The Napa Valley vineyard will donate portions of its Chenin Blanc+Viognier sales to plant up to 5,000 trees. Napa, CA- April 11, 2011: Pine Ridge Vineyards announced today the launch of its Buy a Bottle, Plant a Tree campaign in partnership with American Forests. For the months of April-June of 2011, for every bottle of Chenin Blanc + Viognier purchased Pine Ridge Vineyards will donate $1 to American Forests to plant a tree, up to 5,000. “We at Pine Ridge Vineyards are so fortunate to enjoy spectacular scenery here in the Napa Valley, but we know that, as stewards of the land, we have a responsibility to preserve it. We’re committed to protecting and restoring our environment, not only here but globally. After all, great wines come from a healthy environment! This campaign with American Forests provides us a unique opportunity to make a greater, global ecological contribution, and is perfectly timed with both Earth Day and Arbor Day in April,” explains Michael Beaulac, Winemaker and General Manager of Pine Ridge Vineyards. This campaign was born out of Pine Ridge Vineyard’s steadfast commitment to preserving the environment and their recognition of the importance trees have to the overall health of the global community. As reported by American Forests, healthy trees reduce the buildup of greenhouse gases, contribute significantly to energy savings and improved air quality, help improve water quality, and reduce storm water flows. Studies have shown that every $1 invested in urban trees results in $2-4 in benefits from lowered energy costs, reduced storm water flows, improved aesthetics, higher air quality, and reduced carbon dioxide concentrations. “We are delighted to team up with Pine Ridge Vineyard’s Buy a Bottle, Plant a Tree Campaign,” says Scott Steen, CEO of American Forests. “This creative, new partnership will contribute to American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program by planting trees in devastated forest areas, which will improve air and water quality, and provide vital wildlife habitat.” The Plant a Tree campaign will be on display in national retail locations where Chenin Blanc +  Viognier is sold.  For more information, visit www.pineridgevineyards.com, accessed directly via a dedicated QR code.

When: Sunday April 17, 2011 from 1-5pm Where: Wente Vineyards located at 5050 Arroyo Road in Livermore Valley, CA What: For Earth Day, the team at Wente Vineyards has created a full day celebration for guests to enjoy great food, wine, walking tours and live music.   Festivities include: Complimentary tours will be available for guests to get an in-depth look at the property. On-Site Garden Tour at 2, 3 and 4pm, led by Master Gardener Diane Dovholuk. Tour the recently re-awarded Audubon Sanctuary at The Course at Wente Vineyards at 2, 3 and 4pm. Enjoy live music throughout the day by local favorites. Designated activities for children including a place for kids to craft jewelry from recycled products and a worm composting station. Wente Vineyards will feature presentations detailing Sustainability at 1.30 and 3.30pm. Stroll through the beautiful grounds and enjoy dishes available through purchase from Catering with Wente Vineyards. Dine at The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards to enjoy a special three-course menu featuring garden ingredients priced at $42. Purchase tickets to taste six wines, two from each winery including Wente Vineyards, Tamas Estates and Murrieta’s Well.  Tickets are $15 per person and $10 for Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well and Tamas Estates Club Members and can be purchased at the event. Why: Earth Day is a time to reflect on promoting respect for life and encourage awareness for air, water and soil pollution.  Wente Vineyards is celebrating the day to highlight their ongoing sustainability efforts and green initiatives. For more information please contact Charles Communications Associates 415-701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com Wente VineyardsWente Vineyards, in its 127th year, is the country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery.  Greeting guests with warm hospitality, the winery is run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family.  Located in historic Livermore Valley less than an hour east

Pioneering Russian River Valley producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel will offer awards to five community gardens as chosen by online votes. Russian River Valley, CA - March 31, 2011:  DeLoach Vineyards, a certified organic and Biodynamic® producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel located in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, announced today the launch of its Garden to Table campaign in partnership with Organic Gardening Magazine. The campaign will award a total of $20,000 to five community gardens across the country that are working to improve the communities they serve. Fifteen different community gardens have been nominated to receive the award; wine and garden enthusiasts and supporters have been called to vote for their favorite five online at www.deloachcommunitygardens.com. DeLoach Vineyards, a leader in sustainable practices and organic and Biodynamic farming, is launching this campaign as part of its ongoing commitment to a healthy, sustainable lifestyle from garden to table, and to support the role of community gardens in promoting good living. More than 15 years ago, DeLoach converted its winery horse pasture into a half-acre garden of seasonally fresh produce that DeLoach chefs use to prepare meals for winery visitors and employees year round.  When the Boisset family purchased DeLoach Vineyards in 2003, it imbued the winery with a commitment to organic and Biodynamic farming, and the winery garden and estate vineyards received Biodynamic certification in 2009. In November 2010, DeLoach collaborated with the Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York to launch “Build a Garden in Brooklyn,” a project that supported the development of the Kingsborough Urban Farm that provides students the opportunity to grow and harvest healthy, organic produce. The new Garden to Table campaign with Organic Gardening Magazine is an extension of DeLoach’s effort to help educate a new generation about leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle—something they have been passionate about cultivating since the inception of the winery. The 2011 Garden to Table Award Nominees include the following community gardens: ·       Ocean View Farms in Los Angeles, CA ·       Solano Gardens in Los Angeles, CA ·       Long Beach Community Gardens in Long Beach, CA ·       Hayes Valley Farm in San Francisco, CA ·       Alemany Farms in San Francisco, CA ·       Three Brothers Garden in Chicago, IL ·       The Peterson Garden Project in Chicago, IL ·       Roots In The City in Miami, FL ·       Boca Raton Community Garden in Boca Raton, FL ·       The Magnuson Community Garden in Seattle, WA ·       Marra Farm in Seattle, WA ·       Lake Highlands Community Garden in Dallas, TX ·       Center for Growing People in Dallas, TX ·       The Last Organic Outpost in Houston, TX and ·       Denver Urban Gardens in Denver, CO The top five gardens that receive the most votes will be awarded the prize and will be announced in the October/November 2011 issue of Organic Gardening. Voters are encouraged to go to www.deloachcommunitygardens.comto help make a positive impact on communities in need. Here, they can view videos from each nominated garden and vote for the garden they feel will benefit most from winning a grant. DeLoach has created a special retail element to accompany the contest. Bottles of DeLoach wine will be adorned with a necker that includes a QR code that will allow consumers to instantly link to the contest microsite through their smart phones, where they will be able to view the garden videos and vote for their favorite. The necker also offers a coupon for $2 off of fresh produce with the purchase of any DeLoach Vineyards wine. Please click here to hear about the DeLoach community garden campaign from Jean-Charles Boisset, President of Boisset Family Estates.

Sonoma, CA– Committed to environmental sustainability year-round through Biodynamic® and sustainable farming practices, eco-friendly packaging, and carbon-neutrality, Benziger Family Winery celebrates Earth Day this year by giving back to their local environment and vineyard worker community. Nationally, consumers can celebrate Earth Day with Benziger at key retailers by sampling “green flights” of wine. Benziger Family Winery family members, staff and friends will roll up their sleeves and spend a few hours beautifying nearby Jack London State Park by picking up trash and tending to the garden. Last year, a group of dedicated volunteers worked together to lay a brand new gravel path in the park. In addition to expressing appreciation for the environment, Benziger Family Winery will also dedicate 100% of net tasting room profits on Earth Day to the local farm worker community for the fifth annual year through Sonoma Valley’s La Luz Center/Vineyard Worker services, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing the Sonoma Valley farm worker community assistance with housing, employment, health and social services, legal support, transportation and support groups.  “On Earth Day, we want to give back and pay tribute for those who tend to the Earth everyday,” said Benziger. Benziger enthusiasts nationally can celebrate Earth Day with Benziger Family Winery through a sampling program entitled “Every day is Earth Day with Benziger,” which is being sponsored by the family’s distributor, Kobrand Corporation. Tastings will occur at key retailers and on-premise accounts across the country. For more details and a complete listing of dates and locations for the “green flights” please visit www.benziger.com/earthday. About Benziger Family Winery: Leaders in Biodynamic®, organic and certified-sustainable farming, Benziger Family Winery is dedicated to crafting authentic wines that are true to the grape variety, vintage and vineyard. They believe that natural and carefully cultivated farming yields wines with more flavors, aromas and site-specific character. Farming in this capacity commands the enthusiasm of an entire team devoted to a singular passion: Sonoma County Winegrowing. For more information, images, or interviews with Benziger family members, please contact Charles Communications Associates 415-701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com

La Festa di Pasqua in Italy is such a family affair, most families pack up a picnic lunch after Easter services and head off to the country to enjoy the sunshine after enduring the damp cold winter season.   In tribute, Bar Bambino’s Executive chef Lizzie Binder has devised a northeastern Italian brunch menu highlighting classic spring recipes of the Tyrolean and Friulian regions.   Please come and enjoy a three course prix-fixe feast from which there will be options to choose including among others: a pea, artichoke and green garlic Easter pie, buckwheat waffles with marscapone and elderberry syrup; a lamb shank and barley braise with a riced egg and torn mint; horseradish crusted Steelhead with roasted Easter radish and fava beans and the famed dolci of pastry chef Alyce Shields. The menu will be offered Sunday April 24th 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: Triestine Easter soup of sauerkraut, speck and bean or Pea, artichoke heart and green garlic savory pie or Buckwheat waffles with mascarpone and elderberry syrup II Choice of: Lamb shank and barley braise topped with riced egg and torn mint or Nettle malfatti with lemon brown butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano or Horseradish crusted Steelhead with roasted Easter radish and fava bean salad III Choice of: Three perfect cheeses accompanied by dried fruits and nuts ($5 supplement) or Bar Bambino Ice Cream Sandwiches: house-made pizzelle with seasonal sorbetto or Potica of poppy seeds, walnuts and honeycomb 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.

Forest Grove, Oregon- America’s premium saké company, SakéOne will hold its annual kura blessing, this Saturday, March 26th. The symbolic spring ceremony with ancient Shinto roots is designed to cleanse the brewery for the year to come. This year, the ceremony will serve as a fundraiser for Mercy Corps’ efforts in Japan for victims of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan’s Northern shores on March 11. “After the tragic events that took place in Japan last month, we thought really long and hard about the best way possible we could contribute to relief efforts already working on the ground in Japan” said SakéOne Vice President of Marketing Dewey Weddington, “The annual kura blessing which we have celebrated for thirteen years, will be the first of several of our endeavors to bring our community together through compassion and cultural understanding to support the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. It is crucial for us to support our friends and colleagues in Japan during this very tragic time.” Admission to the kura blessing is free and will be open to the public. There will be a table with Mercy Corps information and a Mercy Corps representative will be on site to answer questions on their efforts in Japan. Guests can donate via cash, check or credit card and donations will go directly into the non-profit organization’s system. Additionally, the tasting room will donate 10% of sales over the weekend and will set up a “Fill the Sakétini Jar” in to encourage donations. Donors of $3 or more get a sakétini in appreciation for their support. The event is the first in a string of several humanitarian efforts the brewery is planning.  For more information on contributing to relief efforts through SakéOne, please visit the Mercy Corps’ SakeOne community for Japan web site. In addition to contributing to relief efforts, the community event has always served to raise awareness of Japanese culture in the local community. The Shinto ceremony will be presided over by the Reverend Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Granite Falls, Washington. Barrish will perform the traditional ceremony in both Japanese and English, tossing rice and splashing saké in the brewery’s corners to cleanse it of lingering evil spirits, in hopes that the offering of saké will allow them to leave happily. Following the ceremony, guests can enjoy sake, classic izakaya-style snacks from Miho Izakaya of north Portland and a thunderous taiko performance by Takohachi, a local Japanese drumming and dance group. The event will be held at SakéOne’s brewery at 820 Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon. For more information please contact 1-800-550- SAKE. To view video of 2010 kura blessing video, please click here. About SakeOne SakéOne is an importer of Japan’s finest sakés and is America's premium saké company. Founded in 1992, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing, spirits and winemaking mecca. 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 undoubtedly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly defined Oregon craft saké.  Insert SakeOne website link here. For media information and interviews, please contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.

Oregon based SakéOne Urges the Beverage Industry to Rally for Japan Relief Forest Grove, Oregon– As the restaurant and beverage community among many other groups rally to support relief efforts in Japan, Oregon craft saké brewer and importer SakéOne  has undertaken several initiatives to help with relief efforts. SakéOne is calling upon the wine industry to be of support. Wineries in particular have a strong affinity with Japan on many levels particularly given that both brewers and wineries are reliant on nature for their existence and sustenance.  In addition, many wineries have enjoyed a strong trade relationship with Japan over the years, and given the already charitable nature of the industry, here is an urgent cause to rally around. One particular direct channel that many can support immediately is Mercy Corps http://www.mercycorps.org/ which exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities around the globe.   They have created an alliance with Peace Winds in Japan http://www.peace-winds.org/en/ which has offered critical support for people in need since 1996 and has teams working on the ground now.   Mercy Corps and SakéOne have had a sustained partnership over time, and therefore companies and individuals can be of immediate support by going to www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/sakeonecommunityfor japan.com.  SakéOne President Steve Vuylsteke states, “ I am asking the wine community in the United States to join me and SakéOne in assisting the relief effort by contributing what you can to Mercy Corps- our friends and their community in Japan need our help more than ever now,” he said,  “On top of the devastating daily findings, the cultivation of rice for eating and brewing has been compromised in many areas and many sake breweries have been severely damaged or lost.   Imagine if a tragedy of this magnitude hit the area and communities of our wineries, we would want our community and others to be of support.” An additional fundraising opportunity for Portland area residents will occur on Saturday, March 26th at the traditional spring kura blessing, a Shinto ceremony, presided over by the Reverend Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Granite Falls, Washington.   An important ceremony celebrated in the spring, this annual event will feature a Mercy Corps representative this year who will be taking donations on site.  The event will be at SakéOne’s brewery at 820 Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon. For more information please contact 1-800-550- SAKE. In addition, SakéOne’s tasting room in Forest Grove will donate 10% of the sales this upcoming weekend to Mercy Corps with a “Fill the Sakétini Jar” whereby donors of $3 or more get a complimentary sakétini for their generosity.   In the Portland area, SakéOne’s home market, the company will be donating product to three local fundraisers as well as provide product, staffing and marketing support to an upcoming event entitled “KANPAI! - Empty Your Glass for Japan” on May 1st. The event is being organized by local saké by local sake enthusiasts and professionals in coordination with Mercy Corps.   The events will feature music, food, saké and a silent auction. For more information about “KANPAI! - Empty Your Glass for Japan,” please visit http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/kanpai On April 21st in New York City, SakéOne together with Ambassador Wine & Spirits will hold a fundraiser tasting with Greg Lorenz, Sakémaster at SakéOne wherein he’ll speak about the education he received to craft Oregon saké from Yoshinogawa and Momokowa Brewing Japan both of whom trained him extensively at the kura in Forest Grove.  Ambassador is donating 10% of sales to relief efforts and more details will be forthcoming.  In the meantime, for more information on the Portland and New York fundraisers, please contact Dewey Weddington at dewey-weddington@sakeone.com or 1-503-357-7056 x 242 or cell 503-310-1988. SakéOne is an importer of Japan’s finest sakés and is America's premium saké company. Founded in 1992, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing, spirits and winemaking mecca. 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 undoubtedly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly defined Oregon craft saké. For media information and interviews, please contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.

Graton, CA - March 22, 2011: Sonoma Wine Company (SWC),the dynamic and fast-growing custom winery services company, announced today the promotion of Mark Castaldi to General Manager of their American Canyon facility. SWC will be implementing a significant expansion program at the America Canyon facility over the next few months to expand both bottling and crush capacities. This expansion required the leadership and oversight of someone capable of providing strategic direction and executing productivity and process improvements. Castaldi, with over 25 years of experience in the food, beverage, and wine industries and a proven tenure of senior level executive management positions, was a natural choice for the position. [caption id="attachment_819" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Mark Castaldi"][/caption] Castaldi, who holds a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics, has prior experience in the food industry that includes Strategic Planning, Financial Analysis, and Operations Analysis with several multi-national and globally branded packaged food companies. For the past 11 years, he has held several senior level Operations Management positions which have included General Manager, Vice President of Operations, and COO within the wine industry. His tenure in the industry has included the following companies: Beringer Wine Estates, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, Icon Estates, and most recently Sonoma Wine Company. In addition, he’s provided private consulting services for several large winery clients. He has already proven himself to be a dynamic addition to the SWC team. His current role at SWC has been focused on providing overall strategic direction for the company with regards to facility utilization, fee structure/client relationships, services provided, and new business ventures. As General Manager of SWC’s American Canyon custom crush, bottling, and storage facility Castaldi will have direct supervisory responsibility over day-to-day operations. The expansion plans that he will directly manage include the addition of 500,000 additional gallons of stainless steel bulk wine storage capacity, amplification of barrel storage and processing capabilities, doubled crush capacity, increased bottling volume, and a partnership with Winesecrets to offer wine filtration services. The creation of this new partnership with Winesecrets further enhances SWC’s portfolio of services that they are able to offer to clients at one centralized location. This announcement and plans for growth follows a period of rapid expansion for SWC. This past November they were internationally recognized for the installation of a revolutionary solar cogeneration system—further evidence of their commitment to leadership in sustainability within the wine industry. Just this month, they were awarded ISO 22000 certification at the American Canyon facility, the prestigious international standard of food safety in the ISO quality management series, becoming the first US winery to ever do so.

Bar Bambino announces spring 2011 schedule and opening plans for Pronto Café & Bakery at the ODC Theater in May 2011 Fans of San Francisco’s Bar Bambino restaurant have much to look forward to this spring with the May 22nd opening of its sister Pronto by Bar Bambino café, bakery and kiosk at the newly renovated $9 million ODC theater at 17th and Shotwell Streets.   Selected by the board of the ODC to be the featured partner for their food and beverage operation, Pronto by Bar Bambino will accent light dining, offering breakfast, lunch and light dinner 7 days a week from 7 AM to 8 PM. The café will have seating for 20 inside and heated outdoor seating for an additional 25-30 and will feature a menu of baked treats, panini, bruschette, salads, soups, egg dishes (including Bar Bambino’s poached eggs with truffle salt and Parmigiano-Reggiano), and many of the popular items on the current lunch menu at Bar Bambino.  Also available for “grab-and-go” lunch will be Boxed Lunches which include one of four seasonal choices of panini (currently, tuna and olive tapenade with lemon aioli; roasted beet and fresh cucumber with fromage blanc and walnut pesto; roasted chicken with fontina & carmelized onion; or ham and Montasio cheese with horseradish kraut and grainy mustard), a salad of the day and a trio of homemade cookies for $12. Beverage offerings will feature local, organically produced draft wines, a small value-oriented bottle selection from the main wine list at Bar Bambino, a rotating selection of draft beers from local and European artisan brewers, and non-alcoholic choices featuring Brooklyn Soda Company selections, Bionade from Germany among others.  Expanding on Bar Bambino’s well-regarded coffee program, Pronto will continue to feature coffees by local micro-roaster Sightglass Coffee that will be made on San Francisco’s second (the first is, of course, at Bar Bambino) Kees van der Westen espresso machine.  The beautiful espresso machine will be situated next to a take-out window on Shotwell Street for those wanting espresso drinks and other items on the fly as early as 7 AM.   Breakfast will feature the pastries of talented Bar Bambino pastry chef Alyce Shields. Just steps away from Bar Bambino, Pronto will be assuming the lunch service currently offered by the restaurant.   As proprietor Christopher Losa and Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder prepare for the café opening, lunch service will cease as of March 22nd at Bar Bambino. Losa states, “This is an exciting extension of our home restaurant and we want to dedicate our time and resources towards making the café and bakery the best it can be without impacting the quality we demand of the restaurant.   As we prepare for the opening, we will focus on our dinner service six nights a week at Bar Bambino, and invite our fans to come and enjoy many of their favorite lunch items at our new location in two months.” Bar Bambino will continue to offer Box Lunches and be available for private and catered events. In addition to the café space, a kiosk will operate in the lobby of the ODC Theater, which will help balance the demands of intermission for the 170-seat theater.  Both the kiosk and the café will feature Alyce Shields’ whimsical takes on movie theater concession treats such as popcorn with homemade caramel & peanuts; pate de fruits featuring combinations such as pomegranate-rosehip, blood orange-Sambuca, and Campari-citrus-thyme; bitter cocoa covered almonds; chocolate-dipped rye toasts; as well as warm homemade pretzels, a personal favorite of proprietor Losa.  The kiosk is designed to be portable for the needs of the ODC Commons Community Center just down the block. Architectural features Losa is again working with local favorite architects Aidlin Darling Design to design the interior of the already impressive theater makeover.  In keeping with the modernist design of the theater, the café will feature a simplified and clean design aesthetic and utilize technology-aggressive sustainable materials.  Losa and his designers are working hard to identify and integrate some of the latest materials that push the envelope of what is typically thought of as environmentally sustainable.  Losa and Aidlin Darling will again be collaborating with local crafts people and artists to execute key design features of the space. During the build-out of Pronto, to further explore the Tyrolean- and Friulian-Italian cuisine that is the focus at Bar Bambino, Chefs Binder and Shields and Losa will be taking a two week visit to Austria, Slovenia, and Italy.  They will be sampling the cuisine and wines of those regions for new recipe ideas and inspirations and discoveries for the ever-evolving wine list. About Bar Bambino Slightly off the path in San Francisco’s Mission District lies Bar Bambino, a neighborhood eatery that brings simple, elegant food and wine to the table while gathering together friends, family and friends-to-be.   Inspired by years of living in Europe, owner Christopher Losa has created a restaurant the San Francisco Chronicle has hailed as “a true oasis with a sexy, speakeasy vibe.”   Guests enjoy an unpretentious urban atmosphere at Bar Bambino. Embracing the idea that life is better around the table, Bar Bambino accents the cuisine of Northeastern Italy with its Tyrolean and Friulian influences via Central and Eastern Europe. Featuring locally and sustainably sourced produce and meats, house-made pastas and inspired desserts, Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder with her understated touch brings a lightness and elegance to traditional recipes.  Celebrating its fourth anniversary this April, Bar Bambino has garnered local and national accolades, repeatedly named as a San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 restaurant and one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s Top 10 Wine Bars in the nation. About ODC (ODC Dance, ODC Theater & ODC School) ODC, founded by Brenda Way in 1971, is a groundbreaking contemporary arts institution with longstanding roots in the San Francisco community. Considered the most active center for dance on the West Coast, theorganization is unique for its fully integrated arts vision and its complex and far-reaching impact. ODC/Dance was originally called Oberlin Dance Collective and moved to San Francisco from Ohio in 1976. Among the first contemporary American dance companies to return to virtuosic technique and social content in avant-garde dance, ODC has introduced a generation of dance fans to the art form.  Known throughout the world for its athleticism, passion and intellectual depth, ODC’s company of world-class dancers performs its iconic repertory for more than 50,000 people annually. The Company’s three resident choreographers, Brenda Way, KT Nelson, and Kimi Okada, are considered among America’s major contemporary choreographers and have created a dynamic movement vocabulary over the last three decades that has significantly influenced dancers and choreographers alike. ODC Theater, directed by Rob Bailis, has the distinction of being the oldest contemporary dance producing and presenting organization in San Francisco. Nationally recognized as a cultural landmark, the Theater’s mission is to empower and develop innovative artists. Today the Theater is home to: a thriving Artist in Residence Program; an award winning regional and national presenting program serving dance, contemporary music, opera, and performance art; a mentorship program for emerging professionals; a subsidized rental program for self-producing artists; and a major new statewide dance touring initiative called InnerState. ODC School and Rhythm & Motion, directed by Kimi Okada and Consuelo Faust respectively, hold over 230 classes a week for some 2000 professional, pre-professional, and recreational dancers of all ages with a range of training from modern and ballet to world dance and social dance. The School also includes off-site classes in the San Francisco Unified School District and its Pilot Program(co-sponsored with the Theater) annually selects and incubates emerging choreographers. Bar Bambino | 2931 16th St. | San Francisco, CA | www.barbambino.com For reservations and more information, contact Bar Bambino at 415 701 VINO (8466) For media inquiries, please contact Kimberly Charles at Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com

ARTISAN IS THE NEW QUALITY STANDARD Napa-based business and strategy consulting firm Scion Advisors releases groundbreaking report Napa Valley, CA- March 16, 2011: The American food movement has gone mainstream, where “artisan” has been re-established as the new standard of the highest in food quality. From the Food Network’s impressive 10 million viewers in 2010 to the rapidly growing number of food bloggers, everyone is talking about the new American food movement. Recognizing the absence of a comprehensive review, Napa-based business and strategy consulting firm Scion Advisors is pleased to announce the release of “Trend Watch 2011: An American Cultural Renaissance Propels New Food and Beverage Trends,” a far-reaching report that results from their years of experience across food and beverage industries. The report highlights the various social factors that are driving the new food movement, as well as market opportunities and new resources available to food and beverage producers. Artisan quality has truly transcended trend and gone mainstream, à la Martha Stewart’s recent article on HuffingtonPost.com, “Food is the new Fashion.” In the February 9th, 2011 article, Stewart compares Armani to Batali and coins the term “culinary vogue,” in reference to the many everyday cooks who are using sophisticated ingredients that have become increasingly more available in the last few years. “What’s in your pantry and on your plate have become a form of self-expression,” she said. Intrigued by this phenomenon is Scion Advisors’ Managing Director Deborah Steinthal, who came to know true artisan quality during her childhood in 1960’s Belgium.  Accustomed to seeing 1.5 liter bottles of Stella Artois being delivered to her family’s doorstep in the same quintessential metal carrier with the daily farm-fresh milk delivery, she experienced a major case of culture shock when she arrived stateside in the late 1970’s.  Introduced to a world of mass-produced wine, instant coffee, nutrient-lacking white breads and processed cheeses, she was unable to stomach this new cuisine, to say the least. Thirty years later, and much to Steinthal’s delight, “we are seeing great shifts in American values, culture and eating habits, it’s a flashback to my childhood in Europe,” she said. From America’s now 6,132 farmers markets to $6 cupcakes, to handcrafted beer and wine, gourmet food trucks, to a wave of celebrity chefs, our country is embracing food as a social product more than ever before. Reminiscent of the 12th century European Guild system, American artisan producers are apprenticing with European masters.” In their report, Scion Advisors states:  “the modern day artisan is a symbol for very high quality standards.” The modern day American artisan producer has not only become a master of the old traditions but is integrating new innovations. When asked how he defines the term artisan, renowned San Francisco brewing company Anchor Steam’s new owner Tony Foglio said, “Artisan is 100% style and 100% substance.” For consumers in fact, the experience with the product is as important as the story of how simple, locally produced ingredients from known sources are handcrafted into the best products on earth. With the United States undoubtedly in a recession, global market research company Nielsen reports that at home dining has soared, driving a national interest in cooking. This silver lining, combined with several social factors (growing eco-consciousness, the Michelle Obama and Wal-Mart all American healthy food pledge, food as art and fashion, and the health and nutrition concerns of aging baby boomers), has created a space for artisan companies to thrive. “Much of this new American food movement relates to the consumers’ fundamental need for safer, healthier and more authentic connections with their environment, people and food sources. There is certainly a back to the land movement well underway,” said Kimberly Charles, founder of San Francisco-based food and beverage creative communications agency Charles Communications & Associates. Grocers offering artisanal products such as Whole Foods can motivate shoppers to make purchasing decisions for reasons other than price. This is evident in Whole Foods’ nearly nine percent growth, while seven out of the top nine publicly reporting conventional supermarkets recorded negative same-store sales growth in the first half of 2010, according to a report conducted by Gerson Lehrman Group. Corporations like Starbucks have caught on. They are branding some of their beverages as “handcrafted” and are naming products “fruit and cheese artisanal platters.” Frito-Lay® recently launched “Tostitos® artisan recipes.” The next question is whether artisan brands can achieve scale and still maintain their high quality standards. Berkeley’s Peet’s Coffee, is possibly the most famous example of a privately held company-turned-nationally-acclaimed, publicly held corporation. Peet’s Coffee, established in 1966, has managed to remain true to the quality creed of its original founder. "We have eight roasters at Peet's. They have apprenticed and honed their craft for years, hand-roasting our coffees in small batches using their senses, not machines. We are dedicated to upholding the artisan tradition because it's our mission to bring distinctive, superior coffee to our customers," said CEO Pat O’Dea. From specialized ingredients to capital to build businesses, the new artisan producer today has access to more resources than ever before. "We have been encouraged to see several of our clients grow 10-20% during this period of economic upheaval," said Steinthal, “We have been helping these businesses position strategically to take advantage of these new trends. This requires careful understanding of each product's market opportunity as well margin and cash flow-generating potential,” said Steinthal, "Many artisan producers are facing important decisions: to grow or stay small; how to find growth capital; when and how to expand geographically.” About Scion Advisors Established in 2004, Scion Advisors are Napa-based business and strategy consultants in the food and beverage sectors, with strong origins in the wine industry. Passionate about providing clients with the means to drive strategy and achieve sustained financial success, Scion Advisors’ proven approach aids business leaders to successfully reposition, grow or prepare for exit. From hand crafted artisan products, to large-scale production for Fortune 500 companies, Scion Advisors has multifaceted experience with agriculturally based products that are marketed through consumer direct, restaurant, retail and distribution channels. Past and current clients include Benziger Family Vineyards, Delicato Family Vineyards, Diageo, Robert Mondavi Winery, Cowgirl Creamery, TastingRoom.com and Winetasting.com, among many others. For more information, please visit www.scionadvisors.com or contact Deborah Steinthal at Scion Advisors at: 707-246-6830 or: deborah@scionadvisors.com

For almost thirty years, San Francisco packaging design agency Michael Osborne Design has created some of the most memorable corporate branding and packaging design systems for renowned names in the food and beverage, wine and spirits and retail businesses. The timeless San Francisco design firm is thrilled to announce some of its significant business wins with Pacific Natural Foods, Precept Wines (Waterbrook) Trinchero Family Estates, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, California Wine Institute, Yosemite Conservancy and Wells Fargo. One of Michael Osborne Design’s newest partnerships is with award-winning natural and organic food and beverage company, Pacific Natural Foods. The Oregon-based company has chosen Michael Osborne Design to redesign the brand’s broth, soup and non-dairy beverage packaging in 2011. “As designers, we’ll be acting as stewards of a great brand, which already enjoys a large following. Our job will be to amplify the strong brand assets that are already there,” said Michael Osborne, president and director of Michael Osborne Design. Renewing a design relationship from the 1990s, Michael Osborne Design was recently called in for a complete redesign of an existing brand with Trinchero Family Estates (formerly Sutter Home Winery). Michael Osborne Design will also be responsible for the packaging design of a brand new Trinchero Family Estates label that has yet to hit shelves this year. In the past, Michael Osborne Design’s colorful label designs have been credited with attracting the emerging millennial demographic and contributing to significant incremental sales for the St. Helena, CA-based company. Michael Osborne Design was also recently appointed to redesign Precept Wines’ Waterbrook packaging design system. Two of the tiers, core-line and Melange are currently in stores, with the Reserve releasing in Q3. Waterbrook is located in the heart of the Walla Walla American viticultural area in Washington state and was in need of enhanced shelf presence that represented the quality of the wines, in conjunction with the opening of the new winemaking facility. Additional wine industry projects include logo redesigns for the California Wine Institute and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Association. Michael Osborne’s work is in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Created by Michael Osborne Design, “Alphabetilately” is the name of the current exhibit at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibit showcases more than 2,000 individual USPS artifacts and focuses on subjects concerning all aspects of the history of mail in the U.S. Michael Osborne's light, airy, Cass Calder Smith-designed studio is located in the iconic Potrero Hill, San Francisco neighborhood. The space speaks to the company’s design sensibility: Michael Osborne Design is known for its innovative and understated design for clients as diverse as gourmet foods and luxury cookware brand Williams-Sonoma to the U.S. Postal Service. Perhaps most familiar is the refreshingly simplistic Kettle Foods premium potato chips bags that Michael Osborne Design created in 2005. Effortless for retailers to stock and consumers to find, the nature-inspired packaging has allowed Kettle Chips to stand out in an otherwise omnipresent sea of busy potato chip packages. MOD has been Kettle Foods’ trusted packaging design agency ever since. About Michael Osborne Design Established in 1981, Michael Osborne Design is a leading San Francisco design agency specializing in branding and packaging design in food & beverage, wine & spirits and for retailers. Past and current clients include Allied Domecq, Brown-Forman, Driscoll’s, Fess Parker Winery, Kettle Foods, Safeway, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 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. 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. To view slide show, please visit: https://picasaweb.google.com/charlescomm/MODNewHitsRelease#

2011 Spring Calendar of Events: April - June Livermore Valley, CA – March 2011: This lineup of enticing upcoming events from Wente Vineyards offers many ways to celebrate the blossoming spring season. Art showings, special tastings, and family fun create opportunities to delight the tastes of every wine enthusiast. Activities for April through June include: APRIL Wente Vineyards Library Weekend April 2nd & 3rd Estate Winery Tasting Room Come out to Wente Vineyards Estate Winery and taste a variety of Small Lot and Nth Degree Wines from the Wente Vineyards Library. Artist Reception: Textiles by Denise Miller & Nancy Ryan April 10th from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. Estate Winery Tasting Room Local artists Denise Miller & Nancy Ryan will be displaying their fabulous textile creations at the Estate Winery Tasting Room on April 10th from 1:00-3:00p.m. Come meet the artists and sip on some lovely Wente Vineyards Wines. Exhibit will be on display through April 29th. MAY Winemaker’s Dinner May 12th from 6:30 – 9:30p.m. Vineyard Tasting Room Enjoy fine food and wine with Karl Wente, fifth generation winegrower. Karl, in the small lot winery, creates handcrafted special releases and takes this opportunity to pull out some special wines from the library for the evening. The gourmet four-course dinner and accompanying wine pairings present a unique and delicious chance to experience the best of Wente Vineyards. $89 Wine Club Members, $109 Public - Reservations Required Artist Reception: Photography by Karl Nielson May 15th from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. Estate Winery Tasting Room Local artist Karl Nielson will be displaying his photography at the Estate Winery Tasting Room on May 15th from 1:00-3:00p.m. Come meet the artist and enjoy Wente Vineyards Wines. Exhibit will be on display through May 31st. 39th Annual Art in the Vineyard May 29th from 11:00 – 5:00p.m. Estate Winery Tasting Room Soak up the beautiful setting of the Estate Winery while enjoying inspired art demonstrations and the works of the Livermore Valley's most talented artists. Wine tasting and food booths make the day complete. Wine tasting is $10 for Wente Vineyards & Tamás Estates club members and $15 for public, includes a commemorative glass. JUNE Wente Wednesday Every Wednesday from 5:00 – 8:00p.m. Estate Winery Tasting Room Satisfy your cravings at Wente Vineyards as dusk descends each Wednesday evening throughout the summer. Artist Reception: Watercolors by Judy Rice June 5th from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. Estate Winery Tasting Room Local artist Judy Rice will be displaying her watercolor masterpieces at the Estate Winery Tasting Room on June 5th from 1:00-3:00p.m. Guests will meet the artist and taste some fabulous Wente Vineyards Wines. Exhibit will be on display through June 3oth. Father’s Day Washer Tournament June 19th from 12:00 – 4:00p.m. Estate Winery Tasting Room Join other wine lovers thirsting for a fun day of friendly competition as teams of two play the original Washer game. 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. Helpful addresses: Estate Winery Tasting Room | 5565 Tesla Road | Livermore, CA | 925.456.2305 Vineyard Tasting Room | 5050 Arroyo Road | Livermore, CA | 925.456.2405 For more information about upcoming events, visit wentevineyards.com. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact Charles Communications Associates at 415.701.9463 or email Samantha Kane at press@charlescomm.com. # # #

International quality management and food safety certification raises the bar on quality services GRATON, CA March 7, 2011- Sonoma Wine Company’s (SWC) American Canyon winery received ISO 22000 certification last week making them the first US winery to achieve ISO 22000, the international standard of food safety in the ISO quality management series.  “Quality management systems streamline operations, reduce costs and stimulate innovation in operational practices” says Dennis Carroll, President of Sonoma Wine Company.  “It is about continuous improvement and best business practices, hot button topics that dovetail nicely with our sustainable business goals” adds GM, Ed Silva. With the exception of larger wineries that have active import and export programs, the US wine industry by and large has not complied with international standards for quality management certifications. SWC, as the largest contract winery service provider on the north coast, is positioning itself to offer contract services to wine producing countries that look favorably on these certifications or, in the case of Australia for example, require certification in order to receive and package their bulk wine. “There is a business opportunity for us to attract import bulk-to-bottle programs from countries whose import programs are at a disadvantage due to exchange rates. Shipping bulk is more efficient and can be more cost effective than shipping finished cased goods,” notes Natasha Granoff, Director of Business Development.  “And it is equally attractive from a lower carbon footprint perspective.” This certification is further demonstrative of SWC’s industry leadership in best business practices, environmental stewardship, and sustainability. It follows a year rich with impactful milestones for SWC, including the installation of a groundbreaking solar cogeneration system at the Graton, California facility this past November. About Sonoma Wine Company Sonoma Wine Company provides unparalleled grape-to-bottle winemaking capabilities in Northern California.  The integration of custom winery services offers one-stop-shopping for virtual and existing wineries including crush to-bottle, tank and barrel storage and services, box wine and keg wine filling, case goods warehousing, private label and direct to consumer fulfillment . Their Sonoma and Napa county facilities produce more than five million cases of wine annually for 30 clients.  Over the past few years, Sonoma Wine Company’s focus on resource conservation and efficiency resulted in significant reductions in water and fossil fuel use while garnering recognition from many agencies including PG&E and the EPA for establishing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory in 2005.

Produttori del Barbaresco Springtime Feature at Bar Bambino As part of an ongoing series in 2011 to showcase regional wine producers and cuisines within Italy, Bar Bambino is pleased to announce its Spring feature showcasing the highly regarded wines of Produttori del Barbaresco accompanied by a special a la carte menu with a Piemontese Alpine theme. Since nebbiolo ranks among the three noblest, age-worthy, nuanced and food-friendly grape varieties in the world, Owner Christopher Losa and Wine Director Collin Peter-Casey both have a long-standing love of these wines.  In particular, the wines of Produttori del Barbaresco are premiere examples of traditionally produced, elegant and finessed nebbiolo.  Kicking off their annual regional dinner series, seven of Produttori del Barbaresco's single vineyard riserva offerings from the 2004 and 2005 vintages will be offered at 50% off the regular wine list price. "With a wine program that focuses on the wines of northern Italy and Central Europe and showcases traditional producers working primarily with indigenous varieties, we enjoy introducing guests to unfamiliar varieties and traditional production methods," said Christopher Losa.   He decided that making Produttori del Barbaresco's sought-after wines more accessible from a price perspective was a great way to usher in Spring and to showcase the collaboration between Collin's palette and Lizzie's cooking. Date: March 21st - 26th, 2011 Details: 50% off wine list price of Produttori del Barbaresco wines. To compliment the wines, Chef Elizabeth Binder has created an a la carte menu of dishes inspired by the cuisine of Piedmont hill country and reflective of all of Alpine Italy. ***A la Carte Menu*** Fontuta of Piedmontese Alpine cheeses $12 Melted blend of Ruschera and Castemango, spiked with Gavi and served with a garlic-rubbed crostini Fricassee of snails and wild mushrooms $13 Sauteed hedgehog mushrooms and stewed snails finished with creme fraiche, chives, chervil and tarragon Tajarin all' Albese $15 Rich homemade pasta threads tossed with an earthy sauce of chicken liver and finished with Grana Padano Bollito Misto $26 Classic mix of beef, veal, and pork broiled in their natural jus; served with accompaniments of beetroot relish, horseradish cren, and salsa verde ***Wine List*** All wines offered in 750 ml Produttori del Barbaresco 04 Montefico $63 Produttori del Barbaresco 04 Montestefano $63 Produttori del Barbaresco 04 Pora $63 Produttori del Barbaresco 04 Rabaja $63 Produttori del Barbaresco 04 Rio Sordo $63 Produttori del Barbaresco 05 Montefico $58 Produttori del Barbaresco 05 Montestefano $58 Produttori del Barbaresco 05 Ovello $58 Produttori del Barbaresco 05 Pora $58 Produttori del Barbaresco 05 Rabaja $58 Produttori del Barbaresco 05 Rio Sordo $58 About Bar Bambino Slightly off the path in San Francisco’s Mission District lies Bar Bambino, a neighborhood eatery that brings simple, elegant food and wine to the table while gathering together friends, family and friends-to-be. Inspired by years living in Europe, owner Christopher Losa has created a restaurant the San Francisco Chronicle has hailed as “a true oasis with a sexy, speakeasy vibe”. Guests enjoy an unpretentious urban atmosphere at Bar Bambino.  Embracing the idea that life is better around the table, Bar Bambino accents the cuisine of Northeastern Italy with its Tyrolean and Friulian influences via Central and Eastern Europe.  Featuring locally and sustainably sourced produce and meats, house-made pastas, and inspired desserts, Executive Chef Elizabeth Binder with her understated touch brings a lightness and elegance to traditional recipes. Opened 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. Bar Bambino | 2931 16th St. | San Francisco, CA | www.barbambino.com For reservations and more information, contact Bar Bambino at 415 701 VINO (8466) For media inquiries, please contact Kimberly Charles at Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com

The Wente Family Celebrates Third Annual Wente Family Estates Legacy Awards Livermore, CA – The Wente Family is proud to announce the winners of the third annual Wente Family Estates Legacy Awards, held on February 28, 2011 at the Restaurant at Wente Vineyards The two-day event commenced with the highly anticipated Legacy Awards Dinner, followed by the Legacy Awards Pro-Am at The Course at Wente Vineyards, and Distributor Council meeting to discuss goals and the outlook for 2011 and beyond. The awards are categorized based on distributor size, with Tier One selling the highest quantity. This year’s distributor winners in the Tier One category are: Glazer’s Distributors in Texas, Southern Wine & Spirits in Florida and Southern Wine & Spirits in New York. Tier Two awards, were awarded to Lauber Selections in New Jersey, Paustis Wine Company in Minnesota and Southern Wine & Spirits in Colorado. Tier Three distributors were g.housen in Vermont, Glazer’s Distributing in Iowa and Southern Wine & Spirits in Arizona. Special recognition was awarded to Charlotte, NC-based Tryon Distributing for Outstanding Portfolio Performance for Wente Family Estates. Equally notable were awards given in the importers category as Wente Family Estates has had a long history of exports around the globe. Wente Family Estates’ international importers Arion Wine Company in Aruba, Churchill Cellars in Toronto, ON and Global Wineries in Belgium won awards for most successful growth of Wente Family Estates’ wine portfolio. Lastly, Legacy Recognition Awards were presented to distributors that showcased outstanding sales performance for brands within the Wente Family Estates portfolio; Hayes Ranch (Glazer’s Distributors of Texas), Tamás Estates (Southern Wine & Spirits of New York) and Wente Vineyards (Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida). “The Legacy Awards honors top distributors and importers who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in distribution and successful wine portfolio growth.  As we celebrate our 128th year in business, we like to pay tribute to the people on the ground who help make our company the ongoing success it is,” said Carolyn Wente, CEO of Wente Family Estates. About Wente Vineyards Named a Top 30 wine company by Wine Business Monthly based on U.S. case sales, Wente Vineyards is also 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. Photography from the event is available and for any interviews or media assistance, please contact Kristin Namimoto at Kristin@charlescomm.com or 415/701-9463. -###-