The 18th annual New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) will bring together the best of local food and more than 1,000 varietals of wine from May 19 – 23.

Using local ingredients and tapping local culinary talent, NOWFE will present wine dinners, food and wine seminars and other special events during the five-day celebration.

"Where else in the world are you able to taste 1,000 wines, eat over 50 dishes, meet renowned winemakers and chefs, shop with a glass of wine on a world famous street and catch beads within a few blocks of each other?" asks Greg Reggio, the festival's president.

"New Orleans has so much to offer, and NOWFE captures the essence of it all with our events, seminars and unbounded enthusiasm," he adds.

One of the highlights of the festival will take place on May 20 when more than 30 chefs from New Orleans' most famous restaurants will create five-course wine dinners.

Meanwhile, the Grand Tastings on May 22 and 23 will feature over 1,000 vintages. During the events, Top Chef season five winner Hosea Rosenberg along with fellow season five contestants Leah Cohen, Jamie Lauren and Jeff McInnis will present signature dishes.

NOWFE has also donated more than one million dollars to various charities.