Press Releases
Wine Festival Pops Cork in Monterey
Monterey, Calif. - May 31, 2005 - Known as "America's Original Wine Festival," the 29th annual Monterey Wine Festival on April 28-30 was a smashing success. The festival featured more than 120 wineries from California, Oregon, Washington, Australia and New Zealand.
World-renowned chefs such as Dean Fearing, along with master sommeliers, wine writers and winemakers were also on hand, providing gourmet food demonstrations and educational seminars scheduled throughout the three day event. The opening night festivities began with the New Release Party at the Monterey Bay Aquarium where guests dined on exquisite food and toasted some of the world's best new wine in an award-winning setting.
Sideways' award-winning author Rex Pickett was an honored guest at the Festival and presented a lecture and book signing at the Monterey Conference Center. A few lucky attendees received free copies of Sideways on DVD from Fox Searchlight Pictures.
The Monterey Wine Festival Educational Foundation held its 20th Annual Live Scholarship Wine Auction at Ferrante's located in the Monterey Marriott. This year's auction raised more than $110,000, totaling more than $962, 656 contributed during the last 20 years. Proceeds from the auction are given to local students in the form of enology, viticulture and hospitality scholarships, therefore promoting education and research in the business.
Next year's wine festival will be held on March 30, 31 and April 1, 2006. Save the date on your calendar so that you don't miss out on the number one wine festival of the year.
Visit www.montereywine.com for information leading up to next year's event, or call 1-888-814-WINE.
Founded in 1976, the Monterey County Wine Festival is considered to be America's Original Wine Festival. The festival is geared toward winemakers, wine distributors and retailers, educators, buyers, restaurateurs and aficionados. More than 3,000 people attend the event each year in order to taste more than 1,000 wines.