Pebble Beach Food & Wine

Set against the dramatic Pacific coastline of the Pebble Beach golf links, this festival has built a reputation as one of the more prestigious food and wine events in the United States. The setting alone — grand tastings held with ocean views — gives it a different character from most urban food festivals.

The programme mixes large-format tastings featuring hundreds of wineries with intimate chef dinners, often hosted by some of the country's most decorated culinary names. For serious wine collectors in particular, the festival's rare-bottle tastings have become a genuine draw in their own right.