Livermore, CA – As part of its ongoing commitment to the spirit of independent music, and following up on what is now the 5th year of supporting emerging musical artists, Karl Wente, fifth generation winemaker at Wente Vineyards, announces the first in a series of three concerts that will run this summer, entitled Homegrown on the Estate Lawn wente.eventbrite.com.  A musician himself, Karl weaves music into his life with his own band, The Front Porch, and has music as a constant in his life whether he is making wine, driving through vineyards, flying around the country selling his family’s wines or just relaxing at home with friends in his studio.  Wanting to bring this joy of discovering new artists in the ever-evolving and creative world of music, there will be three concerts this summer, July 15, July 30 and August 12, featuring local Bay Area emerging talent on the Estate Lawn at Wente Vineyards. Together with leading rock station Live 105 San Francisco http://live105.radio.com/, the slate includes: July 15th 6 PM The Mumlers and Young Digerati July 30th 6 PM The Holdup and Quicksand Marching Band August 12th 6 PM     A B and The Sea and The Soft White Sixties (All shows are $15 and tickets can be purchased here http://wente.eventbrite.com/) All evenings will feature a special performance by Karl Wente’s band, The Front Porch.   Held on the lawn at the Estate Tasting Room at 5565 Tesla Road in Livermore, CA, the summer evenings will be back-dropped by the vineyards, dramatic golden hills and the estate winery where guests can try a variety of Wente Family Estate wines, crafted by Karl, along with gourmet picnic fare to enjoy on the lawn under the stars.   On September 10th, the summer series will culminate with an all day music fest at the Estate Lawn called Bottlerockit, also sponsored by Live 105 with guest DJ & Music Director Aaron Axelsen, featuring 20 bands.  Considering that most concerts of this caliber costs minimally $50 a ticket, this is an amazing opportunity to sample great wine and music in a beautiful setting.   “I’m really psyched to be working with Karl Wente and Wente Vineyards on the Homegrown Series and the BottleRockit Festival.  I grew up in Livermore around the vineyards and have always wanted to do something like this in my hometown with bands I play on my radio shows.   It’s a great time for up and coming talent in the Bay Area,” states Aaron Axelsen, DJ, Music Director, Live 105 San Francisco. Synergy of wine and music Wine and music share many parallels, both are a sensory experience that benefit from word of mouth referrals, represent a broad range of styles, can be taken either very seriously or very casually depending on one’s mood or inclination and both have a global appeal transcending cultural and language barriers.   Much like wine, music has a structure and architecture with certain elements playing either supporting or main roles.    Karl Wente realized this early on in his life, having been raised in a family which has been focused on wine for five generations and is today the oldest continuously owned and operated family winery in the United States.  Through this program that he conceived of five years ago, he has been able to break down barriers to wine and music, as well as bring to the public some of the most exciting artists of our time.   The Bay Area has been credited of late with having some of the most original and stimulating independent music scenes and Homegrown on the Estate Lawn serves to showcase that talent.   Karl states, “The Homegrown Series at Wente Vineyards is a great way to introduce new wines and new music to aficionados.   What better way to experience wine and music together when all your senses can take both in…the series is a great way to experience live music at my family vineyard in the beautiful Livermore Valley, California.” In addition to the Homegrown series, Wente Vineyards has supported several independent music festivals over the years including NoisePop, Lilith Fair, SXSW, MusEXPO, among many others.    The winery and family have a separate concert series celebrating its 25th anniversary this year titled The Concerts at Wente Vineyards http://www.wentevineyards.com/concerts/lineup/ every summer featuring renowned artists such as Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, The Fray, Earth Wind & Fire and many others. About Wente Vineyards The country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery; Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future, a system of sustainable viticulture practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. This philosophy extends to all aspects of winery operations, where energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and social responsibility are all integral to the culture. All of the wines within the Wente Vineyards portfolio are Estate Grown, crafted by 5th generation winemaker, Karl Wente from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.   For more background on Karl Wente’s interest in wine, music, yoga and food please visit his blog at http://www.wentevineyards.com/blog/ About Live 105 LIVE105.com provides users with a unique music format, playing modern alternative rock with an evolving fresh, hip playlist. You’ll hear artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Foo Fighters, The White Stripes, Nirvana, Sublime, Nine Inch Nails and Weezer. Comprised of an audience of bold and progressive consumers, LIVE105.com delivers 90,000+ monthly unique visitors who view over one million pages. LIVE105.com’s individualistic users lead an active lifestyle, want to be entertained while challenging the norm, and respond well to new consumer products and services. For images and interviews, please contact Kristin Namimoto of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.

Russian River, CA -  DeLoach Vineyards, a pioneering producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel in the Russian River Valley, has released its first vintage of wines from Marin County. The four Marin wines, all 2009 vintage, include: Stubbs Vineyard Pinot Noir ($40), Stubbs Vineyard Chardonnay ($35), Skyview Pinot Noir ($40), and the Marin County Pinot Noir ($35), a blend of the four vineyards that comprise DeLoach’s Marin commitment. A few years ago, Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset, who is known for blazing trails of innovation in the wine world, recognized the distinctive climate and growing conditions of Marin County’s varied and unique terroir.  After tasting a Pinot Noir from the Devil's Gulch Ranch made by long-time Marin pioneer Dan Goldfield, Boisset immediately appreciated the wine’s strong focus and bright acidity, qualities reminiscent of the Burgundy Pinot Noirs of his homeland.  The next week, Boisset, Goldfield and DeLoach Winemaker Brian Maloney explored Marin’s diverse vineyards, tucked behind ridges and in valleys well-protected from the cold winds of the Pacific Ocean. Inspired by Goldfield’s passion, Boisset and Maloney were quickly convinced of the nascent region’s potential to become an appellation of distinction for passionate cool-climate Pinot Noir devotees seeking bright, structured wines with great acidity, finesse and elegance. They committed DeLoach’s distinguished winemaking regimen to achieving the great potential of Marin wines. Albeit a cottage industry compared to neighboring Sonoma and Napa counties, winemaking in Marin County dates back to the early 1800s, initially brought to the area by the San Rafael Mission. It is one of the coolest AVAs in California, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the West and San Pablo Bay to the East, though winter temperatures are typically warmer than Napa and Sonoma because of the moderating influence of these bodies of water and the area’s heavy seasonal precipitation. Cool springs and summers lead to long hang times; the longer growing season helps create wines with balance, natural acidity, and lower alcohol levels. These conditions portend Marin County’s potential to be one of the finest wine regions in California, particularly for cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, specialties of DeLoach. “Like other great appellations, there is wonderful detail within Marin that is represented in the vineyards that we have chosen to work with,” said Goldfield.  DeLoach Vineyards has four different sites in Marin County from which they are now producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The organically-farmed Stubbs Vineyard is located in a narrow valley that opens to the south and is the closest to Tomales Bay. It is divided by a seasonal creek that helps drain the area of cold air during the frost season and acts as a channel for cold air and fog through the vineyard, making it one of the coldest sites for non-sparkling Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Marin. The wines from Stubbs Vineyards are more delicate than warmer climate sites and have a distinct elegance. The Chileno Valley Vineyard is located northeast of Stubbs, and varies dramatically from its neighbor. It is surrounded to the west and south by ridges that protect it from the coldest air of the Petaluma Gap and Tomales Bay. Oriented on a slope with undulations through the vineyard blocks, its climate is akin to the central Russian River Valley. Acid levels in fruit from this site are relatively low, a marked contrast to the rest of the fruit from the appellation. The next site, the Azaya Vineyard, is in Hicks Valley, south of Stubbs and on the opposite side of the dividing ridge. Cooler than Chileno Valley, this young site has unharnessed potential to grow grapes with pure flavors and textures. The last site, which becomes DeLoach’s Skyview Pinot Noir, is located on a southeast facing hilltop. It is the most isolated site from the Pacific Ocean and has varied, distinct vineyard blocks. Its higher elevation acts as a moderating influence, producing dark-colored fruit of intense concentration, while its location further inland gives it a warmer growing season than more coastal Marin vineyards. These four sites in Marin County’s different terrain exemplify the versatile conditions in which the DeLoach winemaking team thrives and explores the area’s remarkable potential. “Marin will become prominent as a unique area among the cognoscenti, the sommeliers and true passionate Pinot devotees, much like Fort Ross or the true Sonoma Coast,” said Goldfield., “Boisset and DeLoach will have a lot to do with helping that happen and bringing the area to a wider audience of influencers.” DeLoach Vineyards’ Marin County wines continue the winery’s focus on small-lot, site-specific wines that aim to beautifully capture distinct terroirs. “We are proud to be one of the pioneering producers in Marin County. The wines that we are making are exactly as we had hoped—wonderfully expressive of this exceptionally unique appellation,” said Maloney. “DeLoach has always been a Pinot Noir pioneer in Northern California and our commitment to Marin energizes and highlights our passion for producing small-lot wines expressive of their inimitable terroir,” said Boisset. Case production for the DeLoach Vineyards Marin wines is limited, with Stubbs Vineyard Pinot Noir at 48 cases (consumer direct only), Stubbs Vineyard Chardonnay at 250 cases,  Skyview Pinot Noir at 240 cases, and the Marin County Pinot Noir at 780 cases. About DeLoach Vineyards DeLoach Vineyards has been a pioneering producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley since 1975. DeLoach seeks to produce exceptional wines that spotlight the singular personality of the Russian River Valley, with its rare and bountiful convergence of the sea, the soil and the stars. The Boisset family of Burgundy purchased DeLoach in 2003, bringing the techniques and approaches of Burgundy to its winemaking in the Russian River Valley, which they believed to be California’s most expressive terroir for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Under Boisset, DeLoach has grown its small-lot vineyard designate wine program, converted to organic and Biodynamic® farming practices, and implemented traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques such as open-top wood fermentors, native yeast fermentations, and hand punch-downs.  Wine & Spirits magazine named DeLoach Vineyards a Top 100 Winery for the tenth time in the winery’s history in 2009.   Located at 1791 Olivet Road in Santa Rosa, the DeLoach Vineyards tasting room, picnic area and organic garden are open to the public daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.deloachvineyards.com or contact Emily Aschbrenner of Charles Communications Associates at 415.701.9463 or emily@charlescomm.com.

San Francisco - San Francisco based branding and packaging design agency Michael Osborne Design is proud to announce their 30th anniversary this year. Established in 1981, the agency has created some of the most memorable branding and packaging design systems for renowned names in the food and beverage, wine and spirits and retail industries. For three decades, Michael Osborne Design has created innovative and understated design solutions for clients as diverse as gourmet foods and luxury culinary brand Williams-Sonoma, to the Yosemite Conservancy, to the U.S. Postal Service. The agency has cultivated a reputation for launching brands to success while creating sophisticated design systems that are truly timeless. The agency conceived the design for Target’s premium private label food line Archer Farms several years ago, which remains a leader in the retail private label arena. One of their longest-running client relationships is with Brown-Forman, continuing a 16-year design partnership on the Jack Daniels brand. A premier package design agency for the California wine industry, Michael Osborne Design’s breakthrough wine label project was designing and launching the Benziger brand for the then Glen Ellen Winery, which eventually became the Benziger Family Winery. Since then, Michael Osborne Design has created iconic packaging for Clos du Bois, Gabbiano, Geyser Peak, Robert Mondavi, Chateau Souverain and Silver Oak among many others. Renewing a design relationship from the 1990’s, Michael Osborne Design was recently called in for a complete redesign of an existing brand by Trinchero Family Estates (formerly Sutter Home Winery). The newly designed labels will hit the shelves later this year. The agency’s colorful and sophisticated label designs range from targeting the emerging millennial demographic, to appealing to the super-luxury market segment.  Additional wine industry projects have included brand identities for the California Wine Institute and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Association. San Francisco natives and museum visitors from the U.S. and abroad are likely to be familiar with Michael Osborne’s work for the SFMOMA gift store. For many years the agency designed SFMOMA private label graphics and products, from coffee cups and tee-shirts, to silk scarves, umbrellas and a line of cups and saucers. The SFMOMA museum store became the highest selling fine art museum retail store in the country. Michael Osborne Design was the agency behind Kettle Foods’ brand identity and premium potato chip packaging redesign in 2005. Effortless for retailers to stock and for consumers to find, the color-block packaging system has allowed the Kettle chip and snack products to stand out on-shelf in an omnipresent sea of competitive products. Michael Osborne Design has remained Kettle Foods’ trusted design agency since the brand makeover, and has designed and launched a new brand, Kettle TIAS! a line of flavored tortillas chips. As a young Vietnam veteran and graduate of the renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena (1978), Michael began his business in 1981 on the proverbial dining room table, and shortly moved to a single room space in the South Park neighborhood of San Francisco. Michael Osborne Design’s current space is a 4,500 square-foot light, airy, Cass Calder Smith-designed studio on Potrero Hill. The former stark, gymnasium-like space has been utterly transformed into a modern and open office, now bustling with the energy of a bright, talented staff. The company’s first Macintosh computer (Osborne first began using a computer in 1988) serves as a focal point on a conference room shelf, flanked by Michael’s playfully ornate ceramic sculptures of that quintessential California sandal: the flip flop. Osborne was taught, and holds the belief that the design process should start with the brain and a pencil, developing concepts by sketching and writing before going to the computer. “Solving design problems on paper is becoming a lost art as design schools eliminate hand-skill classes in curriculums in lieu of more computer program classes such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop. “You really shouldn’t turn on a computer, look at a white screen and just say go”, says Osborne.  “Since many students today haven’t refined their hand skills in their technology-heavy curriculums, some of the rudiments of graphic design are being skipped over. In the last 20 years or so the computer and the Internet have certainly changed the way designers work, but it may be at the cost of the problem solving process. My designers are provided with sketchpads and are encouraged to hone their ability to think on paper through a problem solving process.” According to Osborne, Milton Glaser, one of the godfathers of graphic design, said it best: “The computer is to the designer as the typewriter is to the poet.” On whether pop culture influences design or vice versa, Osborne says, “Pop culture is certainly a large influencer of graphic design trends, but designers and pop artists also set trends. The work of a rock star, pop-artist de jour– for example Shepard Fairey – can have an affect on trends not only in the art world, but in the world of graphic design as well.” Osborne graduated with honors from Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design in 1978. He has been a faculty member at both the University of California at Berkeley, and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco since 1991. After 25 years as a successful San Francisco graphic designer, Osborne decided to go back to school at the age of 55. He received his MFA in Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University in 2007, and was elected Valedictorian. Upon graduating, he designed and wrote Back to School, an impressive compilation of his classes, assignments and experiences as a returning graphic design student. http://issuu.com/michaelosborne/docs/mo_portfolio An influential speaker, Osborne has lectured at many universities and has been a featured speaker at numerous design conferences and events including: Western Art Directors Club and American Institute of Graphic Arts events, the A.D.A.C. Envision Design Conference and the HOW Design Conference. In the summer of 2006, Osborne was the recipient of the prestigious AIGA Fellow Award. He was invited back to speak again this year at the Dieline Package Design Conference presented by HOW from June 22-24 in Chicago. Osborne’s work is on display in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. ABOUT MICHAEL OSBORNE DESIGN Established in 1981, Michael Osborne Design is a leading San Francisco design agency specializing in packaging design for food & beverage, wine & spirits and private label. Past and current clients include Allied Domecq, Brown-Forman, Constellation, Driscoll’s, Kettle Foods, Kroger, Pacific Natural Foods, Safeway, Sam’s Club, SFMOMA, Target, Thomas Kemper, US Postal Service, Williams-Sonoma and the Yosemite Conservancy to name a few. For more information, please visit Michael Osborne Design’s web site at www.modsf.com or contact Dennis Whalen at dw@modsf.com or 415-255-0125. For interviews with Michael Osborne, images or general media assistance, please contact Kristin Namimoto at Charles Communications Associates Kristin@charlescomm.com or 415-701-9463.

Forest Grove, Oregon - After years of being misunderstood in the West, Japan’s proverbial celebratory drink is appearing more regularly on wine lists and food pairing menus in the restaurants of the world’s most renowned sommeliers and beverage enthusiasts. Slowly over the past decade, it has become increasingly customary to find chilled, high quality, artisan saké paired with traditional Japanese and Asian fusion cuisine- a fortunate movement from that ubiquitous, hour glass-shaped ceramic vessel filled to the brim with low quality, piping hot saké. Though the delicate flavor profiles of premium saké undoubtedly pairs well with Japan’s umami-rich cuisine, saké’s widely undiscovered frontier remains food pairings that highlight a more expansive array of universal flavors and cuisines. Saké’s ability to pair with a wide array of cuisines is hugely credited with the diverse styles of different saké. This includes the levels of acid, alcohol, body and flavor notes. Though saké’s brewing process and flavor profiles may seem foreign, it is important to remember that wine knowledge can be used as a guide since many of the same principles apply. For example, a crisp, delicate saké like SakéOne’s Momokawa Diamond pairs exceptionally well with a refreshing and lightly creamy lobster salad infused with chervil aioli and English cucumber. On the other side of the spectrum, the sumptuous, medium-bodied Momokawa Ruby Junmai Ginjo’s understated nutty tones harmonize seamlessly with a rich dish of seared foie gras sprinkled with pickled kumquats and toasted sesame seeds. Saké also pairs well with spicier, ethnic dishes that traditionally pair well with beer- for example, the creamy Momokawa Organic Nigori rounds out a flavorful dish of spicy curried beef cheeks topped with thinly sliced roasted garlic chips. Similarily, SakéOne’s Moonstone Pear pairs excellently with Moroccan spiced lamb and quince tagine. The nuances of saké that are often undetectable in wine allow it to also pair exceptionally well with dishes such as roasted asparagus, an aged black truffle-flecked pecorino, or even standard dinner-table staples such lasagna or pizza. Another component key to saké and food pairings is the acidity level. Saké with high acidity is able to pierce through oily foods with heavier flavors like a Brazillian-style, baked halibut with a touch of chili or classic buttermilk fried oysters. Lower acidity saké on the other hand, pairs beautifully with lighter fare and bright flavors such as a fresh sea bass crudo with Hawaiian rock salt on a bed of arugula. For ultimate appreciation of aroma and taste, premium saké is best served chilled about 55 degrees, similar to white wine, to showcase its subtle, nuanced taste. Opening up the doors to an exciting new realm of pairings, saké’s delicately balanced layers of flavors and aromas allow it to support a wide array of dishes. However, the world of saké may be a bit disconcerting to the American wine lover. Like wine, saké too has nuances, nomenclature and etiquette that can seem daunting upon first sip, with even the Japanese characters on most labels that can be totally foreign to many. An excellent resource for those interested in saké is the Saké 101 on SakéOne’s web site: http://www.sakeone.com/Trade-Info . Other excellent resources include New York City’s Sakaya saké shop web site http://sakayanyc.com/ and San Francisco-based saké shop True Saké http://www.truesake.com/. America’s premium Oregon craft saké company, Saké One, has been a pioneer in this movement since opening their doors in 1998. Sakémaster Greg Lorenz, who is gaining popularity in the premium beverage world as the only American sakémaster to date, has had plenty of guidance from SakéOne’s Japanese partners along the way. Everything at the Forest Grove, Oregon-based kura (Japanese for brewery) is handled with precision and care- from water management and rice milling, to how the rice is washed and soaked, how the koji (special mold spores that break down the rice starch into sugars) are managed, and the detailed brewing process, all the way to the five person-tasting panel that decides the final product. The location was carefully chosen primarily for the quality of the water in the coastal ranges just outside of Portland, OR.  The team at SakéOne are constantly fine-tuning their process, customizing their Oregon water microfiltration system, or perfecting their rice milling and steaming techniques. The pride of the kura is its traditional cedar koji room, where Lorenz and his team rest steam Northern California-grown rice in small batches and hand-turn it for the best results, true to Japanese tradition. With a set of four premium saké produced and bottled under its newly Jeffrey Caldewey-designed Momokawa label, the company was determined to develop new products that would help fill the growing demand for premium saké. Defining a niche for fruit-flavor-infused saké, SakéOne launched the Moonstone brand, becoming the first company to bottle a new category of natural flavored saké. Taking the evolution of saké a step further, SakéOne’s Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo is now the only saké in the country to be offered on tap at Pure Food and Wine, New York City’s premier raw vegan restaurant in Gramercy Park. As the gourmet food and beverage movement continues to spread across the U.S., many companies are moving towards artisan crafted, premium products and SakéOne is no exception. Though they undoubtedly honor tradition, Oregon’s pioneering spirit infuses the air that the saké makers breathe and the pristine water with which they brew. With this spirit synonymous with the American dream, SakéOne has evolved in the last few years truly defining Oregon craft sake and revolutionizing the way saké is perceived About SakeOne SakéOne is America's premium saké company and importer of some of Japan’s finest sake. Founded in 1992 as an importer, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in Forest Grove, the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing and winemaking mecca, since the early 1990s. In 2010, SakéOne’s Momokawa “Ruby” Junmai Ginjo earned a silver medal at the prestigious all-Japanese U.S. National Saké Appraisal, no small feat for an American saké producer. Though SakéOne clearly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly come to define Oregon craft saké. For more information, please visit www.sakeone.com.  For media inquiries, please contact press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463. For media information and interviews with saké expert and SakéOne Vice President of Marketing Dewey Weddington, please contact Kristin Namimoto of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.

Bar Bambino Celebrates Friuli-Veneza Giulia with a special dinner featuring Parovel Wines on Thursday 30 June 2011 10 June, 2011 – Bar Bambino, acclaimed for its menu influenced by Northeastern Italian and Central European cuisine, announces the third in a series of appellation-specific dinners.  Following last month’s exploration of the wines of Kabaj in Goriška Brda, Slovenia, this month Bar Bambino crosses the border into the Carso.  The Carso is an area of Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region known for its distinctive wines that derive their character from the area’s limestone-rich soils.  Elena Parovel, the 5th generation of a family whose wines and olive oils have been prized since the Austro-Hungarian Empire, will guide diners through her limited-availability wines and the history of Carso.  Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder and Pastry Chef Alyce Shields have designed an inspired menu that will take guests on a gastronomic journey that mimics their travels this past spring through Friuli, from the Adriatic Sea to the Carnic Alps. The five-course, limited seating culinary experience, takes place on Thursday, 30 June from 7-10pm. The special wine-paired menu boasts courses such as nettle dumplings in a Montasio and chive blossom fonduta, paired with a Parovel’s 2007 Matos Nonet (a blend of Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon) and slow-braised veal cheeks encrusted in breadcrumbs, served on mixed heirloom chicories that have been tossed with a Malvasia vinaigrette, paired with the 2008 Refosco. Seating for this unique Friulian dinner is limited to 20 people at a price of $85 per person (gratuity and tax not included). Throughout the evening in the main dining room, all of the wines presented will be available at special pricing and available by-the-glass and by-the-bottle. Please call 415.701.VINO (8466) to reserve your seats or email reservations@barbambino.com. From the Sea to the Mountains: The Cuisine and Wine of Friuli With Wines By Parovel Thursday, 30 June 2011 Welcoming Bites Salumi with cucumber preserve and house made pretzels A selection of light and dark artisanal vermouths from Mauro Vergano, GD Vajra, and Bonal I Asparagus Bozner Blanched asparagus spears served with house-made mayonnaise-pickle sauce and prosciutto cotto II Octopus carpaccio Octopus terrine with a fino verde pesto finished with Parovel’s finest EVOO 2009 Parovel Vitovska III Nettle canederli Nettle dumplings in a Montasio and chive blossom fonduta 2007 Parovel Matos Nonet (Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon) IV Braised and crisped veal cheeks with heirloom chicories Slow-braised veal cheeks encrusted in breadcrumbs and served on top of mixed heirloom chicories tossed with Malvasia vinaigrette 2008 Parovel Refosco V Gibanica A spring torte of apricot, cherry, and poppyseed with a chamomile syrup Coffee, tea About Parovel With roots in Trieste, a city between the Adriatic Sea and the Carso Highlands near the Italian/Slovenian border, the Parovel family history dates back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when Peter Parovel began sending his finest olive oil to the Court of Vienna. Today, brother and sister Euro and Elena Parovel run the estate, and have extended the tradition of  making top-quality Extra Virgin olive oils to include now the cultivation autochthonous varietals: Vitovska, Refosco d’Istria, Malvaisa Istriana). The family is passionate about their work, and believes that their wines communicate the fascinating flavors of Istria and Carso. The Parovel winery is located in Bagnoli della Rosandra, on the edges of the Rosandra Valley just a few miles outside of Trieste. About Bar Bambino Nestled on an edgy urban block of San Francisco’s Mission District is Bar Bambino, a neighborhood eatery that brings simple, elegant food and wine to the table in a convivial gathering spot. After more than three years of specializing in pan-regional Italian cuisine, Bar Bambino, under the direction of proprietor Christopher Losa and chef Elizabeth Binder, has narrowed its focus to the northeastern corner of Italy, letting the diverse cultures found in Friuli, Alto Adige, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and Hungry influence their offerings. Bar Bambino’s seasonally inspired cuisine is served in a lively and informal, urban atmosphere. Featuring locally and sustainably sourced produce and meats, house-made pastas, and inspired desserts, Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder demonstrates a thorough knowledge of northern Italian cuisine while her understated touch brings a lightness and elegance to traditional recipes. Since opening in April 2007, Bar Bambino has garnered local and national accolades, repeatedly named as a San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 restaurant and as one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s Top 10 Wine Bars in the nation. For more information and reservations please call Bar Bambino at 415/701 VINO (8466) or email info@barbambino.com For media inquiries, interviews or information, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at kcharles@charlescomm.com or 415/701 9463. #  #  #  

Livermore Valley, CA - This year, Wente Vineyards will celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Restaurant and The Concerts at Wente Vineyards.  After a quarter of a century entertaining guests with delicious wine country cuisine, award-winning wine and music in the vineyards, the property is proud to detail the top 25 things to partake in during the 25th anniversary year. 25 Things to do at Wente Vineyards for the 25th Anniversary The Concerts at Wente Vineyards: Hosted under the stars on the Terrace Lawn, Wente Vineyards celebrates its 25th year of providing top performers, with a range of world-class artists such as America and Diana Ross playing from June-September. Culinary Classes: Learn to make seasonal dishes from the chefs at Wente Vineyards, including Executive Chef Eric Berg, Executive Pastry Chef Leena Hung and Catering with Wente Vineyards Executive Chef Jeff Farlow. Spring & Summer Garden Tours: Celebrating Master Gardener Diane Dovholuk’s 25 years on property, Wente Vineyards invites guests for an inside look into the organicgarden with a special cooking demo from Executive Chef Eric Berg. 25th Anniversary Menu: Enjoy a special three-course anniversary menu at The Restaurant created from ingredients sourced directly from the on-site vegetable and herb garden.  Celebrate signature dishes that were served throughout the 25 years including dishes from CEO Carolyn Wente’s cookbook The Casual Vineyard Table. Cinema at Wente Vineyards: Wente Vineyards invites guests to take in the summer nights with classic movies such as Wizard of Oz and Dirty Dancing on the terrace-lawn, best enjoyed while sipping a glass of wine with family and friends. Golf Lessons: Partake in golf lessons on the Greg Norman designed golf course, which also happens to be certified as an Audubon Sanctuary.  Specialty lessons for golfers of all ages and ability levels are offered, including beginner, Ladies and Juniors. Sipping at Sunset: After a beautiful day on The Course, finish off with a glass of estate grown, sustainably farmed delicious Wente Vineyards wine at The Grill overlooking the 18th green. Discover the Wine, Discover the Music on the Estate Lawn: Enjoy exploring music by indie artists and unique wines at this casual and fun music series at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery culminating in the Day of Discovery over Labor Day weekend. Showcasing a number of leading artists, the all day event will take place at the Estate Tasting Room. Host a Private Party in the Caves: Reserve the vineyards’ historic wine caves for a private party of your choice (birthdays, corporate, themed parties, or a wedding reception). Favorites at The Restaurant: The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards turns 25 - indulge in the delicious signature Smoked Double Cut Pork Chop. Barrel Release Series: The Restaurant continues to feature the Barrel Release Series, with a delightful three-course menu paired with a glass of wine directly poured from a new barrel. Daycation in the Vineyards: Visit the property in October 2011 to receive special offers and discounts on wines and property activities. Undiscovered Wedding Destination: Set in the stunning rolling hills of Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards provides numerous wedding packages to create the perfect wine country wedding. Become a Wine Club Member: Receive special offers, benefits and wine shipments. Join Club Wente Entertainment: Receive concert ticket discounts, complimentary wine when dining in The Restaurant and The Grill and more. Yoga with a Winemaker: Go to the Wente Vineyards website and take a quick break from the day to enjoy a three-minute yoga session with fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente. Guided Cooking: Purchase Fourth Generation Winemaker Carolyn Wente’s cookbook and enjoy one of the many delicious dishes in your own home. The Grill at Wente Vineyards: Following a morning of golf or a stroll around the property gardens, enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch at The Grill at Wente Vineyards. Estate Tasting Room: Enjoy the newly revamped tasting room with a lush outdoor space perfect for a picnic lunch and bottle of wine.  Groups of 10 or more are offered a special rate for tasting. Building Memories: Build team spirit and boost corporate morale while learning about wine in a fun atmosphere with the Vineyard Tasting Room Challenge, just one of the many team building events offered by the Wente Vineyards Catering Team. Women’s Golf Month: Throughout the month of June, celebrate golf as a sport and recreation for women. The national PGA movement seeks to provide women the opportunity to learn, re-learn or play golf in a fun and friendly environment while also attracting and retaining new women golfers. Company Outing: Host your company’s next corporate off-site with the perks of full A/V and wireless internet capabilities, and rolling hills and lush vineyards as your backdrop. Girlfriends Getaway: Gather your girlfriends on Tuesday or Thursday and enjoy a day at The Course at Wente Vineyards complete with a round of golf paired with a complimentary breakfast or lunch in The Grill before or after your round for just $85. Gift the Grape: Taste, purchase and share the gift of great wine with friends by gifting a bottle of your favorite Wente Vineyards wine. Lighten your Holiday Load: Skip the kitchen and indulge in delicious take-home dinners available for Thanksgiving and Christmas with curbside pick-up. About Wente Vineyards The country's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery, Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future, a system of sustainable viticultural practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com. For any interviews or media assistance, please contact Kristin Namimoto at press@charlescomm.com or 415/701-9463.

Crimson Wine Group Acquires Seghesio Family Vineyards Adds Another Jewel in the Crown of its Luxury Domestic Wine Portfolio Napa, CA – June 1, 2011 – Crimson Wine Group CEO Erle Martin announced today the acquisition of Seghesio Family Vineyards, one of California’s oldest family owned wineries specializing in estate-grown Zinfandel wines.  Another milestone in Crimson’s history, Seghesio Family Vineyards joins the estate-focused portfolio of luxury domestic brands including Archery Summit (Willamette Valley, OR), Chamisal Vineyards (Edna Valley, CA) and Pine Ridge Vineyards (Stag’s Leap District, CA) as a well-loved and respected family winery in the Dry Creek Valley AVA, which critics have deemed Zinfandel nirvana.  Martin was seeking to complement Crimson’s compelling portfolio with a dedication to a particular varietal similar to the Pinot Noir focus of Archery Summit, the Burgundian focus of Chamisal Vineyards and the Cabernet Sauvignon focus of Pine Ridge.  Always keeping an eye out for strong brands that synergistically work with Crimson’s philosophy, Martin had a long relationship of mutual respect in the wine business with Seghesio owner Peter Seghesio. Seghesio, who will remain on with the winery, represents the 3rd generation of the family who literally and metaphorically put down roots in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma in 1895 and were instrumental in the development of Sonoma as a wine region.  Over the years, the family acquired 400 acres, and planted 300 of them.  “Much like the best things in life, it’s always serendipitous when you find a great match in business or in your personal endeavors,” stated Seghesio.  “Crimson Wine Group represented just that, a company and team whose philosophy towards nurturing brands, along with vision, a strong distribution network and access to capital, would allow us to grow to the next level, a level that business on a family scale would have difficulty attaining on its own.” In the 1990s, the Seghesio family, who had grown sizeable in its 100 years of doing business, refocused from producing popular priced Zinfandel and table wine to higher quality offerings in keeping with the emerging premium and super premium wine market.  Precision sustainable farming, including frequent thinning and hand-farming of vineyards, produced lower yields and ensured even ripening across the family’s 300 acres of vines, significantly improving quality and delivering a distinctive, balanced style which has been met with great critical acclaim.  The winery has gained a place on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list an impressive six times in just the past decade. Much of the family will remain in place in the day to day management and operations of the winery including winemaker Ted Seghesio and Peter, who will assume the role of Winegrower.  In this position he will continue to work closely with the vineyard management team as well as with Ted on blending decisions, and will also act as ambassador for the family and the winery at home and on the road.  Stated Martin, “We want to keep the heart and soul of the winery intact with the family, who will continue to inform the vision and create its success.”  Details of the sale were not disclosed.  Demeter Group, the San Francisco-based investment bank for growth consumer and retail companies, acted as exclusive financial advisor to Seghesio Family Vineyards. About Crimson Wine Group The Crimson Wine Group is a leading company in the luxury domestic wine business, with five coveted brands and over 700 planted acres in five growing regions and 11 outstanding AVAs across California, Oregon and Washington. Representing over 250,000 cases within the higher-end price segments, Crimson focuses on estate-grown wines from producers that represent the best their appellation has to offer.  The portfolio is a diverse collection, across both varietals and appellations, of top quality wines for the marketplace which are thoughtfully stewarded by the company’s team. For media inquiries and sample requests, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates, press@charlescomm.com 415/701-9463 (office) or 415/730-0064 (cell). #   #   #

Russian River Valley, CA - DeLoach Vineyards, the pioneering Russian River Valley producer of award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel, released today the first estate vintage after receiving both Biodynamic and organic certification for its estate. DeLoach has released a 2010 Estate Collection Pinot Noir Rose from its estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley. This past September, DeLoach Vineyards celebrated the first harvest after earning organic certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) in 2008 and receiving Biodynamic® certification from the prestigious Demeter USA, the only certification agent for Biodynamic farms in the United States, in February 2010. The release of this wine represents the culmination of a long and dedicated effort to become a more self-sustaining and environmentally friendly estate. In 2003 when the Boisset Family purchased the vineyards, they immediately began the conversion to organic and Biodynamic methods. This conversion necessitated a two-year series of crop rotations and the lands were left to lie fallow in order to restore a healthy balance to the soil. New vineyards were planted between 2006-2008, and have since been farmed according to Biodynamic principles. Since the implementation of organic and Biodynamic farming methods, the estate at DeLoach has become a rich ecosystem, complete with sheep that graze the vegetation beneath the vines, kept bees that pollinate the half-acre CCOF and Demeter certified garden and cover crops. The resplendent and complex vitality that DeLoach has cultivated has allowed their eight clones of Pinot Noir to brilliantly express the unique combination of soil, climate, air, water, nutrients, and human attention that is specific to the estate. While the 2010 vintage in the Russian River Valley presented many climatic challenges and yields were low, the quality of grapes harvested at DeLoach Vineyards remained impressive. The Estate Rose, which was harvested from the back Pinot Noir block of the estate, demonstrates the superior quality that DeLoach’s meticulous Biodynamic farming methods aim to achieve. Made in a deliberate rose style, the wine is light, fresh and fruity and is being sold at a suggested retail price of $20. About DeLoach Vineyards DeLoach Vineyards has been a pioneering producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley since 1975. DeLoach seeks to produce exceptional wines that spotlight the singular personality of the Russian River Valley, with its rare and bountiful convergence of the sea, the soil and the stars. The Boisset family of Burgundy purchased DeLoach in 2003, bringing the techniques and approaches of Burgundy to its winemaking in the Russian River Valley, which they believed to be California’s most expressive terroir for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Under Boisset, DeLoach has grown its small-lot vineyard designate wine program, converted to organic and Biodynamic® farming practices, and implemented traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques such as open-top wood fermentors, native yeast fermentations, and hand punch-downs.  Wine & Spirits magazine named DeLoach Vineyards a Top 100 Winery for the tenth time in the winery’s history in 2009.   Located at 1791 Olivet Road in Santa Rosa, the DeLoach Vineyards tasting room, picnic area and organic garden are open to the public daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.deloachvineyards.com or contact Emily Aschbrenner of Charles Communications Associates at 415.701.9463 or emily@charlescomm.com

Forest Grove, Oregon- America’s premium saké company, SakéOne announced today the re-launch of their core Oregon craft saké brand, Momokawa. The leading producer of junmai ginjo (premium) grade saké in the U.S., Momokawa has announced a stunning new label design by renowned label and packaging designer Jeffrey Caldewey. Though Momokawa saké is deeply rooted in tradition and technique, the saké producer is celebrated and perhaps best known for pioneering the revolution of saké in the U.S. The new label design coincides with several subtle changes in the brewing process that have ultimately resulted in enhanced flavor and body. Commissioned to completely re-design Momokawa’s new label, Caldewey said, “the most prominent element of all saké labels is calligraphy. It can be said that kanji calligraphy has its roots in abstract symbols that represent concrete ideas. What I was seeking was abstract symbols that represent emotions. While bound by tradition, there is an avant-garde, abstract form of calligraphy called zeneisho, which reminded me a bit of the ‘action’ painting of abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock.” The backdrop to the design is a unique medium that has the texture of traditional artist linen combined with an iridescence that calls to mind highly polished, premium quality rice. The design is the result of Caldewey splashing about with indigo ink that seems to leap from the original Momokawa cobalt blue bottle- truly a visual example of East blending with West. In terms of taste, Sakémaster Greg Lorenz, who is gaining popularity in the premium beverage world as the only American sakémaster to date, has been quietly fine tuning the delicacy and nuances of his saké over the last two years to yield even more charming and alluring results. Lorenz’s foundation for brewing saké is deeply rooted in Japanese tradition and technique, down to the equipment, process and ingredients. However with changes in the brewing process that are as understated as classical elements of Japanese culture, Lorenz manages his koji and yeast in a manner that gives Momokawa saké flavor profiles that he feels are more appealing to American consumers yet retain the standards of his teachers. Last year, Momokawa’s “Ruby” Junmai Ginjo saké earned a silver medal at the prestigious all-Japanese U.S. National Saké Appraisal 2010, no small feat for an American saké producer. Though Momokawa undoubtedly honors tradition, Oregon’s pioneer spirit infuses the air that the saké makers breathe and the pristine water they brew with. With this spirit synonymous with the American dream, Momokawa has evolved in the last few years revolutionizing saké and truly defining Oregon craft saké. About SakéOne SakéOne is America's premium saké company and importer of some of Japan’s finest saké. Founded in 1992 as an importer, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in Forest Grove, the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing and winemaking mecca, since 1998. In 2010, SakéOne’s Momokawa “Ruby” Junmai Ginjo earned a silver medal at the prestigious U.S. National Sake Appraisal 2010, no small feat for an American producer in a crowd of more than 300 Japanese entrants and a judging panel held to precise Japanese standards. Though SakéOne clearly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly come to define Oregon craft saké. For more information, please visit www.sakeone.com.  For media inquiries, please contact press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.

SAN FRANCISCO- May 10th, 2011- Today, Charles Communications Associates (CCA), the leading food and beverage creative marketing communications firm is proud to celebrate its eight-year anniversary. Honored to represent and to have worked with some of the most successful and progressive companies in the food and beverage realm, CCA has strategically expanded its activities over the years while remaining true to its founding values of integrity, social responsibility and originality. Founder Kimberly Charles has worked on some of the most compelling brand campaigns in the food and beverage arena, including the re-launch of Gallo of Sonoma from 1998-2001, the debut of America’s first organic rye vodka Square One Organic Vodka, the launch of Cameron Hughes Lot Series wines, the debut of Domaine Carneros sparkling winery as well as more recent campaigns, among many others. Kimberly and her team at CCA continue to create campaigns that are imbued with meaning and purpose. A diploma holder from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London who started out her career working with some of the most renowned names in the wine, spirits and luxury consumer goods industries, Kimberly enlisted her experience to ensure that CCA history would be paved with successes that cover all areas of expertise of the agency. Today the team at CCA works closely with a diverse array of clients including Archery Summit Vineyards, Bar Bambino, Boisset Family Estates, Beni di Batasiolo, Benziger Family Winery, Chamisal Vineyards, Diam, Four Vines, Mark West, Michael Osborne Design, Purple Wine Company, SakéOne, Scion Advisors, Stonescape Vineyards and Wente Family Estates. “The new American food movement has been extremely exciting these last years. We are very proud of having successfully addressed our clients’ needs in terms of strategic communications in both traditional and new media within this ever-evolving environment. We want to thank the media and marketing partners with whom we have created long-lasting and trusting relationships and who support the promotion of high-quality, sustainable products,” said Charles, “Our plan for the coming years is to extend our portfolio of great clients and continue to provide our existing clients with creative concepts while promoting sustainable development in the food and beverage industry.” Charles Communications Associates’ success reflects the passion and dedication of those who have nurtured it over the years. The agency’s team of highly energetic, intensely curious, and hard-working marketing and communication experts from diverse backgrounds, education and languages skills, with strong interest in socially responsible issues have been instrumental in this. Equally important are the clients whose talent and dedication to offer superior products remain a constant inspiration. Thanks to all of you for making Charles Communications a great vintage every year!

Livermore, CA– As the warm summer nights approach, Murrieta’s Well, a true gem in the heart of the historic Livermore Valley, is gearing up to launch its much-anticipated series of La Luna Fridays. The first La Luna is taking place on Friday, May 13, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. under the light of the full moon on the winery’s open terrace. Though tickets to the first La Luna have sold out, the series will continue through the summer and fall seasons, landing on Friday’s closest to the full moon each month. Each evening will begin with Spanish-inspired tapas and Murrieta’s Well’s charming and nuanced blended wines, accompanied by live music.  The event includes a complimentary tasting of coveted limited-release wines such as the ‘03 White Meritage, ‘09 Tempranillo, ‘08 Anniversary Blend, ‘09 Touriga Nacional and the ‘06 Red Meritage. Select library wines such as the ‘06 Souzao and the ‘06 Cabernet Sauvignon will also be offered to guests, along with special event pricing on select Murrieta’s Well wines.  For years, this series of events has created a relaxing atmosphere for traveling wine-enthusiasts and locals alike. The schedule of events include: tapas and wine service from 6-7:30 p.m., wine sales by the bottle until 8:45 p.m. and live music from 6 to 9 p.m.  La Luna Fridays are $45, or $40 for club members.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling 925-456-2395 or visiting the Murrieta’s Well web site at: http://www.murrietaswell.com. For a complete listing of events, please visit www.murrietaswell.com/news-events/events and to join the club, please visit http://www.murrietaswell.com/wine-club/club-benefits. About Murrieta’s Well Winery Murrieta’s Well is an elite Livermore Valley wine estate defined by its distinctive blended wines, stunning location, and a rich heritage that began in California’s Gold Rush era. In 1990, Fourth Generation Winegrower Philip Wente of the Wente family and Winemaker Sergio Traverso merged old and new winemaking styles, reviving the historic winery established by Livermore pioneer Louis Mel. Surrounded by vineyards, the serene, idyllic location on the Arroyo Mocho Creek has a sense of timeless romanticism. The old stone winery building was originally built in the 1880s and is a gorgeous example of early California architecture. Local timber and rustic concrete made from gravel gathered from the nearby creek were used in the construction. Combined with Spanish design influences, the colorful past of Gold Rush era bandito Joaquin Murrieta, and ultra-premium wines, Murrieta's Well is a captivating and unforgettable destination. Murrieta's Well’s flagship wines include the Whip and the Spur, handcrafted blends that highlight the best attributes of the unique Livermore Valley terroir. The Whip is a vibrant blend of aromatic estate-grown white grapes and The Spur is its red counterpart, a sumptuous blend of the best red varietals from Murrieta’s Well’s certified sustainable 92-acre vineyard. Both pay tribute to the property’s Bordeaux lineage, while the Zarzuela is a blend of Spanish and Portuguese varietals, modeled after the famous Spanish blends of Ribera del Duero and Rioja. Their small-production, tasting room-exclusive Los Tesoros de Joaquin wines round out an extraordinary portfolio. The Los Tesoros de Joaquin wines are hand-crafted treasures and only available directly from the winery or through the Silver Spur Wine Club. For more information visit www.murrietaswell.com/wine-club Murrieta’s Well is located at 3005 Mines Road in Livermore, CA. For more information, visit www.murrietaswell.com. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact Charles Communications Associates at 415|701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com

  Bar Bambino Salutes Slovenia with a special dinner featuring Kabaj Wines with owner Jean Michel Morel on Thursday 19 May 2011 San Francisco – Paying tribute to its Central and Eastern European influenced menu, Bar Bambino is pleased to announce its second regional wine & cuisine dinner of the year with a salute to the wines of Kabaj in Slovenia.  Having recently returned from a gastronomic tour through Friuli and Alto Adige, proprietor Christopher Losa, Chef Elizabeth Binder, and Pastry Chef Alyce Shields have created an exciting menu for the limited seating dinner on 19 May 2011 from 7-10 PM.  Special guest, Kabaj winemaker Jean Michel Morel will guide diners through six of his wines paired with a menu Chef Binder has created inspired by her recent travels. Highlights of the 4-course, wine-paired menu include a shellfish brodetto steamed in pinot grigio with saffron and flaked Hungarian paprika and a grappa roasted duck with savory cherry jus and a napoleon of crispy potatoes and fava beans.   Seating for this special dinner with the worldly and passionate Jean-Michel Morel is limited to 20 people at a price of $85 per person (gratuity and tax not included).  Throughout the evening in the main dining room, all the wines being presented will be available at special pricing. Please call 415.701.VINO (8466) to reserve your seats or email reservations@barbambino.com.   Kabaj Wines Presented By Jean-Michel Morel Thursday, 19 May 2011 Starter Frico of Montasio with asparagus carpaccio, baby arugula, and chive blossom I Shellfish brodetto with grilled bread - A delicate brodetto from a selection of the day’s catch, steamed in pinot grigio, saffron, and flaked Hungarian paprika. 2008 Kabaj Sivi Pinot (Pinot Grigio) 2008 Kabaj Rebula (Ribolla Gialla) II Black and white risotto with house-made sausage and wilted escarole 2005 Kabaj Amphora 2006 Kabaj Amphora III Grappa roasted duck with savory cherry jus and a napoleon of crispy potatoes and fava beans 2007 Kabaj Merlot IV Black walnut, apricot and poppyseed torte - A gibanica of walnut, apricot, poppyseed and ricotta with a Tokaj zabaglione Coffee, tea   About Kabaj Winery Located on the Italian/Slovenian border in Goriška Brda, the Kabaj family has farmed vineyards for generations. Under Yugoslav Communism they, like all grape growers sold their fruit to the state. In the early 90’s Slovenia disbanded from Yugoslavia and after decades of collective production, private wine producers were allowed to resurrect this long heralded wine region that predates the Romans. In 1993 French enologist Jean Michel Morel and his wife Katja Kabaj released the first wine of the estate under her family name. Today Kabaj makes thoroughly modern wine by combining an individual grape growing locale, indigenous varieties, French wine making expertise, time tested ancient methods and Jean Michel’s desire to create in the glass what he tastes in his imagination. Kabaj wines are unforgettable, age worthy and will be a pleasure to watch develop both in the bottle and as Jean Michel draws closer to his truth. About Bar Bambino Nestled on an edgy urban block of San Francisco’s Mission District is Bar Bambino, a neighborhood eatery that brings simple, elegant food and wine to the table in a convivial gathering spot. After more than three years of specializing in pan-regional Italian cuisine, Bar Bambino, under the direction of proprietor Christopher Losa and chef Elizabeth Binder has narrowed its focus to the northeastern corner of Italy, letting the diverse cultures found in Friuli, Alto Adige, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and Hungry influence their offerings. Bar Bambino’s seasonally inspired cuisine is served in a lively and informal, urban atmosphere. Featuring locally and sustainably sourced produce and meats, house-made pastas, and inspired desserts, Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder demonstrates a thorough knowledge of northern Italian cuisine while her understated touch brings a lightness and elegance to traditional recipes. Since opening in April 2007, Bar Bambino has garnered local and national accolades, repeatedly named as a San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 restaurant and as one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s Top 10 Wine Bars in the nation. For more information and reservations please call Bar Bambino at 415/701 VINO (8466) or email info@barbambino.com For media inquiries, interviews or information, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at kcharles@charlescomm.com or 415/701 9463. #  #  #

Fifth Generation Winemaker Karl Wente Releases Short Virtual Yoga Practice Series Livermore, CA– Karl Wente, Fifth Generation Winemaker, gifted musician and devoted yoga practitioner announced the release of a series of short minute yoga videos he developed with friend and yoga practitioner Joe Kara. Tailored for the often demanding and hectic lives of business professionals, the videos feature a blend of yoga practices along with commentary from Karl expressing how yoga has encouraged balance and focus in his life, allowing him to become acutely in-tune with the wines he creates as well as the many business decisions he must make as a member of the country’s oldest continuously operated family owned winery. The videos will begin release this week, on a bi-weekly basis, on the Wente Vineyards Facebook page, YouTube page, and Karl Wente’s blog. Several forms of yoga, the ancient Indian practice of achieving physical and spiritual well being through movement and meditation, have become incredibly popular in the West in the past few decades. From celebrities to political and media luminaries to everyday enthusiasts, yoga has proven to be a powerful practice, with the ability to influence a myriad of different lifestyles. Its many benefits, including increased focus, energy and creativity and reduction of stress, are welcomed incentives for those under a lot of pressure in the workplace. Those who have experienced the many benefits of yoga have likely also encountered heightened senses following a yoga practice. For wine enthusiasts, this translates to finely tuned senses to the aromas and flavor profiles in wine and can elevate a tasting experience that may well be unattainable to the average non-yoga practicing wine consumer. This holds true for those in creative fields other than winemaking. Take fashion industry icon Donna Karan, who has been practicing yoga since the age of 18- Karan spends two hours each morning on her yoga mat in the yoga studio of her apartment. For creative professionals such as Karan, explorations into the inner self through yoga are a large part of the creative process. Other high-powered yoga practitioners include Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, news anchor Katie Couric, and Martha Stewart, among many others. Entire corporations such as Nike, General Electric, AT&T, HBO, Forbes, and Apple have been known to offer yoga classes to employees in an effort to improve work-life balance. Though yoga may have countless physical and mental benefits, many executives and business professionals simply do not have two hours in a day to devote to their yoga practice. With this in mind, Karl Wente’s yoga series was created to help viewers take just a quick moment to center themselves before a meeting or calm their minds after an eventful day. Dedicating a just a few minutes yoga can aid in managing stress and increasing quality of life in today’s busy world. Karl Wente’s yoga practice has not only brought a sense of balance to his life, but as a winemaker, yoga has afforded him the focus and patience to enhance his senses to the aromas and flavors in the wines he creates. This elevated appreciation for the nuances in wine has truly allowed him to fine-tune his skills as a winemaker, helping him attain more subtly and balance in his wines. About Wente Vineyards Named a Top 30 wine company by the 2011 Wine Business Monthly, Wente Vineyards is the country's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery. Today, Wente Vineyards is led by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future program, a system of sustainable viticultural practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. This philosophy extends to all aspects of winery operations, where energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and social responsibility are all integral to the culture. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, please visit www.wentevineyards.com. For any interviews or media assistance, please contact Kristin Namimoto at press@charlescomm.com or 415/701-9463.

25 Years of Music in the Vineyards Livermore Valley, CA – April 2011 – The Concerts at Wente Vineyards is proud to celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a stellar line-up of acts.  As Northern California’s most unique concert experience, Wente Vineyards will host a summer of top name headliners in its spectacular vineyard setting.  Delivering an exciting selection of musical genres, The Concerts at Wente Vineyards is delighted to announce artists such as The Beach Boys, Chris Isaak and Diana Ross.  Complete line-up includes: JUNE AMERICA Wednesday 6/22 BEACH BOYS Tuesday 6/28 JULY COLBIE CAILLAT Thursday 7/7 JAZZ IN THE VINEyards SOUL OF SUMMER: Jonathan Butler, Eric Darius & Maysa &, JAZZ ATTACK: Rick Braun, Peter White & Gerald Albright Sunday 7/10 CHRIS ISAAK Thursday 7/21 AUGUST DOOBIE BROTHERS Wednesday 8/3 PETER FRAMPTON “Frampton Comes Alive 35th” Tuesday 8/9 KENNY G & MICHAEL BOLTON Tuesday, 8/30 SEPTEMBER TEARS FOR FEARS Thursday 9/8 KENNY LOGGINS Tuesday 9/13 DIANA ROSS Wednesday 9/14 Ticket options include different dining and seating choices.  The Restaurant Dining Option includes stage-front seating, the evening’s performance, a four-course dinner at the award-winning The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, reserved parking, tax and gratuity.  Prices start from $259. Tickets inclusive of a buffet-style wine country inspired dinner by Catering with Wente Vineyards are available by reservation and include tables on the lawn seating eight or ten guests.  This option provides guests with a view of the concert from their dining table.  These tickets include Premium Dining, Outdoor Dining and Mezzanine Dining, which offer different seating locations within the concert area.   The price of the ticket includes seating, the evening’s performance, the buffet style dinner served from 6:00 - 8:00pm, tax and gratuity.  Prices start from $169. Tickets without dinner options are sold at prices starting at $69, and allow guests the option to dine at The Grill prior to the show.  Tickets go on-sale to the Club Wente Entertainment Members on April 30th and are open to the general public on May 14th.  Wine and non-alcoholic beverages are not included in the price of tickets, but may be purchased separately at the show. About The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery.  Greeting guests with warm hospitality, the Vineyard is run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family.  Located in historic Livermore Valley less than an hour east of San Francisco, Wente Vineyards offers guests a truly unique and memorable experience with classic dining, wine tasting and championship golf. The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards is an accurate reflection of the entire Wente Vineyards experience: Estate grown, Family-owned, Sustainable.  When guests visit The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, it is almost as if they have been invited into the Wente family dining room.  Featuring ingredient-driven California Wine Country cuisine, recently appointed Executive Chef Eric Berg offers seasonal dishes sourced from the Vineyard’s magnificent herb and vegetable garden.  With a wine list of 400 West Coast wines, The Restaurant provides guests with numerous wine pairing options for each dish. The Concerts at Wente Vineyards Fine wine and food, complemented by gracious, personal service, are the hallmarks of the Wente Vineyards concert experience.  Concerts are held at the beautiful Wente Vineyards Restaurant and Event Center, located at 5050 Arroyo Road, in a picturesque valley a few miles south of the town of Livermore.   Seating is in a terraced amphitheater surrounded by gardens, hillsides and tile-roofed winery buildings recreated in the style of old California.   Patrons can choose either a four-course dinner in the award-winning The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, followed by reserved, stage-front seating, or a buffet-style dinner at tables of ten on the lawn.  The intimate nature and the limited number of tickets sold guarantee that every seat offers guests an outstanding entertainment experience. Catering with Wente Vineyards Serving the Greater Bay Area, Catering with Wente Vineyards provides a full range of personalized catering options. From intimate gatherings to large celebrations, family to corporate events, Wente Vineyards infuses its wine country style into every occasion.  Wente Vineyards is pleased to bring these high standards directly to its guests at their chosen location. Catering with Wente Vineyards shares The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards’ philosophy to use the very best sustainably and organically grown local ingredients to create sublime wine country fare. Executive Catering Chef Jeff Farlow leads the catering team. “Catering with Wente Vineyards” is coordinated by Sales Director Robert Gundrey. # # #

Bar Bambino’s Mother's Day Brunch May 8th 11 AM – 3 PM April 14, 2011- Mamma is the core of the Italian family, and in celebration of beloved matriarchs everywhere, Bar Bambino’s Executive Chef Lizzie Binder has designed a menu to make all moms proud. Influenced by the flavors and traditions of northeastern Italy, specifically Friuli and the Tyrol, the brunch menu will be featuring a three-course price-fixe meal accented by the bounty of primavera... spring! Highlights include a chestnut crepe filled with fromage blanc and strawberry conserva; poached egg bruschetta with truffle salt, prosciutto rosso, and bitter greens; and parrozzo, a chocolate and semolina cake. The menu will be offered Sunday May 8th 2011 from 11 AM to 3 PM. The three course brunch is $45 (beverages, tax and gratuity not included)  Please call 415.701.VINO (8466) to reserve your seats or email reservations@barbambino.com. I Choice of: Soup of local morels and toasted rye bread or Beet, dill and vodka salmon flatbread with mascarpone or Chestnut crepe filled with fromage blanc and strawberry conserva II Choice of: Goulash of Rock Cod with poppyseed dumplings or Poached egg bruschetta with black truffle salt, prosciutto and bitter greens or Braised lamb shoulder with artichokes and peas topped with “poor man’s cheese” III Choice of: Three perfect cheeses served with traditional accompaniments ($5 supplement) or Fruilian-inspired palacinche of ricotta and seasonal fruit marmalade or Parrozzo, a chocolate and semolina cake with toasted almonds and TCHO chocolate sauce About Bar Bambino Nestled on an edgy urban block of San Francisco’s Mission District is Bar Bambino, a neighborhood eatery that brings simple, elegant food and wine to the table in a convivial gathering spot. After more than three years of specializing in pan-regional Italian cuisine, Bar Bambino, under the direction of proprietor Christopher Losa and chef Elizabeth Binder has narrowed its focus to the northeastern corner of Italy, letting the diverse cultures found in Friuli, Alto Adige, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and Hungry influence their offerings. Bar Bambino’s seasonally inspired cuisine is served in a lively and informal, urban atmosphere. Featuring locally and sustainably sourced produce and meats, house-made pastas, and inspired desserts, Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder demonstrates a thorough knowledge of northern Italian cuisine while her understated touch brings a lightness and elegance to traditional recipes. Since opening in April 2007, Bar Bambino has garnered local and national accolades, repeatedly named as a San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 restaurant and as one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s Top 10 Wine Bars in the nation. For more information and reservations please call Bar Bambino at 415/701 VINO (8466) or email info@barbambino.com For media inquiries, interviews or information, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at kcharles@charlescomm.com or 415/701-9463. #  #  #