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GRAPEVINE CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAPEFEST

Largest Wine Festival in the Southwest U.S.

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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

GRAPEVINE CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAPEFEST
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. 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: Culinary Pavilion, GrapeFest Golf Classic, GrapeFest Tennis Classic, KidZone presented by Baylor Regional Medical Center of Grapevine, GrapeStomp presented by the Chrysler Group, Champagne Terrace, People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic - the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation, six stages of live entertainment and much more!
Named for the wild Mustang grapes that blanketed the land when settlers first arrived to the area in 1844, the City of Grapevine is an internationally recognized leader and trendsetter in the wine industry.
The annual festival showcases this historic town and its love for Texas wine while putting the State of Texas on the map for all wine connoisseurs. Offering four full days of family festival fun and a number of unique events leading up to the festival, GrapeFest truly is a one-of-a-kind event with something for everyone.

Featured 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 served, an official voting ballot and a commemorative wine glass. Tickets go fast because wine lovers are always thirsty for this incredible event!
GrapeFest 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 in the Lancaster Theater. Grapevine's festival coordinators are thrilled to have this signature event back on Main Street during GrapeFest. Benefiting the Grapevine Heritage Foundation and the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, this event is the place to see and be seen. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in lavish silent and live auctions which will feature rare and collectible wines, vacation packages, antiques and incredible works of art. Admission is $20 if purchased in advance, $25 at the door. Adding to the Vintner's 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. One of these gems will be a genuine one carat diamond!
Can't wait for GrapeFest?
Start your engines a few days before at the GrapeFest Golf Classic on Monday, Sept. 12, at the Grapevine Golf Course. Tee off will be at 8 a.m., and the format is a 4-person scramble. Cost is $125 per player, which includes breakfast, golf cart, lunch and prizes. The GrapeFest Golf Classic is produced by the Grapevine Golf Association and proceeds benefit the Grapevine Historical Society. In addition to the golf tournament, the 19th Annual GrapeFest Tennis Classic presented by Hilton DFW Lakes will be held on September 16, 17, and 18. Spectators welcome to cheer on the competitors.
Other exciting GrapeFest features include:
- Texas Wine Tribute Dinner - a black-tie gala on Sept. 17 highlighting wines from Texas
- GrapeStomp presented by the Chrysler Group
- Live music on six stages featuring LeFreak
- Great festival food
- Wines and beers of the world featuring premium wines and craft beers
- ItalianCarFest - a pre-festival event held on Sept. 10 at Nash Farm
- Arts & Crafts
- Carnival & Midway games featuring an unlimited ride pass available on Thursday evening, Sept. 15
- KidZone presented by Baylor Regional Medical Center of Grapevine
- Champagne Cork Shoot-Off
- LEGOLAND® Discovery Center's Junior Builder Contest
- Grapevine winery tasting rooms tour
- Much, much more!
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of GrapeFest, QANTAS Airlines, which began nonstop service to Sydney from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in May and Tourism New South Wales are sponsoring two Australian get away vacations that include round-trip airfare, three nights hotel accommodations and wine tours in New South Wales. One of the vacations will be auctioned off at the Vintners' Auction Classic on Friday, September 16. The second Australian vacation will be given away in a drawing from registrations collected at the new Wines and Beers of the World Pavilion at GrapeFest. The Australian Vacation drawing will be Sunday, September 18, at 5:00 pm. Winners need not be present for this drawing.
GrapeFest - A Wine Experience will open on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m., and as an added bonus, admission is free to everyone all day Thursday and Friday until 5 p.m.! Hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission prices are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and children (6-12).

Weekend passes are available for $18 and souvenir weekend passes are $23. Admission is free for children five and under. Click here for best rates offered by area hotels during the festival.

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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