7th Annual Wine South Festival

From the vineyards of California's Napa Valley to Georgia's Chateau Elan and all the way to Bordeaux, France and Cape Town, South Africa, wine enthusiasts across the globe are raising their glasses to the 7th Annual Wine South Festival presented by the Atlanta area Lexus dealers. From Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17, the South's premier food and wine event will draw a range of connoisseurs and novices alike for three days of grape lovers' bliss.

This year's Wine South features a variety of new wines and new restaurants in addition to a new schedule of events. The weekend begins on Friday, September 15 with a Reserve Tasting Event at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. Some of the finest wines available will be showcased at this private tasting for the serious wine aficionado. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $135 per person and after July 31 for $165 per person. A live auction, at which one of Saturday's guest speakers Christine Ansbacher will serve as auctioneer, and a silent auction will be held at the event to benefit Angel Flight which provides free air transportation to and from treatment facilities for those with medical needs who are financially distressed or unable to travel on public transportation.

Saturday's Grand Festival Tasting, which has been drawing wine lovers and foodies from 21 states in addition to international visitors, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Gwinnett Convention Center. Highlighting over 600 wines, an assortment of food from some of the city's favorite restaurants, chef demonstrations, informative seminars and live entertainment in over 80,000 square feet of festival space, this year's main event promises to surpass guests' expectations. As is tradition, Wine South is committed to another year of giving to a selection of charities. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on large bottles of wine, chef dinners, beautiful art, vacation packages, and more. Wine artist Thomas Arvid will be painting live and chatting with attendees and admirers.

Guest speakers this year will include Christine Ansbacher and Natalie MacLean. Christine Ansbacher, known as the "Wine Diva," has wowed corporate and private clients for the past five years in fast-paced, interactive, fun wine tastings that are educational and entertaining. She earned the title Certified Wine Educator (CWE) from the Society of Wine Educators in the U.S. and has also attained The Diploma from the world-renowned Wine & Spirit education Trust in London, a feat that fewer than 50 wine professionals in the U.S. have been able to accomplish. In addition to her top notch educational credentials, Christine has traveled to every major wine region in the world walking the vineyards with the vigneron and tasting wines with the winemaker. She has also recommended wines for restaurants and private cellars, including the 15,000 bottle collection of New York philanthropist and social figure, Carter Burden. Divulging her secret tips and answering common questions for every level of wine enthusiast, Christine's first book, Secrets from the Wine Diva: Tips on Buying, Ordering & Enjoying Wine, is set to be released in September 2006.

Natalie MacLean is an award-winning and accomplished wine writer, speaker and judge. An accredited sommelier, she is a member of the National Capital Sommelier Guild and the Wine Writers among others. At the 2003 World Food Media Awards in Australia, Natalie was named the World's Best Drink Writer. Natalie has also won four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards for her writing about drinks. Additionally, her articles have appeared in more than sixty newspapers and magazines.

And on Sunday, September 17, members of the wine and restaurant industry are invited to an exclusive Trade Tasting event to sample new portfolios of the top boutique distributors in the state of Georgia.<