25th Anniversary GrapeFest Uncorks Fun

All Things Wine + Food Grapevine, Texas, Hosts the Largest Wine Festival in the Southwest U.S. September 15 - 18, 2011

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25th Anniversary GrapeFest - A Wine Experience

Media Contacts:

Barry Lewis:
817-410-3578 Office
blewis@grapevinetexasusa.com

Christine Volkmer:
214-794-5498 cell
christine@volkmerpr.com

Kathy Hill:
210-313-7484 cell
kathyh@thewoodagency.com

For immediate release

25th Anniversary GrapeFest Uncorks Fun and All Things Wine + Food
Grapevine, Texas, Hosts the Largest Wine Festival in the Southwest U.S.
September 15 - 18, 2011

GRAPEVINE, TX - August 2011 - GrapeFest - A Wine Experience - will celebrate its 25th anniversary and the best of Texas wines on September 15, 16, 17 and 18. From the simply curious visitor to the educated connoisseur, there's something for everyone interested in the art of wine tasting and food pairing, while enjoying a wide array of entertainment including the art of grape stomping. (And if wine's not your thing, beers from around the world are around the corner!)
Highlights of GrapeFest's 25th Anniversary:
The People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic is always a GrapeFest favorite featuring some of Texas' finest wines in the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation. Texas is the fifth largest wine-producing state and guests will have the chance to sample over 120 Texas wines submitted from over 30 Texas wineries. Participants will receive a Wine Reference Guide, tasting notes on each wine being poured, an official voting ballot and a commemorative wine glass. Featured wineries are Messina Hof, Fall Creek, Llano, Delaney, Cross Timbers and more.
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People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic Schedule:
The wine competition consists of 10 sessions over the weekend, with wines being judged in 10 categories and awards being presented on Sunday, after the last session at the People's Choice pavilion. Tickets are $20 for each session which is in addition to general admission to the festival.

  • Thursday, September 15: 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday, September 16: 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 17: 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 18: 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.
  • People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic Awards, Sunday, September 18, 5:00 p.m.

Vintners' Auction Classic, a sophisticated event open to the public, will celebrate 25 years of wine loving fun in a spectacular fashion on Friday, September 16, at 6:30 pm at the Palace Arts Center. Back on the festival grounds this year, the auction proceeds benefit the Grapevine Heritage Foundation and the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. This upscale event boasts food, entertainment and lavish silent and live auctions which will feature rare and collectible wines, international and domestic travel packages, antiques and incredible works of art. Admission is $20 if purchased in advance, $25 at the door. Adding to the Vintners' Auction fun is the all new Bubbles & Baubles. In celebration of GrapeFest's 25th anniversary, 100 etched keepsake glasses of champagne will be sold for $50 each. Each glass will hold a one carat sparkling gem. The gems can be authenticated at Bermuda Gold & Silver on 404 S. Main St. in downtown Grapevine. One of these gems will be a genuine one carat diamond!
The Texas Wine Tribute event will take place on Saturday, September 17, at the Hilton DFW Lakes. A black-tie gala, The Texas Wine Tribute also features a silent auction benefiting the Grapevine Heritage Foundation and Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association. Tickets are $125 per person. Chef Willi Mendoza from Hilton DFW Lakes created this 5-course gourmet experience paired with award-winning Texas wines:
Texas Wine Tribute Menu

Appetizer
Gulf Prawn with Crab and Avocado Aoili
Wines: Lone Oak Winery Blanc du Bois 2010McPherson Roussanne 2010
Soup
Cannellini Bean & Hill Country Pulled Pork
Wines: Pleasant Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2010Brennan Vineyards Viognier 2010

Salad
Organic Field Green Salad with Smoked Gouda, Caramelized Texas Pecans, petite Heirloom Tomatoes with a Champagne and Agave Vinaigrette
Wines: Homestead Vineyards Prairie Rose, Viviana Superior Cuvee
Entrees
Gulf Striped Ancho BBQ'd Sea Bass with Charred Jalapeno and Sweet Mango Salsa
Creamy Polenta with Texas Lamb Chops, Green Beans, Carrots and Chantrels
Wines: Delany Vineyards Texas Claret, Messina Hof Vineyards Shiraz 2009
Dessert
Pear Caramel Torte with Poached Pears, Chocolate Crème Anglaise and Point Reyes Bleu Cheese
Wine: Landon Winery Grand Finale Texas Tawny 2002

Featured Tasting Pavilions
Champagne Terrace: Sparkling wines and champagne from some of the top growing regions in the world will be featured in the relaxing Liberty Park. Favorites include Henriot and Yellow Tail. The Champagne Terrace will have continuous entertainment, featuring the chill out vibes of Hunter Sullivan and other easy listening music to soothe the soul.
Champagne Brunch: Festival goers can enjoy a champagne brunch in Weem's Alley, next to Grapevine City Hall. This special event commemorates the 25th anniversary of GrapeFest with a buffet of breakfast and brunch items from Main St. Bistro & Bakery plus an assortment of mimosas, champagne and sparkling wines. Cost is $32.50 per person. The brunch will be on Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, September 18 from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. In addition there is a Champagne Cork Shoot Off challenge, a free event which takes place in the Cotton Belt Depot District on Saturday, September 17 at 12:30pm. Prizes awarded for the top three distances.

Texas Wine Pavilion: Festival goers will have the chance to sample Texas wines. Featured wines from Messina Hoff, Homestead, Fall Creek, Llano and Brennan Winery are a must to sample among many new entries. A few facts: A major advance for the development of the Texas wine industry began in the early 1970's. Researchers and investors found that Texas has ideal soil and climate conditions for wine grape growing. Texas presently is the fifth largest wine producing state in the nation behind California, Washington, New York, and Oregon.
Grapevine Wine Pavilion: Grapevine is home to nine winery tasting rooms: Cross Timbers Winery, Delaney Vineyards and Winery, D'Vine Wine of Texas, Farina's Winery, Homestead Winery at Grapevine, La Buena Vida Vineyards, La Bodega Winery (two locations) and Su Vino Winery. Taste these locally produced wines at a pavilion located right in the heart of the festival, across from the Gaylord Texan stage. In addition to the pavilion, you can tour the winery tasting rooms via complimentary shuttles on Saturday, September 17 from 11am - 5 pm, and Sunday, September 18 from noon to 5 pm. Pick-up and drop-off for all winery shuttles are outside the North gate at Northwest Hwy and Main Street. The last winery will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttles will run until 6:00 p.m. to ensure that all guests have transportation back to the festival.
Wine and Beers of the World: A wide variety of wine and beer from both domestic and international producers will be available in this pavilion. In addition to the wines from Australia, festival goers will enjoy wines from Mexico, Austria, and Spain. If you would rather try a craft beer, there will be plenty to choose from including Coopers Premium Lager from Australia, Spaten Oktoberfest from Germany, Murphy's Irish Stout from Ireland and Moretti Lager from Italy.
GrapeStomp presented by the Chrysler Group: After all the wine tasting, you might find yourself signed up to compete in the grape stomping event! Stomp right into the action during the popular GrapeStomp competition presented by the Chrysler Group. Jump in and get your feet purple. Two-person teams swap turns at stomping approximately 18 lbs. of grapes for two minutes, and then officials measure the extracted juice. Prizes for the champions are awarded hourly. Scores are kept for the entire weekend with a Grand Champion Stomp-Off on Sunday, in which the winners are awarded the coveted "Purple Foot", a glass sculpture from Vetro Glass Blowing Studio. Entry fee is $10 per team (you must be over 13 to compete). Kids under 13 stomp free.
Uncork the fun for the largest wine festival in the Southwest and visit Historic Downtown Grapevine for GrapeFest 2011. For more information, call the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-457-6338 or 817-410-3185 or visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com/GrapeFest 

About GrapeFest: GrapeFest - A Wine Experience - will celebrate its 25th anniversary and the best of Texas wines on September 15, 16, 17 and 18. Among many new activities, festival goers will enjoy award-winning wines perfectly paired with culinary treats at the largest wine festival in the Southwest. This year, a special focus on Australian wines and culture livens up the action, while the festival's trademark activities continue: People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic - the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation, Culinary Pavilion, GrapeFest Golf Classic, KidZone presented by Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, GrapeFest Tennis Classic, GrapeStomp presented by the Chrysler Group, Champagne Terrace, six stages of live entertainment and much more. GrapeFest is produced by the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com/GrapeFest.

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