Pig Out on ‘Cue, Sample Beer and Wine at Cork ‘n Pork Festival in Dunwoody April 17

Make the most of Sunday afternoon by combining strolling and sampling at Cork ‘n Pork, an indoor/outdoor, walk-around tasting extravaganza at Vino Venue in Dunwoody on April 17. The spring wine, beer and barbecue festival follows in the footsteps of Discover South America and Discover Spain previously hosted by Vino Venue, home of the Atlanta Wine School. A unique aspect of these festivals is the option to buy favorites by the bottle, six pack or case to take home, surely a tough decision considering that Vino Venue executive chef Daniel Rivers is selecting upward of 50 barbecue-friendly beers and wines for tasting. Cogitate on the decision while migrating back and forth, sampling beverages inside Vino Venue and barbecue outside in the parking lot, where Smoke Ring chef Jordan Wakefield and Smoke Ring’s rigs stay stoked. Wakefield will dole out a boatload of barbecue including smoked whole hog, smoked chicken, baby back ribs, pulled barbecue as well as pickled shrimp, sauces and fixings, and Rivers adds more sides including a build-your-own tater tot station. Buy tickets in advance for either the 2-4 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. tasting sessions. General admission prices are $59 per person/$89 per couple and include unlimited sampling of wine, beer, barbecue and fixings, plus handy plates with wine-stem holders to keep it all together. Add on $20 for a T-shirt to commemorate the occasion. The guest count is limited to ensure an uncrowded afternoon for all, and previous “Discover” events have sold out. Hint, hint.