Life in the Epicurean Lane: Travel South for the 6th Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

The Peach State is calling all food and drink lovers to Atlanta, Georgia for the ultimate Southern culinary weekend. This June, the sixth annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival returns to celebrate the South's main draws - its cocktails and cuisine. Praised as the "Hollywood of the South," and a known culinary destination, Atlanta is the perfect city to serve as the backdrop to the highly acclaimed Southern food and drink Festival. More than 250 chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, pitmasters, and artisans from Texas to D.C. will gather in Atlanta to showcase their remarkable talent and help guide guests on an unforgettable weekend celebrating the rich food and beverage traditions of the South.

"For food lovers, there is nothing more appealing than spending a weekend indulging in exceptional food and drink by rock star culinary talent, especially when the experience includes a road trip to a fun Southern city," explains Dominique Love, Co-founder of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. "Around 80% of US destinations are within a short two-hour flight to Atlanta, making Atlanta Food & Wine Festival an easy weekend getaway. And the added bonus is that the Festival brings in the best-of-the-best from Texas to DC, so guests may have their feet in Atlanta but their palates will experience a weekend of all-you-can-indulge food and drink from the South's best destinations."

SOUTHERN PRIDE: In its sixth year, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is proud to announce a number of new additions that will make the trip worth it - including a new series of Masterclasses; an expanded Advisory Council; new Tasting Tent location; a first-of-its-kind in the US pop-up Vineyard in the City in the heart of Midtown Atlanta with a featured Sunday Brunch; Destination Delicious: The Ultimate Road Trip kick-off party, and so much more!

MASTER PLAN: The Festival's Masterclasses are the ideal way for any out-of-towner to get to know the South. This year's new series of Masterclasses will offer expanded learning experiences through two-hour sessions delving into topics from in-depth wine pairings led by Master Sommeliers to a class on rare bourbons and country hams. The Masterclasses are a great complement to the additional 80 classes that will take place over the weekend. All classes are designed by the Festival's Advisory Council, an illustrious group of Southern food and beverage super stars, to educate and entertain guests.

C'EST LA VINO: The unique addition of the Vineyard in the City pop-up gives any wine enthusiast a reason to travel South. The vineyard is the backdrop of Masterclasses and events throughout the weekend, including "Grapes from A to Z" Wine Luncheon with Master Sommeliers and a featured VIP Sunday Brunch. The vineyard will remain open after the Festival through the month of June for community use.

DELICIOUS JOURNEY: This year's kick-off party, Destination Delicious, presented by The Local Palate, will take guests on a virtual road trip through some of the South's top food and drink destinations - a preview of what's to come. The Festival aims to take guests on a journey itself, showing the rich history and traditions of the past that have brought the Southern food scene to where it is today. The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is the destination, but the journey through the South continues all weekend long.

ALL YOU CAN INDULGE: The Festival Tasting Tents provide guests with up close and delicious connections to the region's best chefs, mixologists, artisans and products. Featuring curated tasting areas like the Southern Provisions tent and the Live Fire Tailgate, and interactive elements like a pick-your-garnish cocktail garden and live music, the Tasting Tents have become a highlight of the weekend. The Tents new location in the Greensward area of Piedmont Park includes a more secluded setting with green space and gathering areas.

BRUNCH IT OUT: The Festival's Advisory Council and friends will once again join forces to host a fantastic Southern brunch with live music and table side service. This year's brunch activities have been expanded to include a VIP brunch in the Vineyard.

SUITE DEAL: Make the weekend even more worthwhile. The Festival is housed at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown, so book a room and have an on-location getaway for the whole weekend. Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at 404-745-5000 or toll-free at 888-563-9736 or online at Loews Atlanta Hotel. Use promotional code 'FOOD16', to receive special pricing while availability lasts. As Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport is the busiest and largest airport in the country, guests may choose from a multitude of airlines and flight times to suit their schedule and preferences.

Whether a novice or a connoisseur, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival offers a range of ticket options for guests to customize their experience. For detailed package information visit the Festival ticketing website at http://www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com/tickets.

The 2016 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is sponsored by American Express, Coca-Cola, Lexus, Loews Atlanta Hotel, PNC, Southern Living, Stella Artois, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Visit Houston, Big Green Egg, Four Roses, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and more. For a full list of sponsors, visit http://www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com/sponsors.

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a rain or shine event.

About Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
Launched in 2010, by Atlanta entrepreneurs Dominique Love and Elizabeth Feichter, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a four-day culinary experience celebrating the South. With an Advisory Council of more than 80 award-winning talent from 13 Southern states and the District of Columbia, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival offers carefully-crafted programs and events to entertain and educate consumers about the rich food and beverage traditions of the region. The Festival also celebrates the flavors of other Southern regions around the globe including Southern Europe, South Africa, South America, Southern Hemisphere (Australia and New Zealand) and South-of-the-Border for Mexico. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival returns to Midtown Atlanta Thursday, June 2 - Sunday, June 5, 2016. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. Follow Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #AFWF16 #KnowTheSouth