4th Annual Pinot Days 2008 Grand Festival Returns to San Francisco
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 2, 2008
The Bay Area Wine Project is proud to announce the 4th annual Pinot Days San Francisco. Pinot Days brings together more than 190 of the world’s best pinot producers, and over 400 of the best pinots on the market today. A series of educational seminars and special tastings are topped off by The Grand Festival wine tasting Sunday, June 29th, 2008, in the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason in San Francisco. In addition, the Grand Festival also includes a silent auction offering a number of pinots and pinot-related experiences with proceeds benefiting the Tanzanian Women’s Sewing Project, a trade school for destitute African women, the work of which enables these women to sustain themselves and their families, empowering them for economic independence within a system of poverty and disease. Pinot Days Grand Festival is open to the trade only from 11am – 1pm and to the public from 1pm -5pm. Tickets are and are available at http://www.pinotdays.com or call 415-408-3360 for more information.
Pinot Days is designed to allow wine lovers and members of the wine trade to taste a variety of pinots representing every major growing area, including California, Oregon, New Zealand, Australia and Burgundy. From hard-to-find and the most critically acclaimed pinots, patrons explore new producers, find wines they love and can afford, learn more about terroir, clones, and up-and-coming vineyards, all while broadening their experience with this food-friendly varietal. “If you love pinot noir, and I do, Pinot Days is the place to be,” says Gary Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyards. This is a serious wine event that has no pretense; the environment is casual, showcasing the finest of wines without the attitude.
Can’t get enough Pinot in one day? Pinot Days San Francisco also offers several other intimate wine events to taste and learn more about this noble grape. Events include:
Producer Spotlight Tasting June 25, 2008; 6:30pm-9:30pm Golden Gate Room, Fort Mason. Cost 0. This years Producer of the Year Tasting features a night with Kosta Browne. A rare opportunity to join Michael Browne for an evening to hear how Kosta Browne came to be and taste for yourselves what gives it its rock star status. Space is limited.
Winemakers “Table Hop” Dinners June 26, 2008; 6pm – 10pm Isa Restaurant & Jack Fallstaff Restaurant. Cost 0. Meet the Winemakers as they move tables with each dinner course, and enjoy over 14 highly acclaimed pinots, perfectly paired with a four course, pinot-focused dinner. A unique experience to “go deep” with a few winemakers whose wines and personalities are paired with each dinner course.
Seated Focus Tastings June 28, 2008; Golden Gate Room, Fort Mason. Cost per seating.
Three regional focus blind tastings–each features 16 of the best producers’ efforts within the theme. Winemakers field questions, discuss their own wines and the uniqueness of the regions.
Best of Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Rita Hills and Central Coast, 1pm – 3pm
Best of Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and Santa Cruz, 4pm – 6pm
Best of Russian River Valley and Santa Maria Valley, 7pm – 9pm
Sunday Seminar Series June 29, 2008; 12 noon – 2pm Landmark Building C, Room 235. Cost
Each Sunday Seminar Series has three parts (appellation, vineyard and misto), and each is moderated by professionals well-versed in the topic. Tastings begin with the pouring of 4 wines within the theme while attendees listen to a 10-15 minute lecture, followed by a 10-15 minute question and answer session. Space is limited to 40 per tasting. For complete information and tickets for all events visit http://www.pinotdays.com.
Pinot Days, the first Bay Area wine festival dedicated to Pinot Noir, is produced by the Bay Area Wine Project, a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of pinot noir. Founders Steve & Lisa Rigisich formed the non-profit out of their love for wine, especially Pinot Noir. Joined by friends Eric and Teri White, who help produce Pinot Days, their goal is to create unique and rich experiences for patrons by, featuring Pinot Noir exclusively and involving winemakers and winery owners to do the actual pouring. The Bay Area Wine Project hosts annual wine tasting events in San Francisco, Chicago, & New York. Beyond tasting and events, the organization’s website provides information about and access to wine-related events in the greater Bay Area, wine education opportunities and wine trivia– including articles about outstanding wine personalities, winery profiles, reviews of wine events, restaurant wine lists, formal tastings and more. For more information visit http://www.pinotdays.com.
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32nd Annual Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition Announces 2008 Results
UKIAH, Calif. (PRWEB) August 13, 2008
Navarro Vineyards led in the number of medals with 20, followed by Husch Vineyards with 14, Graziano Family of Wines with 12, and Handley Cellars with 10. Several wineries won gold medals with the entry of a single wine: Cakebread Cellars 2005 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir; Raye’s Hill 2005 Henneberg Anderson Valley Pinot Noir; Roederer Estate Brut NV; Scharffenberger Cremant; and Terra Savia 2006 Sanel Valley Vineyard Chardonnay.
Rich Schaefers, this year’s Chairman of Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission, which annually manages the competition, said, “One of the most gratifying aspects of the competition was to see the overall high caliber of entries, which resulted in nearly 80% of them getting awards from a very experienced and tough panel of judges.” Heidi Dickerson, author of Mendocino: The Ultimate Wine & Food Lover’s Guide, directed this year’s competition. “It was interesting to note that the sweepstakes and gold medal winners came from a diversity of Mendocino County AVA’s, a fact that reflects the quality of winegrapes and wines from all of the county’s eleven distinct growing regions,” she said.
Judges included Mark Bowery, George Bursick, Jeff Cox, Thom Elkjer, Ziggy Eschliman, Linda Murphy, Ben Pearson, Pooch Pucilowski, Glen Putman, Renato Sardo, Christopher Sawyer, Tom Simoneau, Forrest Tancer, and Wilfred Wong.
To see the full list of 2008 medal winners, please visit http://www.mendowine.com.
About Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission
The Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission is an alliance of 73 wineries and 343 winegrape growers based in Mendocino County, California. The Commission, founded in 2006, is dedicated to sharing knowledge of the singular attributes of the winegrapes, wines and wine estates of Mendocino County, America’s Greenest Wine Region, with a diversity of audiences around the world. http://www.mendowine.com, (707) 468-9886.
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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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2008 Seattle Wine Awards, Grand Public Tasting, Sunday June 22
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) May 30, 2008
Wine consumers and connoisseurs are invited to sip, sample and celebrate the 2008 Seattle Wine Award winners at the Grand Awards Tasting on Sunday, June 22 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. The Seattle Wine Awards is the single largest review of Washington wines in the world and provides an unbiased opportunity for new and established wineries to earn the highest level of critical acclaim. The Grand Award Tasting is a personal opportunity to discover and taste Washington’s most prestigious award winning wines. Tickets are available on-line at http://www.seattlewineawards.com.
The Seattle Wine Awards was founded in 2006 by Executive Director Christopher Chan, who also serves as The Rainier Club’s Director of Wine & Spirits. On April 26th & 27th, a panel of 15 of the region’s most prominent wine professionals evaluated 613 Washington wines to determine by consensus the winners of the Grand Awards of Excellence and Outstanding Wine Honors. Unlike magazine and state fair wine competitions, the Seattle Wine Awards is the only independent review of Washington wines by our local wine professionals. This year’s notable panel includes:
Amy Mumma ~ Central Washington University World Wine Program
Dan McCarthy ~ McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants
Cyril Frechier ~ Café Campagne and Restaurant, Director of Wine
Tim O’Brien ~ Salty’s Restaurant, Director of Wine
Lisa Rongren ~ The Herbfarm Restaurant, Sommelier
Mark Takagi ~ Metropolitan Markets, Director of Fine Wine
Jake Kosseff ~ Wine Consultant and Founder of Extraordinary Dining Society
Arnie Millan ~ Esquin Wine Merchants, Sommelier
Lars Ryssdal ~ ACME Wine Company
Bob Bane ~ NW Wine Specialist, ODOM Distributing
David LeClaire ~ Wine Events & Promotions, Sommelier
Thomas Price ~ Metropolitan Grill, Advanced Sommelier
Ryan Allison ~ Cellar 46, Owner
Gerry Warren ~ Seattle Wine Society, Board of Directors
Chris Tanghe ~ Crush Restaurant, Sommelier
Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen ~ Cascadia Restaurant, Director of Wine
“The members of our tasting panel are the most recognized wine professionals in our community. It is a privileged to have such a wealth of experience and reputation that consumers know and trust,” said Chan.
The goal of the Seattle Wine Awards is to recognize, celebrate and promote excellence in Washington wine by honoring the best red and white wines in varietal/price categories with Gold, Silver and Bronze – Grand Awards of Excellence. In addition, the Seattle Wine Awards also recognizes by consensus, the highest quality Washington wines with the honor of Vintner’s Award – Outstanding Washington Wine.
“Our state has more than 500 Wineries and those that earn a Seattle Wine Award recognize they have crafted a world-class Washington wine. It is truly a prestigious honor,” Chan said.
This is the inaugural year for the Grand Awards Tasting, to be held at The Rainier Club on Sunday, June 22, from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Cost is 5.00 and includes a souvenir Riedel Overture Logo Tasting Glass. The event offers an exclusive opportunity to taste the award winning wines, meet the winemakers who have earned this distinction and enjoy an array of gourmet cuisine.
For tickets and further information please visit us on-line at: http://www.seattlewineawards.com or contact Christopher Chan, (206) 853-4677.
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©Copyright 1997-
, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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