Reno Culinary Team Will Join Del Mar Festival
Chef Mark Estee and 10 Torr will represent northern Nevada at the October 2026 event in Southern California.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Food and Drink
Chef Mark Estee and 10 Torr will represent the Reno culinary scene at the upcoming Del Mar Wine and Food Festival on October 2-3, 2026. This delegation aims to highlight the regional food and beverage landscape of northern Nevada to attendees in Southern California.
Why it matters
Participating in regional festivals serves as a platform to elevate the profile of the Reno Tahoe culinary scene. By partnering with major travel entities, the representatives aim to strengthen the connection between Northern Nevada culture and the broader visitor experience.
The participation involves a scheduled festival activation occurring over two days in early October 2026. This effort represents a collaborative marketing strategy involving local culinary talent and transit partners.
The players
Mark Estee
Mark Estee is a chef representing the northern Nevada culinary scene at the festival.
10 Torr
10 Torr is a distillery from Reno that will feature its products during the event.
Visit Reno Tahoe
Visit Reno Tahoe is the tourism authority coordinating the regional festival activation.
Paul Amudson
Paul Amudson is a representative for the 10 Torr distillery participating in the event.
The details
The festival activation is being coordinated by Visit Reno Tahoe in partnership with Alaska Airlines to showcase the Reno visitor experience. Chef Mark Estee and Paul Amudson, representing 10 Torr, will lead the regional showcase for northern Nevada.
Timeline
The Del Mar Wine and Food Festival will take place on October 2-3, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This activation highlights a growing trend of regional tourism boards using specialized culinary showcases to compete for national travelers. Such efforts mirror broader industry strategies where cities leverage local talent to distinguish their destination from larger metropolitan markets.
Attendees at the October festival will gain direct access to Reno-based culinary offerings during the two-day activation. This presence increases the visibility of the Reno Tahoe region for travelers considering future trips from Southern California.
The takeaway
Culinary festivals provide a strategic venue for smaller regions to gain visibility among competitive national travel markets. Visitors often look to these events as a direct gateway for discovering new travel destinations.
Further reading
For more information on regional culinary events, visit the Reno Food and Drink section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kolotv.
