Relais & Châteaux will celebrate its 60th anniversary as purveyor of fine hotels and gourmet restaurants with a series of international dining events that'll kick off right here in California, with the first annual GourmetFest.

Gourmet Fest Wine and Food Festival is a four day foodie extravaganza featuring an exclusive roster of Relais & Châteaux chefs and wine estates set to take place March 27-30, 2014 in the charming village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

The festival will feature the talents of Grands Chefs Barbara Lynch (Menton),Michelin 3 star Christopher Kostow (The Restaurant at Meadowood),Michelin 3 star Jean Michel Lorain (La Côte Saint Jacques), Gaetano Trovato (Arnolfo), Jason Franey (Canlis), Joachim Splichal (Patina), Johann Lafer (Johann Lafers Stromburg), Justin Cogley (Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel), Michael Tusk (Quince), Michael White (Marea), Patrick O’Connell (Inn at Little Washington), William Bradley (Addison), and many others. The event will also feature prominent winemakers from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti,Maison Joseph Drouhin,Champagne Krug,Weingut Dönnhoff and Weingut Künstler.

L’Auberge Carmel, a picturesque pine-forested coastal Relais & Châteaux property in Carmel, will host the festival. Events will include an opening night welcome party, cooking demos, wine tastings, world class wine dinners, an exclusive rarities dinner, and a closing seafood grill. The festival will benefit the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, Rancho Cielo and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“We are thrilled to welcome guests from all around the world to the first annual GourmetFest” said David Fink, founder of Relais & Châteaux GourmetFest and owner of L’Auberge Carmel. “Gourmet cuisine has been in the heart of Relais & Châteaux for the past 60 years and we want to take a moment to celebrate the fine foods and finest wines and champagnes.”

The 2014 festival is presented by Lufthansa First Class.