Sommlympics lands new Atlanta venue for 2027 competition

Sommlympics will return to Atlanta on January 10, 2027, at The Perlant after a venue disruption forced organizers to rebuild the event months before showtime. The move comes with strong community backing, a smaller in-person footprint and a grand prize trip for the winning team to Uruguay.

Why it matters: - Sommlympics is no longer just a local Atlanta tasting competition. The event has grown into a national draw for sommeliers, and the 2027 reset shows the strength of its community support. - The venue change affects access, format and atmosphere. Organizers expect a smaller in-person crowd and a more intimate VIP-style experience. - The competition now has a high-profile prize package. The first-place team will get a trip for three to Uruguay, underscoring the event’s rising profile.

What happened: - Sommlympics announced The Perlant as the new venue for its fourth annual competition on January 10, 2027. - Founders Chelsea Young of The Oenophile Institute and Kelly Cornett of A Cork in the Road had previously announced another venue earlier in 2026. - Months later, new management at that original venue declined to honor the executed event contracts. - The founders then spent weeks searching for a replacement site while trying to keep the competition on schedule. - The event will take place in Atlanta, Georgia.

The details: - The Atlanta wine community helped secure the move to The Perlant through donations and sponsorships. - The Perlant has a smaller capacity than the originally contracted venue, which will reduce the number of in-person guests. - Organizers say the smaller setting will create a more personal, immersive experience with a VIP look and feel. - Christian Ries, founder and CEO of The Perlant, said the venue wanted to host Sommlympics because The Perlant is focused on bringing together people who love food and wine. - Ries said The Perlant’s long-term goal is to become the best food and wine experience in the world, starting with local community investment and trust-building. - The founders are also planning a virtual component. - Livestream tickets are expected to expand access beyond the Atlanta metro area. - The largest sponsorship will fund the first-place team award: a trip for three to Uruguay to attend the Bodega Garzón Harvest Party. - Bodega Garzón is sponsoring the prize. - Additional sponsorships and donations will support the event, contestants and wine education in metro Atlanta. - Live, in-person tickets are on sale now at tickets and event updates. - Organizers expect ticket availability to be more limited than in prior years. - Virtual livestream ticket details are still to come.

Between the lines: - The venue disruption could have derailed the event, but it instead turned into proof of audience loyalty. - The strong response from sponsors and donors suggests Sommlympics has built real equity inside the Atlanta wine scene. - The shift to a smaller venue may make the event feel more exclusive while also increasing demand for tickets. - The Uruguay prize gives the competition a bigger aspirational hook and aligns with the event’s focus on teamwork and wine knowledge. - Sommlympics received additional national recognition in March 2026, when Somm! Journal featured the competition and its mix of technical rigor, teamwork and camaraderie.

What's next: - Organizers will continue rolling out details on the virtual livestream offering. - Ticket sales will likely tighten as the smaller venue fills. - The fourth annual Sommlympics is set for January 10, 2027, at The Perlant. - The founders say they plan to make the 2027 event the best edition yet.