About the Calistoga Wine Festival and Competition

We believe that celebrating the excellence of Calistoga AVA and Calistoga wine

 craftsmanship are important more than ever. The Calistoga Wine Festival provides a vital platform for appreciation of Calistoga’s local viticulture, its terroir,  and quality of wines, as well as gaining recognition for Calistoga AVA, attracting new consumers, boosting visibility of local wines, strengthening wine industry’s presence, and raising funds for local charities.  

This is a charitable community event, with proceeds benefiting UpValley Family Centers, which support individuals and families in northern Napa County—including Calistoga—who face economic and social challenges.

The inspiration for this event draws, in part, from a historic moment exactly fifty years ago, when a 1976 blind tasting in Paris changed the global wine conversation and helped put Napa Valley on the world map. 

One of the wines that made history came from Calistoga (Chateau Montelena, Croatian - American winemaker Mike Grigich).

Today, that spirit of honest evaluation and confidence in place comes home.

 The Calistoga Wine Festival (CWF) will bring together local winemakers, restaurateurs, 

businesses, and wine lovers to experience the diversity and distinction of this remarkable

 region through tastings, celebrations, and community.