Our Day at the Temecula Wine and Balloon festival 2016

Alex and I met our favorite Orange County friends at the Temecula Wine and Balloon festival this year. It was too much fun, really, too much. 

We got there very early in the morning in an effort to partake in the free tethered balloon rides that they offer for the first few hundred visitors. The balloon rides started at 7:30, so naturally we arrived at 6:30 to stand in line. It was unfortunate, that even though we got there before the ride opened, we got there too late to partake. The wind picked up at around 8:30am, and the line ended a scant half dozen people ahead of us. 

Also unfortunately, taking the gamble and getting there very early hurt because we had three hours before they started selling wine. We laid in the grass and watched them deflate the balloons and look at the booths.





This is a smokey the bear bounce house that matched the super cool smokey the bear balloon we saw.



And of course, we spent some time just sitting on the grass waiting for the main fun to begin.

We subscribed to the Wine and Food pairing at noon and had the most swish fun I've ever partook in. Oh my goodness the meals were fabulous, and compared to the rest of the event, the pours were GENEROUS. The food and wine pairing was worth every penny, I tell you.

There was this delicious Ahi Salad.

A team of industrous Chefs milling away.

The main event was swordfish.

And a chocolate Ganash

It wouldn't have been the same and dare I say worth it if our beautiful friends were not there with us.

The Temecula Wine and Balloon festival was just so much fun. There was some to be desired in terms of the timing of the event with the predawn balloon observing, a lull, and then the afternoon segment of fun, but in the end,  The food and wine pairing was worth every penny.