Mark your calendars. The fourth annual Food and Wine festival returns to Lake Oconee with excellent dining, fine wine and an interesting array of auction items for everyone to enjoy. The event will take place Saturday, March 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Lodge.

Your Food and Wine festival experience could start a day earlier at a mouth watering Vintner dinner, hosted by Duckhorn Vineyards.  The dinner is designed to kick off the weekend for those who crave a unique and elegant dining experience before the festival. Unlike last year, where the Vintner dinner was a four-course meal, this year’s dinner is an exquisite assortment of fine foods within a six-course meal, prepared by Ritz Carlton Chef Chupin. This culinary experience will take place Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Linger Longer Steakhouse. Seating for the Vintner dinner is limited to 100 guests. If interested, email info@oconeefoodandwine.com to be placed on the waiting list.

The festival will include tastings from Linger Longer Steakhouse, Georgia’s Bistro and Gaby’s by the Lake, as well as more than 100 premium wines. A diverse collection of wine vendors will be in attendance at this year’s festival, such as Atlanta Wholesale Wine, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, The Oconee Cellar and many more.

The festival also includes an extensive silent auction and a live auction full of unforgettable trips and gifts. Auction items range from the perfect kayak for recreational use or fishing on the lake, donated by The Clothing Depot, to a seven day, six night trip to the beautiful mountainside of Playa Carrillo in Costa Rica, provided by Gary and Sherrell Carter, owners of Las Ventanas del Mar.

The Lake Oconee Food and Wine festival has quickly become one of the premier events for the lake area. Tickets for the festival are $75 each and are subject to availability. The ticket allows you to enjoy the festival’s wine tasting and food specialties of the Ritz Carlton Lodge Restaurants as well as participation in the silent and live auctions.

For more information call (706) 485-8231 ext. 12 or visit www.oconeefoodandwine.com.