Tucked away in the rolling hills of Ojai, a quiet revolution in food festivals is taking place. While large-scale events often feel like crowded, impersonal spectacles, Ojai Food + Wine is designed to be something different—something personal. This isn’t about endless lines at tasting booths or big-name sponsorships plastered across every surface. Instead, it’s about connection: between chefs and diners, winemakers and enthusiasts, and a community that values hospitality above all else.
The festival, now in its second year, emerged as a response to a void in the culinary landscape. “There was an obvious absence of food and wine festivals from the pandemic years,” says Ben Kephart, general manager of Ojai Valley Inn and the driving force behind Ojai Food + Wine. “We saw something missing, and we had the campus, the relationships, and the passion to create it.”
Ojai Food + Wine didn’t appear out of nowhere. Its roots trace back to The Farmhouse at Ojai Valley Inn, a culinary retreat that seamlessly blends rustic charm with modern sophistication. With its warm, open-air design, rolling views of the Ojai hills, and a setting that instantly makes guests unwind, The Farmhouse has become a destination in its own right. Over the years, its intimate chef series—bringing in culinary luminaries like Nancy Silverton, Michael Cimarusti, and Evan Funke—laid the foundation for what would eventually become the festival.
Kephart and his team realized they had built something special. The relationships forged through these one-night dinners could be expanded into a multi-day event, allowing chefs and winemakers to showcase their work on a larger stage while maintaining the intimacy that makes The Farmhouse unique. “We absolutely treasure our relationships,” Kephart says. “These chefs become like family, and when you bring someone into your home and your kitchen, it becomes really meaningful.”
