Laguna Beach Uncorked! An International Wine & Food Fest, takes place on Saturday, March 10, from 1-4 p.m. on the Festival of Arts grounds. VIP admission begins at 10 a.m. Event attendees will experience tastes from 25 wineries from around the world, a local brewery, sake producers and 25 Laguna Beach restaurants. A portion of the proceeds benefits CHOC Children’s Hospital.

Waste Management of Orange County, an event sponsor, will bring their Zero Waste component to the event. “This event will be none other than a world-class culinary experience. Fine wine and food prepared by the great chefs of Laguna Beach,” said Michelle Clark, community relations manager for Waste Management of Orange County and the environmental committee chair on the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. “Waste Management is thrilled to be an environmental partner of Laguna Beach a la Carte and excited to keep the signature event, Laguna Beach Uncorked, in line with Laguna Beach’s green initiatives and provide a solution that lightens their environmental footprint. This Zero Waste goal calls for food waste recycling, in addition to traditional recycling of paper, plastic and glass. Food waste will be collected, processed and turned into a sustainable product. Let’s toast to an exciting and green event!”

Laguna Beach restaurant samplings will be provided by 230 Forest Avenue, The Beach House, Broadway by Amar Santana, Claes Ovation, The Deck, Dizz’s As Is, Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen, French 75, House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer, Katsuya, K’ya Bistro Bar, Laguna Culinary Arts, Las Brisas, Mosaic Bar & Grille at Montage, Mozambique Steakhouse, Nirvana Grille, Royal Hawaiian, Sapphire Restaurant & Pantry, Splashes Restaurant, Starfish Laguna, Sundried Tomato, Tabu Grill, Three Seventy Common Kitchen + Drink, Tommy Bahama and Watermarc Restaurant.

Participating wineries include Axel, Beacon Hill, Belasco de Baquedano, Bernardus, Boekenhoutskloof, Chateau Montelena, Domaine Serene, Fairview, Famille Perrin, Frank Family Vineyards, Fuedo Maccari, Hedges Family Estate, La Playa, Louis Michel & Fils, Marqués de Murrieta, Michele Chiarlo, Neil Ellis, Pazo de Barrantes, Penfolds, Retour, Tenute di Nozzole, Thompkin Cellars, Tres Sabores, Vincent Delaporte. Beer tastings provided by Cismontane Brewing Company. Sake tastings provided by Ty Ku Sake.

The entertainment line-up: 12-2 p.m.: Angelika Wilson, acoustic guitar rock/country/pop singer and 2-4 p.m.: Miguel De Alonso, instrumental Latin jazz and Nouveau Flamenco.

General admission: $75 pre-sale; $95 at door, day of event (3/10/12); VIP: $125 (limited to 150 tickets); includes a 10 a.m. wine seminar with Master Sommelier, Peter Neptune, and an early 12 p.m. entrance to the Laguna Beach Uncorked tasting event. VIP Event is sponsored by Rohl. Both tickets include a commemorative wine glass and access to all restaurant and winery tastings. VIP ticketholders will receive a Laguna Beach tote bag.

Complimentary parking will be available for general admission ticketholders at Act V parking lot, located at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road (based on availability), with free shuttle service from 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. between Act V and Festival of Arts only. Complimentary VIP parking will be available in the Laguna Beach Uncorked lot just west of Art-A-Fair (based on availability).

For tickets, visit http://lagunabeachfoodies.tix.com or call (800) 595-4849 (4TIX). Call Center operators are available 24 hours per day/7 days per week. Please note: The Call Center can only be used to purchase tickets. For event questions or inquiries, call the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau at (949) 497-9229.

All event attendees must be at least 21 years of age. ID will be checked at the door.

2012 Official Sponsors include: HÔM Sotheby’s International Realty, Union Bank, Verterra, Laguna Beach Independent, Laguna Beach Magazine, Waste Management, Fiji Water, Rohl, Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot and DiningOut.

Laguna Beach Uncorked! An International Wine & Food Fest is part of Laguna Beach a la Carte – A Food & Wine Experience, a four-day celebration of food and wine taking place in Laguna Beach, March 8-11, 2012. Attendees will enjoy special offers from various restaurants, prix fixe menus, daily events, chef demonstrations and more.