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VIP Wine Tasting in Del Mar

Yesterday, we had a wonderful time at the VIP Wine Tasting at the Del Mar fair.  

Only 250 tickets were sold, and we got to experience several excellent wines with food pairings from Chef Barry, who works at the Turf Club at the Del Mar fairground.  

The event started at 12:30, and we arrived early because we weren't sure what traffic would be like, which gave us a chance to learn about the secret destination that would be open later and inspired me to start looking for a wine-tasting shirt for William to wear on our wintery adventures.  

What I Wore | Follow The Flamingos

I think my favorite (big surprise) was the Chile & Coffee Crusted All Natural Brandt Beef Skirt Steak with Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes,  paired with a 2018 Costa Azul Cab Sauvignon from Alexander Valley. 

I also enjoyed some of the sparkling wines, which were paired with cheese made specifically for the event by a local cheesemaker who only makes the cheese in small batches.

As part of the VIP experience, we got to sit on a balcony above the "Toast of the Coast" candidates from local vineyards.  The weather was gorgeous, and we were away from the main crowded areas of the fair.  If you decide to attend, I recommend pacing yourself: the appetizers and lighter wines are served first, followed by entrees with heavier wines, and at the end, a glass of delicious dessert wine and chocolate. 

We also attended a second wine tasting from a local winery called "Hungry Hawk," which is located near us in Encinitas.  The winemaker is a former surfer who was encouraged by his parents to create the type of wine that he (and hopefully others) would enjoy drinking.  We are looking forward to visiting this winery on an upcoming weekend.  

Follow The Flamingos

Finally, we were told about "the speakeasy" and to "follow the flamingos" to find it.  We wandered off into unauthorized territory (oops!) but we soon found ourselves in the secret location, drinking the signature cocktail, "the flamingo" which was made with tequila, strawberry lemonade and cotton candy.  This is the closest we got to eating "fair food" as we skipped the fry bread and other goodies. 
 



What I Wore

I really love this maxi dress from Amazon.  

It's more of an orange-red, which I don't usually wear but it turned out to match the wristband for the VIP event!  

I love the hemline, and it's a very summer-friendly dress to wear with sandals and could probably be dressed up or down. 

I usually wear a size small, but the measurements looked tiny on Amazon, so I sized up a medium, and I'm happy with the fit. 






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