Wines of Chile: Experience the Evolution Tour

NEW YORK, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Wines of Chile invites members of the media and wine trade to taste more than 200 of Chile's premier wines at its fourth annual New York Grand Tasting at Gotham Hall on Monday, June 9th, 2008. The tasting will feature current vintages from over 40 Chilean wineries as well as a special section dedicated to wineries seeking US distribution.

"We are pleased that so many of Chile's celebrated wineries will be represented in this year's tasting tour," said Juan A. Somavia, Managing Director of Wines of Chile. "We hope to use the tour as a forum to display Chile's ever growing commitment to quality, innovation and the discovery of new terroirs."

Michael Green, Wine & Spirits Consultant for Gourmet magazine, will conduct two tasting seminars for the trade and media in New York entitled, "Chile's All-Star Red Blends," as well as a seminar for consumers entitled, "Cool Chilean Whites -- A Refreshing Look at Sauvignon Blanc." Attendance to the seminars is based on a first come first served basis and is limited to 50 people for each session.

"Chile is home to some of the greatest red blends available and dollar for dollar they can't be beat," noted Michael Green. "When it comes to whites, Chile is crafting some of the world's finest cool climate examples of Sauvignon Blanc, one of the most food friendly whites on the planet."

Wines of Chile will also be hosting exclusive wine-pairing luncheons and tastings for the media and wine trade at Aureole in Las Vegas and MK Restaurant in Chicago on Monday, June 2nd and Tuesday, June 3rd respectively. The luncheons will showcase acclaimed Chilean bottlings that hail from Chile's diverse wine regions, highlighting stellar examples of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and other emerging varieties.

Laura Maniec, Wine & Spirits Director of B.R. Guest Restaurants, and Michael Green will moderate the wine-pairing luncheons, discussing the food-friendly characteristics of Chile's wines. A walk around tasting featuring wines from nine producers will precede the luncheons. The events in Las Vegas and Chicago are invitation only.

    Participating wineries include:

    Altair Vineyards & Winery
    Amayna
    Anakena Wines
    Apaltagua
    Arboleda & Sena
    Aresti Wine of Chile
    Bodegas y Vinedos De Aguirre S.A.
    Bodegas y Vinedos Ortega Fournier Ltda.
    Caliterra
    Carolina Wine Brands
    Casa Lapostolle
    Casa Silva
    Casas del Bosque
    Casas del Toqui S.A.
    Cono Sur
    Domus Aurea & Penalolen
    Errazuriz
    Espiritu de Chile
    Haras de Pirque
    Lauca Vineyards & Winery
    Montes Winery
    Odfjell Vineyards
    Santa Rita
    Tarapaca
    Terra Mater S.A.
    Veramonte
    Vina Casa Tamaya
    Vina Concha y Toro S.A.
    Vina Falernia S.A.
    Vina La Rosa
    Vina Los Vascos
    Vina Luis Felipe Edwards
    Vina Maquis
    Vina MontGras
    Vina San Esteban
    Vina San Pedro
    Vina Undurraga
    Vina Valdivieso
    Vina Ventisquero
    Vinedos Emiliana
    Vitivinicola Cremaschi Barriga S.A.
    Viu Manent

About Michael Green

Wine & Spirits Consultant to Gourmet Magazine, Michael Green has worked in the beverage trade for over 20 years in the capacities of educator, marketer, importer, writer, consultant and retailer. Michael's specialties include wine and spirits marketing, beverage education, brand building, and trade liaison support. Michael has appeared on various TV programs including Food Network's Emeril Live, and he has been featured in many print publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post. A member of the Society of Wine Educators, the New York Association of Cooking Teachers, Michael is also on the Boards of Share Our Strength and the American Institute of Wine and Food. Michael also created and co-wrote Wine Lovers, the world's first interactive wine tasting musical, which toured nationally in 2007.

About Laura Maniec

Laura is the Director of Wine and Spirits for B.R. Guest Restaurants and the James Hotel Group. She is responsible for overseeing and executing the training of 2,000 employees at 15 restaurants and several hotels across the country. Armed with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, Maniec went on to work at Ruby Foo's Times Square as bar manager in 2000, where B.R. Guest president Stephen Hanson recognized her wine expertise and encouraged her to become a sommelier. It was then that she was named sommelier at Blue Fin, a 400-seat seafood restaurant in the heart of Times Square. As a member of the opening team for all new properties, Maniec helped develop the wine program and training at FiAMMA Trattoria at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Vento Trattoria, Blue Water Grill in Chicago, and Barca 18, B.R. Guest's first Spanish concept with consulting chef Eric Ripert. She also created and implemented the beverage program for both James Hotel Scottsdale and its restaurant, FiAMMA Trattoria as well as the James Hotel in Chicago and its steakhouse managed by celebrity chef David Burke.

About Wines of Chile

Wines of Chile is a marketing organization representing seventy-seven Chilean wineries with offices in Santiago, Dublin, London, Canada, New York, and Washington, D.C. Wines of Chile was founded in July of 2002 to promote Chilean wine around the world through strategic marketing and promotional activities. For more information please visit www.winesofchile.org.

    Robert Bralow
    212-994-7620
    robert.bralow@rfbinder.com

    Etty Lewensztain
    212-994-7543
    etty.lewensztain@rfbinder.com