With an exhilarating year of impressive growth and ensuing accolades behind them, Brian and Stephy Terrizzi, founders of Broadside Wines, will mark their first anniversary with Dennis Carroll and his Wine Hooligans portfolio of artisan wine brands.   Broadside Wines – led by its highly acclaimed flagship wine, the single vineyard Margarita Cabernet from Paso Robles – partnered with Wine Hooligans one year ago with the intention of expanding distribution across the county and developing an everyday affordable Cabernet from Paso Robles.   During the last year, 30 markets have been added and a 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet introduced across the country.    The reception has been overwhelming: The Paso Robles Cabernet was just named one of Eric Asimov’s Fall Wine: 20 Under $20 in the New York Times while Ray Isle of Food & Wine included it in his 15 Great Summer Wine Values list.  It was the only California Cabernet on either publication’s list.  Wine Enthusiast gave the Paso Cabernet a ‘best value’ designation and 88 points, while the wine also received a Gold Medal from the Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition in its inaugural vintage. A remarkable series of accolades for a new wine.    About Broadside Wines   Broadside’s aim is to bring value to the world of boutique, hand-made wine. Founders Brian and Stephy Terrizzi are committed to bringing their luxury craft-winemaking experience to the everyday table, rejecting the notion that great wines can only be enjoyed at a premium. When they parted ways with their former partner last year, it allowed the Terrizzis to bring on a new collaborator in Dennis Carroll and his Wine Hooligans.   The Wine Hooligans infrastructure and financial backing has allowed the Terrizzis to make an even bolder statement in quality/price ratio. "Our original wine, the Broadside Margarita Cabernet, has received an overwhelmingly positive response over the years, and though it over-delivers for the price, at over twenty dollars it’s still a special occasion wine for most consumers," says Brian. "With this new investment from the Hooligans’ team we now can produce our Broadside Paso Robles Cabernet, a wine that a larger segment of the population can enjoy on a regular basis. It's gratifying to be able to produce a wine of character that restaurants can pour by the glass for $10 or less and consumers can find for around $15 a bottle." Stephy's ten years of experience managing vineyards all over Paso Robles has helped her to find the many interesting and overlooked vineyards that the Terrizzis use in crafting this wine.   Carroll added, “At Wine Hooligans, we believe artisan brands are made by talented artists.  Brian and Stephy have used their deep roots in Paso Robles and their talent to create a wonderful Cabernet that can be enjoyed every day.  We are happy to play a role in helping expand distribution of this unique brand.”   In keeping with the Broadside name (as well as the Terrizzis’ shared love of literature), the brand is an ardent supporter of the literary arts, as official wine sponsor for the San Francisco based literary festival Litquake, as well as of Zyzzyva, one of the nations top journals of the arts and letters.    About Wine Hooligans Wine Hooligans, LLC was created by wine industry veteran Dennis Carroll together with an expert team of artisan winemakers.  Positioned as a passionate disruptor of conventional wine marketing and sales, Wine Hooligans is a brand acquisition and development company, which brings people, places and products together to make exceptional wines in a wide variety of categories.  The portfolio consists of Cycles Gladiator, Sea Monster, Broadside, Goyette and Stephen Vincent.  More information can be found at www.winehooligans.com. 

  Global Series of Exclusive Wine Experiences to Feature Top Rated Wines from California, Oregon and New Zealand on Saturday, November 14, 2015     San Francisco, CA (October 8, 2015) – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (eRobertParker.com), the world’s most recognized authority on wine, is bringing its inaugural Matter of Taste tour to San Francisco on Saturday, November 14th at the elegant Palace Hotel, as part of a global series of exclusive events for eRobertParker.com members and guests.   A no-holds-barred wine tasting experience, Matter of Taste San Francisco is built around 150 of the most iconic Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of California, Oregon and New Zealand, as well as cult-classic Rhone blends from California’s original Rhone Ranger pioneers. Each featured wine is rated 90+ points by The Wine Advocate and hand-picked by Editor in Chief, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, and Reviewer Jeb Dunnuck.   Taking a connoisseur's look at ‘The New World Across Terroirs’, Matter of Taste San Francisco offers a chance to compare and contrast winemaking styles and terroirs, demonstrating how these noble grapes thrive in some of the New World’s most significant wine regions. The Grand Tasting will be held from 1:00pm – 6:00pm at the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco, and will provide eRobertParker.commembers and guests with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the vintners behind some of the world's most extraordinary wines in a casual walk-around tasting atmosphere.   In addition to the Grand Tasting, three exclusive Master Classes will be offered for those who wish to delve a bit deeper. Perrotti-Brown will host ‘Single Vineyard Chardonnay,’ featuring 12 classic (RP 92–99) wines, including examples from Kumeu River, Paul Hobbs, Morlet and nine other producers. Perrotti-Brown will also moderate ‘Pinot Noir Across Terroir,’ including ten excellent (RP 93-98) scoring wines from Rippon, Kistler, Paul Lato and Calera. A special ‘Rhone Titans of California’ Master Class, will be co-hosted by John Alban (of Alban Vineyards) and Jeb Dunnuck, and will also include Andy Smith of DuMOL Wines, Allison Tauziet of Colgin Cellars and Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards. A complete list of featured wines as well as tickets for both the Grand Tasting and all three Master Classes are available at a-matter-of-taste.com/.   “Matter of Taste is our way of saying a heartfelt thank you to our members who we know are the most knowledgeable wine lovers on the planet,” said Perrotti-Brown. “It’s a tasting for members to experience world-class wines in an entirely new way while meeting the winemakers and estate owners who craft them. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to welcome new members into the world of Robert Parker.”   The Matter of Taste series commenced in 2014 with events in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur followed in 2015 by London, Chicago and Miami. Following San Francisco, the tour will travel to New York City on February 20, 2016, featuring ‘Iconic Wines of the World: Reviewers’ Choice.’     Annual members of eRobertParker.com are entitled to discounted tickets ($50) to the Matter of Taste Grand Tasting. Non-member tickets ($99) include a one-year membership to eRobertParker.com and access to over 500,000 professional wine reviews and articles. All Master Classes are $80. Further details and booking information are available at a-matter-of-taste.com/.   About Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate            For more than 35 years, The Wine Advocate, and later RobertParker.com, has been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by world-famous Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries – France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 500,000 professional wine ratings and reviews plus articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more information, visit http://www.eRobertParker.com.   For More Information:         Kimberly Charles or Alexandra Fondren Charles Communications Associates +1 (415) 701-9463 press@charlescomm.com

San Francisco, CA - Cycles Gladiator, historically a top selling extreme value portfolio of California appellated wines, is rolling out a new look with the 2014 vintage. Acquired in 2013 by the sales & marketing start up Wine Hooligans, Cycles’ evocative and iconic label of a winsome naked red-headed beauty with her bicycle, has returned to accompany its original winemaker, Adam LaZarre. Cycles has put into gear a more focused appellation program with long term contract grape growers in the Central Coast and has a portfolio that includes Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot and Pinot Noir. The updated label was the initiative of Head Hooligan Dennis Carroll together with multiple award-winning winemaker LaZarre who aimed to revitalize the wine quality along with its branding. The updated label design brings back the provocative beauty, who was previously de-emphasized on the label. Originally conceived during the Belle Epoque period in Paris, the poster was created by one of many bicycle companies who advertised the newfound freedom from domesticity that women found through access to the bicycle.   Wine Hooligans and Carroll have now restored the label to its former glory, bringing the image back to its original size and focusing production on the versatile and quality driven Californian Central Coast. Trade clientele of Wine Hooligans have praised the revitalized look.  Lee Christopher of Bottles and Barrels, a division of Kentucky Eagle has stated, “Cycles Gladiator is back where it belongs, in the capable hands of Adam LaZarre. I met Adam in 2003 and the wines he made were incredible back then. The new label is fantastic and consumer reaction has been really positive.  Now that Adam has been reunited with the “Lady on the Bicycle” I couldn’t be happier to be back in business with my friend again.” Dave Robertson of Paustis Distributors in Minnesota shares, “The new label is not only cleaner and easier to read, but sales have picked up since we introduced it back into the market. The wine quality definitely showcases Adam’s talents.” Production’s return to its Central Coast roots, where the Paso Robles-based LaZarre lives, has brought winegrowing and winemaking all under one roof.  LaZarre ensures that each vineyard is hand-picked at the most ideal time. He brings small production detail to larger scale production. The wines have already shown great promise winning gold medals at the 2015 Sunset Magazine and Long Beach Grand Cru wine competitions, along with a Best Buy from the Wine Enthusiast. Originally conceived as a brand  in 2005, LaZarre, a former non-commissioned officer in the Navy with 20 years of winemaking experience, created Cycles Gladiator with the mindset to “produce really great wines that taste two to three times the price, [knowing] that, on any given night, someone somewhere is enjoying my wine.” That is still the wines’ credo today. Dennis Carroll brings over 20 years of sales and marketing as well as operational experience to his newly formed companyWine Hooligans. As the former President of Purple Wine Company, Carroll was responsible for building and shaping such household brand names as Mark West, Avalon and Four Vines. His most recent endeavor Wine Hooligans, seeks to create and reinvent artisan wine brands to reach wine lovers all over. To do so, Carroll has gathered four wine makers and five different brands under the Hooligans umbrella, those include Cylces Gladiator, Sea Monster, Broadside, Goyette and Stephen Vincent.  More information can be found at www.winehooligans.com.  

San Francisco, CA, August 25th 2015-  Charles Communications Associations is an independent creative marketing communications firm focused on media, marketing and branding that helps local and global companies create, build and launch brands. Recognized as one of the most effective firms particularly in the international wine industry, CCA is also known for success in the gourmet, natural and organic food and beverage categories, as well as for top shelf spirits and luxury products marketing. Realizing the constantly growing potential of new media as marketing platforms, Charles Communications develops and executes strategies for clients driven by an in-depth understanding and experience with social network sites, blogs and other platforms.   We are seeking a fall and/or winter intern at our agency and are accepting resumes of qualified candidates. Criteria are included here:   Opportunities Available: Fall/Winter 2015 Internship Available    Job Description: We are looking for a part time intern (3-4 days a week) who can work at our hip downtown Financial District #FiDi San Francisco office and who will jump in and contribute to our smart, fast paced team. We need a smart, detail oriented, resourceful individual who is self-motivated, not afraid to ask questions, enthusiastic, and willing to learn.  Responsibilities: Be familiar with CCA’s clients and our general marketing strategies Assist with CCA’s social media channels Work on client projects as needed such as event support, social media, research, press releases and more Assist with general office operations Qualifications: Familiarity with Macs & Excel in particular Up-to-date on the latest social media trends and social media savvy in a variety of channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc. THIS IS KEY -we want STRONG STRATEGIC experience in social Timeliness, attention to detail and accuracy are key to this position Excellent written & verbal communications skills Ability to work well with others while also running projects independently at times Applicants must have at least 1 prior internship in an agency environment Takes ownership of each task, being thoughtful and thorough in execution Familiarity of CisionPoint, MailChimp, and Vertical Response is a plus! Knowledge of the food & wine industry   Highly motivated and eager to learn   Compensation: This internship offers a combination of school credit and a bi-weekly stipend. Several of our internships in the past have resutled in full time employment.    To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter, along with the answers the following questions:   1.     What most interests you about working in Marketing? 2.     What are the top 5 media outlets you read in your free time and why? 3.     What is the most recent memorable food and/or wine experience and what made it so?   For further information and background, visit our website at www.charlescomm.com. Also visit our blog at www.alltheswirl.com, our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter at @CharlesComm or on Instagram @AlltheSwirl.   ###

San Francisco, CA – As we at Charles Communications Associates (CCA) prepare to welcome September, we would like to share our quarterly current client roster as well as some exciting staffing updates:   The list of CCA’s current clients is as follows:   The Bank of Wine & Spirits at Wingtip, San Francisco, CA* Broadside Wines, Paso Robles, CA Cycles Gladiator Wines, Central Coast, CA Emeritus Vineyards, Sebastopol, CA Hourglass Vineyards, Napa, CA Huneeus Vintners, Chile, South America Matter of Taste, Nationwide, USA 2015-2016 Parallel Wines, Napa Valley, CA Popelouchum Crowdfunding Project with Randall Grahm, San Juan Bautista, CA* SakéOne, Forest Grove, OR SherryFest, New York, NY The Lodi Winegrape Commission, Lodi, CA The Wines of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay Wine Hooligans, Paso Robles, CA Temecula Olive Oil Company, Temecula, CA* *Denotes new as of our last quarterly announcement   Additionally, CCA would like to announce the appointment of Ana Roselli, as Account Coordinator starting October 6th.  Ana recently completed her MBA in Social Venture/CSR and hails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in addition to her work as a key part of the account team, she will help focus on growing the socially responsible client base.    Please feel free to reach out to either Kimberly Charles or Alexandra Fondren via email at press@charlescomm.com or by phone at (415) 701-9463.   About Charles Communications Associates Founded in 2003, Charles Communications Associates, LLC (CCA) is an independent creative marketing communications and public relations firm based in San Francisco, California, that helps local and global companies create, build, and launch brands. Recognized as one of the most effective marketing firms in the wine industry, CCA is also known for success in the gourmet, natural, and organic food and beverage categories, as well as for top shelf spirits and luxury products marketing. In 2013, CCA formed a strategic alliance with Cornerstone Communications Ltd in New York City to better provide clients with contacts and a network in two of the most important media and wine markets in the country.     ###

***MEDIA ALERT***   Lodi Celebrates 2015 Harvest with Sip Savor Lodi The 2nd annual three day festival to include an al fresco harvest dinner in downtown Lodi, cellar tours and special events at 35+ Lodi wineries   WHO:  Presented by LoCA - The Wines of Lodi, CA and Lodi Appellation’s vintners.   WHAT: The 2nd annual three day festival will include an al fresco harvest dinner in downtown Lodi and a weekend full of special activities and cellar tours at over 35 Lodi wineries. Festivities kick off the evening of Friday, September 25th with a picturesque, al fresco Harvest Dinner on Pine Street in downtown Lodi, featuring farm-to-table highlights paired with Lodi’s most unique and delicious wines. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can enjoy wine and barrel tastings, live music, delicious food and more as they tour the Lodi region during special cellar tours and activities at participating wineries.   WHEN: The harvest dinner is scheduled for Friday, September 25th 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The winery cellar tours and activities will take place Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th. Times will vary by winery.   WHERE: Lodi, CA   MORE: Tickets for the dinner can be purchased at www.sipsavorlodi.com or by calling the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center at (209) 365-0621. No ticket is required for Saturday & Sunday’s winery events and cellar tours. Additional charges may apply toward the purchase of wine or food at participating wineries. Guests must be 21 years of age to attend all events.   ABOUT: Located south of Sacramento and west of the Sierra Nevada, the Lodi wine region features 110,000 acres of vineyards that thrive in the classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings.  With more than 100 varieties currently being cultivated, Lodi offers a diverse portfolio of wines. A major winegrape growing region since the 1850s, today Lodi boasts over 750 growers. The region also serves as home to more than 85 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handmade wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions.  In addition, Lodi is one of the leading wine regions when it comes to sustainable viticulture. The Lodi Winegrape Commission created Lodi Rules™, California’s first third-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program.    CONTACT: For media inquiries and interviews, please contact Alexandra Fondren at Charles Communications Associates at 415|701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com. For additional event information, please contact Jenny Heitman of the Lodi Winegrape Commission at 209|367-0737 or jenny@lodiwine.com.     ###

   Temecula, CA – Temecula Olive Oil Company, a leader in the growing and production of California extra virgin olive oil, has appointed Bob Lawrence, as CEO of the Temecula, California based company. Established in 2001, the company has flourished with its original home store in historic downtown Temecula, followed by locations in Solana and SealBeach and historic downtown San Diego. Beloved by visitors and loyal club members, the company is poised for its next growth phase which will include new club offerings this fall, a yet to be announced new location among many other initiatives.   Lawrence comes to Temecula Olive Oil Company (TOOC) with over 20 years of retail sales, operations and marketing experience. His most recent position was that of CEO of Brandsource in Tustin, CA a business-to-business network of appliance, electronics and home furnishings stores numbering 4,500. His experience with the wholesale, retail, financing and IT aspects of running multiple operations with consistent branding will serve him well with TOOC. His first order of business with the company which he joined formally in July 1, 2015, is to drive brand awareness in the company’s tasting rooms as well as offer a loyal customer base new offerings.      “With over 80% of purchases online being searches by brand, the opportunity for expansion of our products, which include olive oils, vinegars, condiments and beauty products, the possibilities for growth are endless,” states Lawrence. “We have a great reputation for leading the way in certified California extra virgin olive oil production and the growing sophistication of the consumer puts us squarely in their sights for expanding our message beyond the current base.” Lawrence joins an executive team which includes Thom Curry, President and fellow Co-Founders Nancy Curry, and Catherine Pepe. Of Lawrence’s hire, Curry shared, “"We are very excited to welcome Bob to the TOOC family, his past track record, unwavering commitment to quality, customer service, and our brand standards is exceptional. We are confident that our team member and guest experience will continue to flourish under his leadership."   For more information about TOOC please visit  https://www.temeculaoliveoil.com/. For interviews, images and inquiries, please contact Kimberly Charles at Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.   #   #   #

                                            2016 WINE BLOGGERS CONFERENCE COMING TO LODI, CALIFORNIA Hundreds of Wine Bloggers to Attend Conference in Lodi’s Premier Wine Country August 11-14, 2016  Lodi, CA, August 17, 2015 – It was announced over the weekend at the 2015 Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) that the 2016 conference will take place August 11-14th in Lodi, California. Hundreds of citizen and industry wine writers for online platforms and print publications, will gather with other wine and social media professionals from around the world to meet, learn, and share at WBC’s ninth annual conference. This is the first time the conference has come to Lodi.   The annual Wine Bloggers Conference is the pre-eminent gathering of citizen wine bloggers, industry bloggers and wine writing professionals who come together for educational sessions, networking and social gathering.  It is the platform from which many learn about regions, wine brands, new offerings and evolving trends.  Wine blogging continues to drive consumer interest with wine in interactive and innovative ways, and the region of Lodi, with over 750 growers and 85 wineries, has similarly been progressive in its outreach and education to the trade, media and consumer audiences.   With its dynamic wine country and historic downtown, Lodi is well positioned to host WBC 2016. Attendees will gather in downtown Lodi’s charming Hutchins Street Square to spend four days immersed in educational wine seminars, networking, grower and winery visits, wine tastings, and – of course – blogging. WBC is an excellent opportunity for wineries to showcase their wines to a discerning and influential audience. Programming and dinners are expected to take place at various wineries and local businesses throughout the region. Given Lodi’s grounding in the grower culture, this conference will allow wine bloggers, writers, winery representatives, regional association representatives and others to interact directly with growers, many of whom have been in the region for 5 to 6 generations, thus providing literal hands-on experience for the attendees. The Lodi Winegrape Commission’s Executive Director, Camron King, announced the 2016 location over the weekend at the 2015 Wine Bloggers Conference in the Finger Lakes Wine Country in Corning, New York, host location to this year’s Conference.   Following the announcement, King said: “The historic Lodi wine growing region is excited to welcome the wine blogging and writing community as well as our colleagues in the industry and others into our vineyards, wineries and our home. Lodi is an important part of the American wine industry and we are pleased to be working with Zephyr Adventures to put together the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference that will be educational, immersive, relevant and enlightening to the blogging community, but will also provide attendees with an in depth Lodi vineyard experience like no conference has provided before!”   Plans for the conference continue to develop and will be announced through the Wine Bloggers Conference over the coming months atwww.winebloggersconference.org. All interested in learning more about Lodi and being involved in the conference should start making their plans to attend soon.  Registration for WBC 2016 is now open.   Follow LoCA – The Wines of Lodi, California (@Lodi_Wine) and 2016 Wine Blogger’s Conference (@WineBloggersCon) on Twitter and use hashtags #WBC16 and #LodiWine to keep up with the conversation, programming and news.   About Lodi Wine Country Located south of Sacramento and west of the Sierra Nevada, the Lodi wine region features 110,000 acres of vineyards that thrive in the classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings. With more than 100 varieties currently being cultivated, Lodi offers a diverse portfolio of wines. While long renowned for its high-quality Zinfandel production, including an estimated 2,000 acres of pre-Prohibition own rooted vines, the area also produces award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Chardonnay. More recently, Lodi has begun gaining consumer traction for its other exciting varietals such as Albariño, Tempranillo, Kerner, Gewurztraminer, Graciano and Vermentino, among many others. A major winegrape growing region since the 1850s, today Lodi boasts over 750 growers. The region also serves as home to more than 85 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handmade wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions.  In addition, Lodi is one of the leading wine regions when it comes to sustainable viticulture. The Lodi Winegrape Commission created Lodi Rules™, California’s first third-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program.   For more information about the Lodi wine region, visit www.lodiwine.com. For media inquiries, images and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles or Alexandra Fondren at Charles Communications Associates at 415|701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com.   About the Wine Bloggers Conference   The Wine Bloggers Conference is the premier gathering of online wine writers. Entering its ninth season, the conference provides a forum for bloggers and writers to network; includes educational content on blogging, technology, and social media; and provides intense experiences in the local host wine industry.   The Wine Bloggers Conference is organized by Zephyr Adventures, which has been running active tours around the world for the last 18 years. In addition to Zephyr’s active tours, its sister company Taste Vacations runs wine, beer, food, and spirits tours that leave the physical activity at home. Zephyr also organizes the Beer Bloggers & Writers Conference, International Food Blogger Conference, FitBloggin’ Conference, and Wine Tourism Conference.    For more information please contact info@winebloggersconference.org.   ###

The Lodi Winegrape Commission Releases Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing Certification Program – 2015 Report  Lodi’s sustainable winegrowing report quantifies the Lodi Rules™ for Sustainable Winegrowing program’s decade of growth, evolution, and – most importantly – grower adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices   Lodi, CA,  – Marking the program’s 10th anniversary, today the Lodi Winegrape Commission released Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing – 2015 Report. As the first regional sustainable winegrowing certification program to publish a report of this kind, its purpose is to demonstrate Lodi’s commitment to sustainable farming with a transparent peak into the log books and official records of the region’s farms and vineyards. Lodi Rules™ ranks among the most rigorous and comprehensive programs in the country – the report demonstrates both how and why.   The Lodi Rules™ for Sustainable Winegrowing is California’s original 3rd party-certified sustainable winegrowing program and is the first to be able to claim a decade of certification. It promotes practices that enhance biodiversity, soil and water health, community and employee wellbeing, ensuring that farming needs are met today without compromising the needs of future generations. The goal of the program is to support grower adoption of sustainable practices and to communicate this commitment to wineries and the general public. Lodi Rules™ has been and continues to be used as a model for other sustainable winegrowing certification programs internationally.   “Here in Lodi, sustainability is more than an idea. The Lodi Rules program is designed to help growers make sustainability tangible. To be certified, we farm in a way that meets rigorous environmental, social, and business standards. For me, sustainability means farming the right way for the right reasons. The Lodi Rules program is my template to be a better grower, a better steward of the land, a better business owner, and a better citizen. I’m excited for the world to read this report because I’m proud of my Lodi Rules-certified vineyards and I want everyone to know it,” says Chris Storm, Vino Farms, and Chair, Lodi Winegrape Commission Lodi Rules Committee.   The 2015 report notes that a growing number of wineries are incentivizing growers to participate in the Lodi Rules. In 2014 alone, over $1.4 million was paid to growers in bonuses for Lodi Rules certified winegrapes.   Furthermore, the report serves to quantify how winegrowers participating in the Lodi Rules™ program have been successful at adopting its flagship sustainable practices. For example, in the ecosystem management chapter, 92% of growers have installed nest boxes for raptors and birds to increase habitat biodiversity. In the human resources chapter, 62% have implemented a safety rewards program to incentivize their workforce to take extra precaution against on-the-job injury. In the soil management chapter, 93% of growers have used cover crops to prevent soil erosion. Overall, adoption rates averaged across each of the six chapters ranged from an impressive 77% to 90%.   Launched in 2005, Lodi Rules™ was awarded a Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) earlier this year (its second since the program’s founding). Since its inception, Lodi Rules™ has expanded and evolved, with the program growing to over 85 farming operations, and 20,000 acres of certified Lodi vineyards. There are an additional 6,000 acres certified from Sonoma to Soledad. About 25 wineries now produce wines that bare the Lodi Rules™ seal on the label.   The Lodi Rules is the only sustainable winegrowing certification program whose standards have been accredited by Protected Harvest, a non-profit organization comprised of scientists, academics and environmentalists that certifies farmers’ use of stringent environmental growing standards. Certification plays a key role in establishing transparency and trust between growers, wineries, consumers, and others across the supply chain. It ensures that sustainability claims made on wine labels are accurate and substantiated.   Visit www.lodigrowers.com for more information about the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing certification program. The 2015 report can be accessed online.   About Lodi Wine Country Located south of Sacramento and west of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, the Lodi wine region features 100,000 acres of vineyards that thrive in the classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings. Lodi has been a major winegrape growing region since the 1850’s, and today is farmed by over 750 growers. The region also serves as home to more than 85 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handmade wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions.  In addition, Lodi is one of the leading wine regions in sustainable viticulture. The Lodi Winegrape Commission created Lodi Rules™, California’s first third-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program, which implements green-farming practices. For more information about the Lodi wine region, please visit www.lodiwine.com.     For additional information regarding the Lodi Winegrape Commission, please contact Executive Director, Camron King, at 209|327-4727 or camron@lodiwine.com.   

SakéOne to be featured at Outside Lands 2015 Festival  Third year as sole saké to be poured at WineLands   San Francisco, CA –SakéOne, America’s first craft saké producer and importer of a diverse portfolio of Japanese saké is pleased to announce their third year as the only saké company featured at the 7th annual Outside Lands. The highly popular San Francisco music & arts festival draws over 70,000 music lovers from all over the world.  For the past two years, SakéOne, has debuted new products at Outside Lands including  Momokawa Organic Junmai saké on draft in 2013 and KIBO the premium grade canned Junmai saké in 2014.   Located in the center of the newly relocated Wine Lands tent within the festival, SakéOne will feature four sakés this year, two Oregon craft sakés, Momokawa Organic and g joy and two imports, KIBO and Hatkutsuru Sayuri Nigori. Patrons will use Bison Bucks to purchase either a pour or taste.  The offerings include a range of styles and rice polish percentage, giving tasters an opportunity to experience the diversity of saké all in one place.   This year, Wine Lands will feature over 30 wineries pouring their diverse offerings. SakéOne will be the only saké company featured in the tent and every year the eclectic epicurean crowd flocks to experience and enjoy saké with the fantastic food offerings.  Elsewhere around the festival, there will be additional areas highlighting Northern California’s elite culinary scene including Beer Lands, Choco Lands and Cheese Lands.   Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival will take place on August 7-9 at San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park. More information can be found here http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/.  Social media for SakéOne for the festival this year includes:  #DrinkColdSaké #OSLsaké #SakéBetweenSets @SakéOne @KiboSaké on Twitter and on Instagram @sakeoneoregon or Facebook /sakeoneoregon.     About SakéOne  SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, Hakutsuru, KIBO and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at www.sakeone.com.    For media information and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.         ###

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, the world’s most recognized authority on wine, is bringing its inaugural Matter of Taste tour to Miami as part of a continuing global series of exclusive events for eRobertParker.com members and guests.   The American leg of the tour continues in Miami on September 26, 2015. Featuring 150 of the most iconic wines of South America and Spain, each rated 90+ points by The Wine Advocate and handpicked by its world-renowned Spanish and South American wine expert, Luis Gutiérrez, Matter of Taste offers the opportunity to experience the most iconic wines of the world in a casual walk-around tasting atmosphere.   “We are delighted to reward our subscribers, their guests and new ‘members’ to the Miami stop in a series of events we are planning across the globe,” said Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW.  “Subscribing to eRobertParker.com gives consumers access to hundreds of thousands of independent wine tasting reviews by Robert Parker and our team of wine experts. Matter of Taste brings the very best of these reviews to life, providing readers with the opportunity to taste and meet the people behind these extraordinary wines and to mingle with our critics who recommended the wines. Ultimately we want to transform the traditional and somewhat static wine review subscription model into a much more compelling and dynamic membership opportunity.”   Matter of Taste Miami will be held on Saturday, September 26 from 1pm to 6pm with a special preview tasting for VIPs from 12 noon within Miami’s famed Moore Building - a stunning 1921 landmark building located in the city’s Design District. A series of high profile master classes will run from 11am to 630pm.   Tickets to the walkabout tasting are specially priced at $50 for eRobertParker.com members (master classes will be priced separately). Non-member tickets are $99 and will include a free one-year, annually renewing membership to eRobertParker.com.  Ticket sales open at 10am on August 6th. American Express® Card Members can take advantage of an exclusive two week pre­sale beginning July 23 at 10am.   To view the full list of incredible wines to be tasted please visit: www.a-matter-of-taste.com.   Following Matter of Taste Miami, the tour travels to San Francisco on November 14, 2015, followed by New York City on February 20, 2016, with more cities in the U.S. and worldwide to be announced soon.  Each city will celebrate a distinct theme, focusing on various major wine regions with each stop.   More information from www.a-matter-of-taste.com or kcharles@charlescomm.com   About Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate    For more than 35 years, The Wine Advocate, and later RobertParker.com, has been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by world-famous Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries – France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 250,000 professional wine ratings and reviews plus articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more information, visit http://www.eRobertParker.com.   MATTER OF TASTE MIAMI DATE: Saturday September 26, 2015 VENUE: Moore Building, 4040 Ne 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137 MASTER CLASSES: 11am- 630pm VIP PREVIEW: 12 noon- 1pm WALK-AROUND TASTING: 1pm-6pm    ###

Wingtip and Float Hybrid Partner to Deliver a Technology that Revolutionizes  the Spirits Shopping Experience   San Francisco, CA. July 22, 2015 – Wingtip, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District is a one-stop shop for the modern gentleman and those who adore them. Open to the public, the store features professional and casual clothing, a custom tailor, a cigar shop, barbershop, shoe shine stand, fly-fishing shop and more. Their members only club upstairs on the 10th floor has a parlor room, bar & lounge, golf simulator, wine cave, meeting rooms and dining options. Given that the Financial District, or #FiDi as the local businesses like to call it, has transitioned from white shoe service firms of yore to modern Wingtip shoe adorned professionals in the technology, marketing and financial services sector, it makes sense that this oasis should introduce an innovative technology to enhance the whiskey shopping experience. Wingtip partnered with San Francisco-based technology firm Float Hybrid to develop a unique interactive spirits display that responds to individual shopper interactions. The system uses Float’sAnything Interactive technology to activate on-screen content.  When a shopper approaches, a welcome screen is activated to encourage them to interact with the products and to delve further into background information via videos and press materials. The content on screen then changes based on the products the shopper touches. Product information, videos and whiskey recipe tutorials are all delivered to personalize the experience.   “There is a wealth of information online that shoppers are hungry for when shopping in the physical store,” says Keith Bendes, Business Development Director at Float Hybrid. “We are enabling that digital content to be delivered in real-time.” Float’s Anything Interactive technology provides the ability to update content in real-time and understand the impact of content changes on shopper behavior. External information including time of day, weather, spirits trends and season can all be linked to the type of content displayed, making the experience more relevant at the moment of engagement. The technology also tracks shopper interactions anonymously and provides that data to cloud-based analytics tools. This allows Wingtip to better understand shopping habits and their customer’s path-to-purchase. “Our whole approach at Wingtip and the Bank of Wine & Spirits in store is to customize the shopping and social experience. This technology enables us to elevate that experience for our customers and members. We have an array of spirits, particularly whiskies, as well as wines to keep our clientele engaged and coming back often,” says Kyle Nadeau, General Manager of the Bank of Wine & Spirits.     About Wingtip Wingtip is a "one-stop shop" for the modern gentleman. Housed in 22,000 square feet in San Francisco's Financial District, the store features a custom clothing department, professional & casual clothing, cufflinks, pens, leather goods, barware, cigar accessories, a barbershop, and shoe shine stand. And that's just the store. A private club for our best customers houses a bar & lounge, private parlor rooms, a boardroom, golf simulator, and a wine cave. The Bank of  Wine & Spirits at Wingtip, opened in the winter of 2014 and featured over 1,000 highly curated wines and spirits.  For more information visit http://wingtip.com/. About Anything Interactive Float’s Anything Interactive technology is a proprietary approach to defining user activity in specially defined zones of space. The technology responds to individual user interactions and tracks those interactions on cloud based analytics tools, bridging the gap between the online and offline world. For more information visit http://www.anythinginteractive.com/ or email keith@anythinginteractive.com.            For media queries, image requests or interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles or Alexandra Fondren at Charles Communications Associates, press@charlescomm.com  or 415|701-9463.   ###

 ​   Randall Grahm Announces Crowdfunding Campaign for Estate Vineyard Project at Popelouchum Goal to Discover a New World Grand Cru Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign Kicks off July 21, 2015   San Juan Bautista, CA (July 21, 2015) – After a successful 35-year career of wine business disruption, Randall Grahm, owner and winemaker at Bonny Doon Vineyard, is poised for his next innovation, the realization of a long held dream to establish a living lab of a vineyard at Popelouchum, his 400-acre estate located just outside the historic town of San Juan Bautista in San Benito County in California’s northern Central Coast. Announced (appropriately) on a day in the Biodynamic planting calendar when it is optimum for sowing and planting root crops and flowers, Grahm is launching an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign to raise $350,000. Entitled Popelouchum – The Project the aim is to undertake an ambitious breeding project of 10,000 new grape varieties onsite. After a thorough study in 2010 of the property by noted French soil scientists Claude Bourguignon and Lydia Gabucci-Bourguignon, and in response to a changing climate, Grahm has an optimistic vision to undertake in his words, “the discovery of a new grand cru in the new world.”   In many ways the summation of Grahm’s life’s work (on both the viticultural and vinification sides of the winemaking equation), he is envisioning planting a vineyard not dictated by spreadsheets and statistical analysis, but rather one that takes a long view to breed varieties with the innate ability to fight drought and disease pressures in a living laboratory. Grahm is inviting contributors to “Join him on a journey of discovery to change the way we grow grapes, to change the way we think about vineyards, to perhaps discover an entirely new vinous expression.” He states, “This initiative with its innovative methodology is intended to create a powerful model of true sustainability for the California wine industry.” Due to primarily high land prices and borrowed money for vineyard development, most growers rely on high inputs (fertilization, irrigation, denser vineyard plantations, and highly productive vines) to seek higher grape yields. The model that Grahm is proposing is one of fewer inputs (no trellises, end-posts, irrigation, wider vine spacing), and lower output (i.e. lower tonnage due to dry-farming), with significantly higher wine quality as a result. With support from the crowd-funding campaign, a major goal of the endeavor would be to establish a 501(c)3 status which would allow for crowd sharing with the community at large, the findings of the project over  the arc of a decade’s time.  The catalogue of discovery would be shared with others who want to pursue a similar path. “I'm looking to change the wine industry in a big way. It is part of my life's work to continue to push the boundaries of this very conservative business. I am seeking funds to potentially leave a rich legacy for the next generation of grape growers and wine drinkers.” The campaign has early support from industry leaders and academia, and it will run from July 21 (when it launched at 6:23 AM P.S.T.) for 31 days.  Contributors from levels starting at $5 to $5,000 will have the chance to earn rewards ranging from limited edition artwork and books signed by Grahm to having grape varieties named after them as well as enjoy events on the property pending the level of commitment. The biodiverse, dramatically beautiful property will include gardens and olive trees in addition to the vineyard plantings.       About Popelouchum "Popelouchum” is the Native American Mutsun people’s name for their historical settlement, located near San Juan Bautista between the Gabilan Mountains and Flint Hills.  The word can be translated as “village” and also, accurately enough, as “paradise.”  It was considered a sacred place, and was subsequently settled by the padres, who established a Mission nearby, known by many in popular culture to be site of the church featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Vertigo. The nearby town today is a witness to history with a beautifully preserved square surrounded that is the only original Spanish plaza remaining in California to this day. In Grahm’s words, “I first saw Popelouchum in my dreams before I observed it in ‘ordinary reality.’ It’s where my legacy can live on long after I’m gone.” About Randall Grahm  After graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Plant Science in 1979, Grahm purchased property in the Santa Cruz Mountains and founded Bonny Doon Vineyard. He has been a tireless champion of Rhône grape varieties in the Central Coast since the inaugural vintage (1984) of Le Cigare Volant.  In 1989 he appeared on the cover of the Wine Spectator magazine, anointed as “The Rhône Ranger,” a moniker that has followed him ever since. Randall was named the Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year by the James Beard Foundation in 1994.  The University of California Press published his award-winning book, “Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology” in 2009.  In 2010, the Culinary Institute of America inducted him into the Vintner’s Hall of Fame.  He lives in Santa Cruz with his family and thesaurus.   About the campaign To contribute to the campaign or learn more about the project, please visit http://igg.me/at/GrahmCru follow the social media campaign on Twitter at #grahmcru or Facebook at Popelouchum Winery & Vineyard. For media interviews please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at kcharles@charlescomm.com or 415|730-0064 or Alexandra Fondren at alex@charlescomm.com 760|473-6190.       ###

      SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION CELEBRATES 35th YEAR WITH GLOBAL ARRAY OF WINNERS   26 Countries, 29 states with a total of 4,902 entries compete  in America’s largest International Wine Competition   SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A celebratory 35 years of the pre-eminent international wine competition in the United States wrapped up on June 14th with the San Francisco International Wine Competition.   Surpassing last year’s record number of entries, this year’s competition had a 7% increase in contenders from the year before.  The elegant downtown Hotel Nikko was once again the headquarters for this competition, judged by 50 leading palates from around the U.S. as well as Australia, Germany and New Zealand. Judges from the sectors of retail, restaurants, winemaking, media, and consulting judged over 4,902 wines from 26 countries and 29 states.  Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the two top selling wines in the U.S., remained dominant categorically this year with 544 entries, the largest category of the competition.   Pinot Noir showed its continual winning streak with 32 Double Golds, 20 of which were from the 2013 vintage. It was also the 4th year in a row that a Riesling wine won Best in Show White. The Winery Portfolio of the Year went to Delicato Family Vineyards of Napa, California; the Tasting Panel Magazine Winery of the Year went to Wolf Blass Wines, South Australia; and the André Tchelistcheff  Winemakers of the Year award went to Chad Richard, Robert Zeches and Shalini Sekhar of Furthermore Pinot Noir, California.      The competition continued its 100-point scoring system for all Gold and Double Gold medals, which was implemented last year.  Several new judges were added in 2015 including Eduardo A. Dingler, Corporate Beverage Director, Morimoto Restaurants in Napa; Ryan McHendry, Coordinator of Category Management, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati; and Bob Paulinski, MW, Senior Vice President of Wine at BevMo!. They joined noted wine talents such as winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett; Wine Enthusiast critic Virginie Boone; Court of Master Sommeliers’ Fred Dame, MS; and leading wine blogger Joe Roberts among others. When queried about the competition this year Bob Paulinski MW stated, "I’ve judged in wine competitions all around the world, but this was my first at the SFIWC. It impressed me with a great cast of judges, along with a thoughtful process that fairly judges each wine on its true merit.”  Phil Market, Liquor Manager of the Southern California division of Safeway who judged for the second time this year stated, “I’m truly amazed at the caliber of the judges at this competition. You have 50 judges from around the world with years of experience in wine, from retail, wholesale, restaurants, wineries, journalism and consultants, all at the top of their game.”     The medal count for 2015 included 254 Double Golds, a distinction given when a wine unanimously wins a gold medal by all the judges evaluating it, 538 Gold medals, 1,742 Silver medals and 1,568 Bronze medals. A complete listing of winners can be found at www.sfwinecomp.com on June 30, 2015.    Best in Show awards went to Champagne COLLET from France for their 2004 Brut Millésime (Best in Show Sparkling for the 2nd year in a row), Jeff Runquist for his 2013 Paso Robles Syrah (Best in Show Red), Framingham of Marlborough, New Zealand for their 2013 Riesling (Best in Show White), and Avignonesi for their 2000 Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Occhio di Pernice, DOC Tuscany (Best in Show Dessert Wine).   Other varietal and blend-specific “Best” awards were presented to 40 wineries from 8 different countries; eighteen different U.S. American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) were also awarded.  Best of Varietal award winners include Chateau Frank of the Finger Lakes, NY; Fess Parker Winery, Los Olivos, CA ; Spy Valley, New Zealand; Baileyana, Edna Valley, CA; Hiro Sake, Japan;  Harney Lane, Lodi, CA; Eberle, Paso Robles, CA; Shenandoah Vineyards, Amador County, CA; Catena Zapata, Argentina; Church & State Wines, Okanagan Valley, Canada; Becker Vineyards, Texas; Wolf Blass Wines, South Australia; Quinto do Tedo, Douro Valley, Portugal among many other notable winners.   The 2015 Label Competition was held on June 16th. Of the 152 entrants, 12 merited a Double Gold award for excellence in label design, more than any previous year. The 2015 Label Design judges included Joel Blum of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, Thomas Gronbukt of the Academy of Art University, and Patti Mangan from Imagine That Design Studio. Competition director Anthony Dias Blue, renowned food and wine authority and publisher, leads and organizes one of the most important and comprehensive wine competitions in the world.   Of this year’s competition he stated, “It is hard to believe that each year can improve upon the last, but it happened again this year.  At 35 years, we show no signs of slowing down.  Like a focused athlete, we’ve refined our judging roster, trained our staff who manages the logistics for close to 5,000 wines flawlessly, and continue to attract great entries from wineries around the globe.  I’m thrilled to see the bar of wine quality continue to rise for the trade and consumers. Our job is to deliver to the consuming public the best of the best.”    Tim McDonald, Director of Judging, said,  “I am beyond honored to work with Anthony Dias Blue and such a terrific pool of wine judges who cover every aspect of the wine industry and represent over $2 billion in wine sales collectively. Sommeliers, journalists, buyers, producers, importers and wholesalers make the San Francisco International Wine Competition the most prestigious wine competition held in America every year, as is evident in the results from our 35th year.”   For a complete list of winners and judges, visit the San Francisco International Wine Competition's website on June 30th: www.sfwinecomp.com. Find more on twitter at #SFIWC and @SFIntlWineComp.   For interviews and additional media needs, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|730-0064     ###  

  Sherryfest 2015 spotlights dinners & seminars in New York City June 23-25th    New York, NY – Sherry lovers are eagerly anticipating the offerings for Sherryfest 2015 in New York City June 23-25th. Three consecutive days will feature fabulous rare sherry, pithy seminars, and expertly paired dinners hosted by some of Jerez’s most noteworthy producers. Seats are still available for seminars and dinners, highlights of which are on the website at http://www.sherryfest.com/events.   Four dinner events will showcase rare sherries paired alongside the cuisine of some of New York’s leading restaurants who have dedicated menus and bar programs which highlight sherry: Chef’s Club, Huertas, Toro and Racines, as well as a kick-off welcome party at Donostia.   Details include:   Tuesday June 23rd 6:30 PM at The Chef’s Club with the producers Tradicion and Delgado Zuleta Featuring four sherries from each producer ranging from Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso VORS, Manzanilla, Pedro Ximenez VORS and Moscatel, this four course meal will include a welcome sherry cocktail, smoked salmon and Comte croque monsieur, Sweetbread Viennoise with Morels & Asparagus, Blue Cheese and Apricot Marmalade followed by a chocolate and peanut house made candy bar.  All courses will have two sherries paired expertly with each dish.   Tuesday June 23rd 9 AM to midnight at Donostia with Williams & Humbert, Sanchez Romate and Lustau – Feel like a Spaniard with this late night fete in Alphabet City where a vast array of Pintxos and sherries will be shared in an “Omakase Vasco” menu highlights of which include: Alcachofa, Chorizo Picante, Tartaletas Erizo de Mar and Bonito, Tortillas of Sauteed Leek & Spinach and Morcilla & Chorizo, White Asparagus, Sardines with Romesco among many other tantalizing tastes.     Wednesday June 24th highlights two dinners both at 6:30 PM at Huertas and Toro Restaurants Huertas will feature the sherries of Barbadillo including Solera, Amontillado Principe, Obispo Gascon and Palo Cortado VORS. Emilio Hidalgo will also showcase their sherries including Fino La Panesa, Amontillado Tresillo and Oloroso Villapanes to be paired with a specially created menu by Chef Jonah Miller. .   Toro Restaurant will feature the sherries of Gonzalez Byass and Valdespino. There will be some special rarities served including Valdespino's Moscatel Toneles and González Byass' Apostoles! Also featured will be a fino course with Tío Pepe Fino en Rama and Inocente, Amontillado Viña AB and Tio Diego, Cardenal Palo Cortado and Pédro Ximénez Noe VORS.  The three course meal will feature an array of traditional Pinchos Y Tapas Frias Y Jamones which will include toasted bread with preserved sardines, goat butter & tomato, spicy shishito peppers with sea salt, Spanish tuna belly with a tomato tapenade and celery leaves on toast, as well as Jamon Serrano.   The Tapas Calientes will include marinated skirt steak with Cabrales blue cheese butter, patatas bravas, grilled garlic shrimp with Cacabel chiles and cauliflower and kohlrabi with pine nuts, golden raisins and anchovies. Dessert will conclude with churros with dark chocolate sauce.   Inaugural Grand Finale Dinner on Thursday June 25th will have a five course menu featuring the sherries of four producers including Williams and Humbert & Sanchez Romate & Valdespino & Lustau. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own fine and rare sherry bottles to share for the 4th course, which will be a BYOB special feature.   There are limited seats available for seminars on Wednesday and Thursday June 24-25th. Wednesday’s include:  Flor Aging in Manzanilla with Barbadillo, illustrating the development of flor in different microclimatic conditions; Aging Sherry without Flor with Bodegas Tradición & Delgado Zuleta, focusing on the sherries that are produced partially or entirely in an oxidative style: Oloroso, Amontillado and Palo Cortado; The Art of Blending with Lustau and Williams & Humbert, explaining the role of blending and describing the creation of individual sherries; Vintage Sherries with González Byass, presented by Antonio Flores, head winemaker, and including a selection of the house's añada sherries, some of the rarest sherries on the planet..   Thursday’s seminars are A History of Sherry in Cocktails with David Wondrich, noted author and contributor to Esquire Magazine, and Sherry in Wine Programs with Diez-Merito and Emilio Hidalgo, moderated by Levi Dalton. Sherryfest is the brainchild of noted wine writer Peter Liem, who authors ChampagneGuide.net and the recently published Sherry, Manzanilla & Montilla: A Guide to the Traditional Wines of Andalucía, and Rosemary Gray, Wine Specialist at Flatiron Wines & Spirits. Launched in 2012 in New York City, Sherryfest immediately became the largest sherry event to ever take place outside of Spain, and Liem has become one of America’s greatest advocates of this storied yet modern beverage. Featuring an array of tasting events, seminars, and sherry dinners with bodega representatives, the event has since expanded to include Portland, Toronto, and San Francisco.   Liem has called sherry “the hottest wine in New York,” and it has indeed been on an impressive, if still modest, comeback tour in the US in recent years. It has quickly become one of the most popular wine styles among sommeliers, writers, and the international wine cognoscenti, thanks to its excellent value and versatility with food. Imports have certainly increased over the last three years, with big houses like González Byass citing that shipments to the U.S. have increased threefold in the last decade.   Seminars range from $39-$49. Dinner prices range from $135-$145, which is all-inclusive of food, sherry, tax, and gratuity. All event attendees must be at least 21 years of age.  For media inquiries and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles or Alexandra Fondren at Charles Communications Associates at 415|701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com. For additional event information, please contact Sarah Bray at info@sherryfest.com, or follow @Sherryfest on Twitter and Instagram.     # # #