I wouldn't recommend the full conference for your wife unless she is into brewing. She might be happy with the social package and the banquet (and maybe not even that) and having free time to explore the area while you are in lectures.
I've never spent that much money ($3K), but then I'm not coming from Europe. I think $1500 was the max for me (1 person) for flight, hotel, and conference fees. It should be a little cheaper for me this year since it's on the West coast, but in the past several years the conference has been in locations closer to you. Roughly by distance from France . . . places like Baltimore, Orlando, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland . . . so no, it's not always on the West coast.