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Atlanta Food & Wine Festival expands with new venue and more tastings

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/08 .. al-expands-with-new-venue-and-more-tastings.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, September 8th 2025 at 13:52 GMT by Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Atlanta Food & Wine Festival 2025 Kicks Off with Expanded Space and a New Day of Tastings

The long‑awaited Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is back, and this year it is bigger, bolder, and more enticing than ever. In a press release issued last week, festival organizers announced that the event will take place at a larger venue, feature an extra day of tastings, and spotlight a lineup of chefs, winemakers, and food innovators that promises to delight both seasoned gourmands and casual diners alike.

A New Home and a Bigger Stage

The festival’s return to Atlanta this September has been met with enthusiastic anticipation, especially after the 2024 edition was postponed due to venue constraints. This year’s show will be hosted at the historic Ponce City Market—a converted Sears warehouse that has become a culinary hub in its own right. The sprawling indoor atrium will accommodate an expanded crowd, and the open‑air courtyard will serve as a gathering place for live cooking demonstrations and wine‑pairing tastings.

“We wanted a space that could match the energy and scale of the festival’s vision,” said festival director Rebecca Allen. “Ponce City Market gives us the flexibility to host more exhibitors, more tastings, and more community events. It’s a perfect fit for Atlanta’s vibrant food scene.”

The decision to move the festival to a larger space comes in response to record‑breaking ticket sales in 2023. While the 2023 festival drew more than 10,000 attendees across a single weekend, organizers projected an audience that would exceed 15,000 in 2025. The expansion ensures that all participants can enjoy the full lineup of events without overcrowding.

Four Days of Flavor—Adding Tuesday to the Calendar

The festival will run from September 11 to September 14, 2025, extending the original three‑day format by adding a fourth day of tastings and workshops. The extra day, slated for Tuesday, is a strategic move to accommodate the growing number of exhibitors and to give attendees more flexibility.

• Saturday, September 11: Opening ceremony, keynote speaker Chef Marcus “M” Thompson of Riverside Bistro, and a grand unveiling of the festival’s opening menu.
• Sunday, September 12: “Sustainable Sips” day featuring organic and biodynamic vineyards from the Southern states, paired with farm‑to‑table dinners.
• Monday, September 13: “Global Fusion” day focusing on international cuisines and cross‑cultural pairings, with chefs from Mexico, Italy, Japan, and Morocco.
• Tuesday, September 14: “Hands‑On” day, featuring interactive cooking classes, mixology workshops, and a final closing banquet.

The addition of Tuesday has been hailed as a win for the festival’s mission to make food and wine education more accessible. Attendees will now have the option to attend full‑day tastings or select specific workshops that interest them.

Notable Chefs and Winemakers on the Menu

A highlight of this year’s festival is the roster of chefs and winemakers, many of whom are new to the event. Key participants include:

• Chef Ana Delgado of Casa Sol (Miami) – known for her inventive Latin American street‑food cuisine.
• Chef Kevin Wu of Sakura Garden (Atlanta) – a rising star in the local sushi scene.
• Winemaker Gabriel Rossi from Rossi Vineyards (Chatham, GA) – a celebrated producer of bold, fruit‑forward reds.
• Winemaker Sarah Patel of Horizon Cellars (Oregon) – recognized for her natural wine ethos.
• Chef Dominique Leclerc of Le Bistro (Paris) – bringing French techniques to the Southern palate.

Each chef will host a tasting session that pairs their signature dishes with carefully selected wines. In addition, the festival will feature a “Meet the Winemaker” series, where guests can engage in Q&A sessions and sample limited‑edition vintages.

Family‑Friendly Activities and Community Partnerships

While the festival is heavily focused on high‑end tastings, it also offers a wide range of family‑friendly experiences. Kids can participate in a “Junior Chef” workshop, where they learn to assemble simple, healthy meals under the guidance of professional chefs. There will also be a craft beer pop‑up featuring local microbreweries, a “Kids’ Kitchen” where children can decorate cookie trays, and a dedicated children’s menu.

The festival has forged partnerships with local non‑profits and food‑justice organizations to provide educational sessions on nutrition, food waste reduction, and community‑sourced produce. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will go toward supporting the Atlanta Food Bank and the Community Food Kitchen Initiative.

Ticketing, Pricing, and Packages

Tickets for the 2025 festival are on sale now through the festival’s official website. Early‑bird pricing ends on July 15, after which ticket prices will increase by 15%. A single‑day pass is available for those who can only attend a portion of the event, while the Full Festival Pass includes access to all tastings, workshops, and the closing banquet.

In addition to the standard passes, the festival offers a VIP Experience, which includes a private tasting dinner with a participating chef, a meet‑and‑greet with the winemakers, and a complimentary gift bag featuring artisan products from local producers.

Looking Ahead

With its expanded venue, added tasting day, and an eclectic mix of chefs and winemakers, the 2025 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival promises to be a culinary event of the year. As Atlanta continues to position itself as a food capital of the South, this festival serves as a celebration of local flavors, international influences, and the community’s shared love for food and wine.

Festival organizers are hopeful that the 2025 event will break attendance records, create lasting partnerships among culinary professionals, and inspire a new generation of food lovers. For more information, ticket pricing, and a full schedule of events, visit the festival’s official website at www.atlantafoodwinefest.com.