A Taste of Covington

What better time to laissez les bons temps rouler than springtime? A Taste of Covington is the perfect way to start the good times rolling, with plenty of opportunities to sample the top-quality food and wine the city has to offer. This five-day event, now in its seventh year, features multi-course meals with curated pairings, wine tastings, and live music aplenty. And the treat for the senses doesn’t stop there: it’s all a great launchpad for “Spring for Art,” a free Saturday evening festival of the arts in Downtown Covington.

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It all starts, as the best things often do, with a superb dinner (or two). Vintner Dinners will be held at participating restaurants around Covington on April 11 and 12, offering your choice of three or four or more courses expertly paired with wine. There is limited seating by reservation, so be sure to call ahead.

Friday, April 13 brings the Grand Tasting at Acquistapace’s Covington Supermarket, which carries arguably the largest selection of wine in the Gulf South. Sprawling across two tents and the wine warehouse, the event offers wine tastings accompanied by gourmet deli selections and cheeses from Acquistapace’s, live music by New Suit, and a souvenir logo wine glass, all included in the ticket price.

Saturday, the Festa del Vino wine tasting in the afternoon, sponsored by Covington Mayor Mike Cooper at the St. Tammany Art Association (STAA), features an exclusive wine tasting with premium hors d'oeuvres with music by solo guitarist Ched Reeves. That night is Spring For Art, free and open to the public in Downtown Covington. Sponsored by the STAA, the evening is an enjoyable mix of music, wine, arts, and shopping. Don’t miss the Mix Masters and Bartenders’ Competition, where the audience can sample (for free!) original cocktails from local competing bartenders.

What better way to wind down a food and drink extravaganza than a Champagne Brunch at Annadele’s Plantation? Sunday, April 15, reserve your seat at one of the two seatings for a three-course brunch with champagne and live jazz from Steppin’ Up.

“All in all,” says founder Cliff Bergeron, “it’s a great few days that give visitors more of what Covington has to show them, while the events give back to the community and local businesses as well.”