Big Sur Food & Wine continues to grow, leaving only a few event tickets available.

It shouldn’t work, at least on paper. Events with no ready access to parking, charging triple-digits for a gathering with no known address, a list of chefs who may or may not be cooking—“Silly, just silly,” says Aengus Wagner, adding that “It is a terrible business plan.”

And Wagner is president of the organization.

Yet the events that make up Big Sur Food & Wine Festival sell out weeks or even months in advance. And each year guests converge from across the state and the country, many of them regulars and all of them happy to shrug off the uncertainties and hassles for the rewards of a unique culinary experience in a glorious setting.

By all standards, Big Sur Food & Wine—which runs Oct. 31-Nov. 2 (with a bonus pop up on Sunday, Nov. 3) at various locations, indoors and out—is a success. Last year, the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that puts it all together raised $225,000 to give out to operations like Big Sur Fire, Pacific Valley School, Big Sur Health Center, Ventana Wildlife Society, the Esselen Tribe and others.

“We are event people who wanted to produce an exciting, intimate and interesting festival,” Wagner says with evident astonishment, even after 16 years. “What that has led to is nothing short of amazing.”

Some of the annual events within the festival, such as Hiking with Stemware, the Sommelier Dinner and Wine & Swine, have become musts. Tickets are long gone.

Fortunately, Wagner notes that a few tickets remain available for a Friday morning wine tasting with a panel of experts. The event features wines of the new San Luis Obispo AVA and takes place at The Loft on the property of Alila Ventana Big Sur, overlooking the Pacific. Saxum Vineyards, Scar of the Sea, Aaron Wines and Raj Parr Collective will be pouring—which is not a bad way to start a Friday morning.

Wagner admits that hopes for the festival were not as high when it started. Even when they became a nonprofit in 2016, BSFW raised just $24,000.

Things have certainly changed, especially after the pandemic. The festival was able to donate $150,000 to local organizations in 2021 and $210,000 in 2022—all from the efforts of a team of volunteers.

“The ingredients work,” Wagner exclaims, again registering surprise with the satisfaction of success. “Nine events in 13 locations over three days is wonderfully challenging, to say the least. But the rewards can be magic.”