SAN DIEGO ---- You might think the recession, a slump in fine dining and consumer cutbacks in luxury spending might have an impact on attendance at this year's San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. But you'd be wrong.

Ticket sales for the sixth annual festival ---- scheduled for Nov. 18-22 ---- are at 8,500 (up 500 from last year, with a week to go). And the economy's not keeping any of the exhibitors away, either. More than 70 San Diego County restaurants will showcase their food at the festival and more than 170 wineries are booked to participate too, according to event organizer Michelle Metter.

"We're way ahead on ticket sales and we're seeing some great turnout from people coming in from outside the area," Metter said. "The feedback we're getting is that people would love to take a trip to Sonoma or Napa, but instead of spending several thousand dollars touring the wine country, they're coming here instead, where they can taste all of it in one place for a lot less."

This year's festival highlights include a "Top Chef" consortium; a master sommelier blind wine tasting; cooking classes by Las Vegas master chefs Alex Stratta and Paul Bartolotto (along with San Diego celebrity chefs Brian Malarkey and Sam the Cooking Guy); sake and wine classes, and the Grand Tasting Event, where local chefs will compete for $50,000 in prizes.

Tickets for all events are on sale at 619-342-7337 or by visiting worldofwineevents.com.

Here's a quick overview of the festival with some of Metter's recommendations:

-- "San Diego Wine Rave" ---- 7-10 p.m. Nov. 18. Tasting of 25 of the edgiest wine and spirits on the market with food samples; W Hotel, San Diego. Cost is $45 ($60 at door).

-- Cooking Classes: Nov. 19-20. Celebrity chefs will host eight cooking classes at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center and Macy's School of Cooking. Costs range from $50 to $75. Gary Thompson of Viejas Casino will conduct "Totally Truffles"; Daniel Joy of Mirabelle at Beaver Creek presents "Savouring Perfection"; Sam the Cooking Guy prepares "Holiday Brunch"; Robert Mondavi Winery will present a Private Selection Wine and Food Pairing; Billy Strynkowski of "Cooking Light" magazine will present "Get Modern & Creative with Seafood"; former Oceanaire executive chef and "Top Chef" season 3 contestant Brian Malarkey hosts "Savor the Flavor with Reality Chef Super Stars"; Las Vegas chef Alex Stratta teaches "Making Fresh Pasta"; and Paul Bartolotto hosts "Seafood, Vegetables and Olive Oil."

"I'm excited about the classes by Alex and Paul. They're both Michelin-rated, James Beard-winning chefs at the top of their craft," she said. "Brian's 'Top Chef' panel will be great fun as well. He'll have two other 'Top Chef' contestants" (this season's Eli Kirshtein and season 3's Chris "CJ" Jacobson), who will each prepare a dish and talk a little dish.

-- Wine Tasting Classes: Nov. 19-20. Six classes focused on wines and beverages at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, priced from $45 to $75. They are: sake and sushi tasting led by chefs from Jai by Wolfgang Puck and Sake One; "The Bubbly Girl's Ultimate Party Plan," hosted by Maria Hunt of Ranch & Coast Magazine; "Brandt Beef & Big Red Wines"; a "Charles Krug Vertical Tasting" led by Peter Mondavi Jr.; Paso Robles Blends Panel Discussion; and a Master Sommelier Blind Tasting.

"I think the vertical tasting will be really exciting," Metter said. "Peter Mondavi Jr. will offer tastings of seven of his cabernet sauvignons starting from 1980 and moving forward. It will give people the chance to see how the style of winemaking has changed and how the wine changes as it ages."

-- Reserve and New Release Tasting: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 20. Winemakers will host this tasting of special bottlings from 160 wineries and spirit producers, along with cuisine from 10 gourmet food companies. Proceeds benefit the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship programs; Wonderhaus building, 14th and L streets, San Diego; $100 ($125 at door).

-- Grand Tasting Event: noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 21. The weekend highlight is this outdoor festival, featuring booths by 170 wine and spirit purveyors and tastings by more than 70 San Diego-area restaurants, who will compete in an American Culinary Federation-certified "Chef of the Fest" competition. Also featured are cookbook signings, gourmet food and art booths and live entertainment; Embarcadero Marina Park North, behind Seaport Village, San Diego; $125 ($150 at gate).

"The chefs make some really amazing things at the festival because they really want to win and the competition is fierce," she said. "It always amazes me the time, creativity and energy the chefs put into their dishes, and the public gets to enjoy it, too."

-- Celebrity Chef Luncheon & AIWF Big Bottle Auction: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22. Four-course luncheon with wine pairings, along with a wine auction to raise money for culinary scholarships. Celebrity chefs include Bernard Guillas (Marine Room, La Jolla), Kenny Gilbert (Capella Telluride, Colo.), Thierry Rautureau (Chef in the Hat, Rover's Restaurant, Seattle) and Suzette Gresham (Acquerello, San Francisco). Steven Metter and Clinton Metter will host the auction, Michael Flohr is celebrity artist and Joseph Spellman is master sommelier; San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, Harbor Drive, San Diego; Tickets are $150 and up.

"This is the second year we've done the luncheon and it's one of my favorite events," Metter said. "Each chef does a different course, and people can choose which winemaker's table they want to sit at. The winemakers choose different pairings from their own cellars to match the menu."

For those who drink a little too much at the various tastings, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is offering a two-night package that includes a hotel room for two nights (Nov. 20 and 21) and two tickets to the Grand Tasting Event on Nov. 21 for $736.73 (taxes and fees included). To register, call 800-434-7894.