New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

What New Orleans Wine and Food Experience does

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) is a 501(c)(3)-style non-profit organization founded in 1991 that produces an annual multi-day culinary and wine festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. The organization is approaching its 34th anniversary in 2026, with the event scheduled for June 10-13, 2026. NOWFE operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees out of a single office in New Orleans and is led by Executive Director Aimee Brown.

The core product is a portfolio of ticketed event experiences anchored by the Grand Tasting (Saturday afternoon wine and food festival at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center), the Tournament of Rosés (Friday evening rosé competition), curated Wine Dinners at partner restaurants (priced $90-$450 per person), and educational Labs and Experiences. Adjacent offerings include the NOWFE International Wine Competition (a wine awards program) and the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award Gala. Supporting services include winery and restaurant registration, a volunteer program, sponsorship packages, and hotel partnership bookings. The underlying technology footprint is minimal — the organization runs on a Squarespace-hosted website and uses conventional email marketing and social media channels; no proprietary software, API, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

NOWFE's revenue model is event-driven and diversified across four streams: ticket sales (tasting packages $258-$1,000 per person), restaurant and winery registration fees, sponsorship revenue from wine and spirits brands (Rodney Strong, Rombauer, Delicato, Stella Artois), and wine dinner reservations. Distribution is via direct website sales, Resy/OpenTable restaurant reservations, and hotel partner bookings. Media sponsors (WGNO, New Orleans Magazine, Imbibe, WWNO, Times Picayune) drive top-of-funnel awareness. The organization serves four primary customer segments: food and wine enthusiast consumers, wineries and spirits brands, fine dining restaurants, and culinary education non-profits. Cumulative, NOWFE has transferred more than $1.5 million to local non-profit beneficiaries including the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation, Delgado Community College Culinary Arts Program, and FirstLine School's Edible Schoolyard Program.

Name

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

Legal name

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

Website

https://nowfe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) is a New Orleans-based non-profit that produces an annual multi-day wine and culinary festival, selling tickets, sponsorships, and restaurant/winery registrations while distributing proceeds to local culinary education beneficiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary Festival Events

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos (MPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Festivals & Culinary Events (Ticketed Tastings, Pop-ups) (THAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Culinary festival organization
• Wine tasting events
• Food and wine experiences
• Wine competition judging
• Hospitality charity events

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to main events including Tournament of Roses and Grand Tasting, as well as premium Connoisseur and VIP packages.
2. Restaurant/Winery Registration Fees: Fees collected from restaurants and wineries participating in the annual festival events.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Sponsorship packages sold to wine, spirits, and hospitality brands including Rodney Strong, Rombauer, Delicato, Stella Artois, and others.
4. Wine Dinner Reservations: Revenue from wine dinner events at partner restaurants featuring specific wineries, with per-person pricing ranging from $90 to $450.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience produces an annual multi-day culinary festival featuring the Saturday Grand Tasting, Friday Tournament of Rosés, multi-course Wine Dinners at partner restaurants, educational Labs and Experiences, and the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award Gala. The organization sells tiered event tickets and package experiences directly to consumers and also runs an International Wine Competition awarding medals across varietal categories. Proceeds support designated non-profit beneficiaries focused on culinary education and food access.

Product overview

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience is a premier culinary and wine festival organization producing an annual multi-day event celebrating New Orleans' food and wine culture. The core offering is a portfolio of ticketed tasting events centered around the Grand Tasting (Saturday afternoon wine and food festival), Tournament of Rosés (Friday evening rosé competition), and curated Wine Dinners at local restaurants. Additional offerings include educational Labs and Experiences (wine seminars and tastings), the International Wine Competition (award program for wineries), and the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award Gala. The organization also facilitates participation through winery and restaurant registration services, volunteer programs, sponsorship opportunities, and hotel partnerships. The festival is funded through ticket sales, participant fees, sponsorships, and charitable donations, with proceeds supporting local culinary education beneficiaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NOWFE International Wine Competition: Annual wine competition as part of the festival featuring wines from various regions including Champagne, sparkling wines, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and other red varietals.

Products and services

• The Grand Tasting The flagship Saturday afternoon tasting event at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, featuring hundreds of wineries and restaurants pouring alongside top local chefs; included in Tasting, Connoisseur, and VIP packages.
• Tournament of Rosés Friday evening event at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center featuring rosé wine tastings and competitions; included in Tasting, Connoisseur, and VIP packages.
• Wine Dinners Multi-course dinners hosted at participating New Orleans restaurants (e.g., Antoine's, Restaurant August, M Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton, Boucherie) featuring paired wines from participating wineries, with per-person pricing from $90 to $450.
• Labs and Experiences Educational wine-focused seminars and tasting experiences such as Wine Blending 101, winemaker discussions, and regional wine studies, included in Connoisseur and VIP packages.
• NOWFE International Wine Competition Annual wine competition awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals across varietal categories including Champagne, Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Other Reds.
• Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award Gala Annual gala honoring individuals who have made lifetime contributions to the hospitality industry, named for legendary New Orleans restaurateur Ella Brennan; 2026 honorees include Marv, Zeid & Richy Ammari.
• Winery and Restaurant Registration Services Registration services enabling wineries and restaurants to participate in NOWFE's annual festival events and International Wine Competition for participation fees.
• Sponsorship Packages Tiered sponsorship packages for brands (flagship, core, minor) to align with the NOWFE festival, including visibility, tasting opportunities, and event integration.
• Hotel Partnership Packages Partner hotel booking packages with Omni Royal Orleans and New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District, offering discounted accommodations for festival attendees and venues for wine labs and seminars.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.5 million+ raised for local non-profits over 34 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Antoine'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric New Orleans restaurant hosting wine dinner featuring Opus One as part of NOWFE 2026 Experience.
• BoucheriecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Orleans restaurant hosting wine dinner featuring Vinos Los Chanchitos.
• BriquettecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWaterfront restaurant hosting wine dinner featuring Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.
• Restaurant AugustcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFine dining restaurant hosting premium wine dinner featuring GAJA wines.
• M Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton, New OrleanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury hotel restaurant hosting wine dinner featuring Rombauer Vineyards.
• The Grill Room at the Windsor CourtcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUpscale hotel restaurant hosting wine dinner featuring Winebow selections.
• Rodney StrongflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured winery sponsor for NOWFE 2026, part of premier sponsor lineup.
• Rombauer VineyardsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured winery sponsor for NOWFE 2026 and host of Chardonnay lab experience.
• Delicato Family WinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWine sponsor for NOWFE 2026 Experience.
• Omni Royal OrleanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial hotel partner for NOWFE 2026 Experience, offering event bookings.
• New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts DistrictcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial hotel partner for NOWFE 2026 Experience, hosting wine labs and seminars.
• WGNOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for NOWFE 2026.
• New Orleans MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for NOWFE 2026.
• Imbibe MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for NOWFE 2026.
• WWNOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for NOWFE 2026.
• Times PicayuneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for NOWFE 2026.
• Louisiana Restaurant Association Education FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 2025 beneficiary - 501(c)(3) non-profit enhancing hospitality industry through education, ProStart program, scholarships, and Restaurant Youth Registered Apprenticeship.
• Delgado Community College Culinary Arts ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 beneficiary - Founded in 1921, offering Associate degrees in Culinary Arts with concentrations in Baking and Pastry or Professional Culinarian.
• FirstLine School's Edible Schoolyard ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 beneficiary - Signature program connecting children to food through hands-on kitchen and garden classes in schools.
• New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain venue for Tournament of Roses and Grand Tasting events in June 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• South Beach Wine & Food Festival: Annual multi-day wine and food festival held in Miami Beach featuring wine tastings, celebrity chef dinners, and seminars. Directly comparable as a tier-1 U.S. culinary festival selling premium ticket packages and winery/restaurant participation.
• Charleston Wine + Food Festival: Annual multi-day culinary festival in Charleston, SC featuring wine tastings, chef dinners, and local restaurant participation. Directly comparable regional festival model with similar ticket tiers and charitable mission framing.
• Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: Regional food and wine festival featuring tastings, learning sessions, and chef/winery programming. Comparable as a multi-day culinary festival operating with similar ticket tiers and sponsor structure.
• Aspen Food & Wine Classic: Flagship U.S. culinary festival held annually in Aspen, featuring tastings, seminars, and chef/winery programming. Closely comparable as a premium-tier destination food and wine festival with strong brand recognition and sponsor pipeline.
• Pebble Beach Food & Wine: Annual luxury culinary event held at Pebble Beach featuring celebrity chefs, winemakers, and tasting events. Closely comparable as a destination festival with high ticket pricing and curated wine and restaurant participation.
• Tales of the Cocktail: Annual beverage-industry conference and festival held in New Orleans featuring tastings, seminars, and brand activations. Comparable as a major New Orleans-based beverage event with strong hospitality community ties and a similar sponsor-driven model.
• Naples Winter Wine Festival: High-end annual wine festival in Naples, FL combining tastings, vintner dinners, and a charity auction benefiting children's education. Comparable as a premium-priced, charity-driven wine festival targeting affluent culinary travelers.

Emerging players

• Feast Portland: Independent food and drink festival held in Portland, OR featuring tastings, dinners, and beverage programming. Comparable as a regional food and wine festival with similar ticketed events and culinary mission framing.
• COCHON 555: Touring heritage culinary competition featuring chef and sommelier events across multiple cities. Comparable as a chef/wine-driven tasting event format with sponsorship and ticket revenue, though smaller and more narrowly focused than NOWFE.

Broad incumbents

• Food & Wine Magazine (events portfolio): Major culinary media brand that produces the Aspen Food & Wine Classic and other culinary events. Comparable as a broader culinary brand operator with overlapping festival programming and established sponsor relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NewOrleansWineFoodExperience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-orleans-wine-and-food-experience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Orleans Wine and Food Experience