Wine and Food Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana

Since 1991, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience has been beckoning wine aficionados and foodies to come to The Big Easy to enjoy the best in wine and food seminars and festivities. Named a “Top Ten” wine and food festival by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, this annual event, which lasts five days and takes place throughout the city, brings even more excitement to this vibrant city and brings some of the biggest names in the food and wine industry to New Orleans to share their secrets and skills with those who enjoy food, cooking, and great wine.

This extravaganza is held each May, usually just before Memorial Day, and some 200 wineries and 50-75 restaurants/chefs participate in the event. For spectators, it’s five days full of seminars, tastings, and more and it’s also a great social event and a chance to hobnob with others who also share a penchant for fine food and wine.

Wine dinners are an important part of the event. They are held at many of New Orleans’ premiere restaurants and wine makers from wineries around the world are on hand to share their vintages with each course and talk to diners about each one. The food and wine both promise to be outstanding and there are several options available that include restaurants all around the city.

Seminars are many and are held all week long. Recent topics include “Wines with Attitude”, “Romancing the Rhone”, “Let Them Eat Cake”, and “Gone Gulfing”, an introduction to Gulf Coast seafood.

“Grand Tastings” are held in New Orleans’ famous Superdome. During these events, guests can enjoy not only great food and wine but also music that reflects the spirit and traditions of the city. Ticket prices are pretty steep but the event generally includes about 75 chefs and more than 1,000 vintages, making the experience well worth the price of the ticket.

Other events include a live auction as well as the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience’s most popular event, the Royal Street Stroll. Held rain or shine, the “stroll” takes guests down the city’s Royal Street, where they can enjoy shopping for antiques, art, and more while enjoying wine and food samplings at each stop and plenty of New Orleans’ jazz. Tickets are required and you must have a wrist band to enjoy the wine and food offerings along the way.

You’re bound to encounter some celebrity guests during this event, especially names you might recognize from the Food Network or from shows like Bravo’s Top Chef.

Many area hotels offer special New Orleans Wine and Food Experience packages that include accommodations and tickets to the Grand Tasting or another event. Rooms sell out quickly during this festival, so reservations should be made well in advance. Event tickets disappear fast too, so plan accordingly.

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