Atlanta Food & Wine Festival- September 2022 (Recap)

Atlanta has no shortage of festivals. One of the most anticipated festivals of the year is the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. It is one of my favorite food events that I look forward to it every year. The festival has been going strong for 11 years now and celebrates the food, wine, beer, and spirits of the South. Each year the line up of events looks a little different. However, since I have been attending, the consistent (and most popular) attraction are the tasting tents. The festival takes place at locations throughout the greater Atlanta area. And did I mention it is a 21 and up festival? The do check ID so if you are not of legal drinking age, you won’t be allowed in.

Tickets can be purchased for each of the festival’s events, and they are all inclusive. There are no additional charges for food, drinks, or gratuity at the events. (Check out my 5 tips on how to survive festivals with unlimited drinks). There is usually some kind of early bird discount, and multiple discount offers were sent to my inbox this year. If you have not attended before you may be asking, “Is it worth buying a ticket?”. My answer is “Yes, especially if you take advantage of a discount.” This year’s line up of events included Sliced, Cluck’d, Intimate Dinners, and Tasting Tents. Thanks to a contest I won on the Riunite Instagram page I was lucky enough to attend 4 days of events which I am covering in this blog.

Sliced: A Cut of Atlanta’s Best Bites

The first event I attended was called Sliced. It was held on a Thursday night at Guardian Works on the Westside of the city. The focus was on “sliced” food, hence the name, but there were bites that technically didn’t fit into the category. I still enjoyed all the savory and sweet selections. Chefs and drink vendors had tables and stations set up throughout the venue. DJ Labonita provided musical entertainment and brought people to the dance floor. By the end of the night it was a full blown dance party which was a blast!

My challenge at these events is making my way through all of the food. You really have to focus on the task at hand. Being the social butterfly that I (sometimes) am, I get caught up in chatting with the vendors, catching up with foodie friends, and grooving on the dance floor. It can be a bit overwhelming, but a good rule of thumb is to grab a cocktail or wine, and start by visiting all the food vendors. Now that your tummy is filled with food, you can make your way to the wine, beer, and spirit tables. Remember that you have unlimited bites so don’t be too shy to go back for more food.

Not that it was a competition but my favorite bites of the event were from:

• Oreatha’s at the Point
• a’Verde Mexican
• Humble Mumble
• Marguerite’s Jerk Bistro

All are featured in the YouTube recap below!

Cluck’d

The second event I attended this year was called Cluck’d. If you guessed that the star food was chicken then you are right. Cluck’d was a a chicken and cocktail soiree. The set up was very similar to Sliced just with different chefs and drink vendors. DJ Labonita was back to dj the event, but I was surprised that there wasn’t as much dancing as the night before.

Something I found to be unique about Cluck’d is that there was a competition. Guests were encouraged to try all of the chicken dishes and vote on their favorite one. The winner was then recognized with the Golden Chicken Award. I wasn’t able to make it through all the dishes, but there were definitely some very tasty ones. A few of my faves were from:

• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
• Tandoori Pizza & Wings
• SoulFly Chicken
• Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours

The crowd favorite and winner of the Golden Chicken Award was SoulFly Chicken, a Miami based food truck. It was my last bite of the event, and it seems I saved best for last.

Tasting Tents

Held in Historic Old Fourth Ward Park, the tasting tests are the biggest attraction of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. They are held on Saturday and Sunday, and tickets can be purchased for each day or for both (weekend pass). This event is packed on both days, but with a VIP ticket you get access an hour earlier which means smaller lines and more time to get through the vendors. That extra hour makes a big difference!

At this outdoor afternoon event, there are food tents, drink tents from spirit, wine and beer vendors, a cooking demo stage, activation stations, DJs, and more. There is a lot to do in a 3 (or 4) hour time frame. My friends and I always comment that there is always more to drink than there is to eat, so we suggest going for the food first. Some lines may be longer than others, but you can divide and conquer. Stand in separate lines and grab 2 tastings (assuming you’re attending with a friend). Below are a few more helpful tips when it comes to tasting tents:

• Wear sunblock- This year the sun was beaming and sunblock was necessary.
• Wear comfortable shoes- You are in a park after all and seating space will be limited.
• Bring a bag (or grab one from a vendor)- There will be a lot of swag so have something to carry it in
• Hydrate- You’re drinking alcohol and standing in the sun so water is essential.
• Keep your eye out for special, limited swag- This year Four Rouses bourbon was engraving flasks and I missed out on it.
• If you are bold enough, bring something to carry your food in- I have seen people bring in small trays and even muffin tins so they can manage the amount of food they can hold at once.

Above all- be safe and have fun! This festival only happens once a year so make the most of it. I hope to catch you at the 2023 event.

YouTube recap video coming soon!