aids Project and enjoying great wine!

Cheers! Niki