Three Wine Enthusiasts Win Trips to World-Class Wine Regions

More than 13,300 contestants prove their knowledge in annual "Celebrate the Grape" Sweepstakes

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Wine Origins today announced the grand prize winners of the Second Annual "Celebrate the Grape" Sweepstakes. From a record 13,300 plus submissions by Americans who demonstrated their knowledge of the importance of wine origins, three grand prize winners were awarded trips to the world-class winemaking regions of Champagne, France; Porto, Portugal (home of Port); and Jerez, Spain (home of Sherry).

"We are thrilled that so many American consumers entered the wine origins sweepstakes. Our goal was to bring to life the most important ingredient to wine -- its location," said Center for Wine Origins Director Shannon Hunt. "The land, air, water and weather of the place where a wine is produced directly impacts wine production. And the place name put on a wine label is intended to assure consumers of the unique attributes and qualities associated with that specific location. As the winners travel to the regions, they will experience first-hand why location matters."

Unfortunately, the names of some special winemaking regions, such as Champagne, Porto and Jerez, are often misused in the United States on the labels of wine that are made elsewhere. This misleading practice hurts consumers, who look to a wine's origin as a source of information about its quality and unique style.

The 2007 "Celebrate the Grape" grand prize winners are:

-- Jill Piwko of Kalamazoo, Michigan;

-- Seth White of San Louis Obispo, California; and

-- Lacey Cooper of Springfield, Missouri.

"I have always enjoyed a fine glass of sparkling wine, but Champagne is truly unique and always a treat. I feel very lucky to have won this trip and get the opportunity to experience this unique wine-making region first hand," said Piwko.

Jill Piwko, 37, is a career banker who recently retired to start her own consulting firm. She will be traveling to France with her husband.

"For a chef and culinary enthusiast of 15 years, winning this trip is a dream come true. I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to personally experience one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world," said White. "In the food and wine industry, the misuse of names, such as Port, is apparent but I know that nothing compares to the real thing. I am sure seeing the region first-hand will only reinforce that belief."

Seth White, 31, is head chef and owner of Pacific Harvest Catering in the San Louis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. He will be traveling to Portugal with his wife.

"I have seen photos of the Bodegas of Jerez and each time, the pictures take my breath away. I am excited to learn more about Sherry in its world-renowned region along with other Spanish traditions like tapas and flamenco dancing," said Lacey Cooper. "If there was ever a place to demonstrate the importance of location to the uniqueness of a wine, I am sure it is Jerez."

Lacey Cooper, 38, is a business student at Missouri Southern State University and a mother of three. Her husband will be accompanying her on the trip to Spain.

The Center for Wine Origins was established in 2005 to promote the importance of location and better protect geographic names in the U.S. market. The Center is headquartered in Washington, DC, and is involved in a wide array of activities aimed at educating consumers, policymakers and the media about the importance of wine origins and providing better resources for consumers to make informed choices. The wine-making regions involved in the campaign are regulated by the European system of Appellations, designed to ensure authenticity and quality for consumers.