For Immediate Release
Rhonda Motil
MCVGA
831-375-9400
Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association Announces
the Seventh Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend
Wine enthusiasts invited to escape to Monterey County from November 7- 9, 2003
Monterey,CA- June 23, 2003 - The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association (MCVGA) is pleased to announce the upcoming seventh annual Great Wine Escape Weekend, November 7-9, 2003. Guests are invited to enjoy three days of autumn in beautiful Monterey County. The Great Wine Escape Weekend brings together winemakers, grape growers, hoteliers, restaurateurs and wine enthusiasts in this extravaganza. The event features activities that all will enjoy.
Friday evening begins the festivities with the ultimate in food and wine pairing as Monterey County vintners and chefs plan their menus together for Winemaker Dinners throughout Monterey County. A winery representative will be present at each dinner to share and discuss their vintages with each course served.
Saturday, November 8th, is the day to capture the essence of Monterey's Wine Country. Guests can enjoy a self-guided tour or a narrated bus tour of the many wineries that make up Monterey County's unique wine region. The wineries will be treating their visitors to something special; from barrel samples and tasty appetizers to music, entertainment, and games. After a fun-filled day of touring, the Hyatt Regency in Monterey will be the host for an additional wine tasting, a silent auction, and classical music. The fun continues on Saturday evening with winemaker dinners occurring throughout Monterey County.
"The 2003 Great Wine Escape Weekend plans are well underway," stated Tamara Weinstein, Events Director of MCVGA. "We're very excited about this year's event because we've emphasized the activities that sell out every year and that our guests always enjoy the most. Winemakers' Dinners have now been added to both Friday and Saturday. Over the past two years, we've experienced a significant increase in the number of guests coming to the event from a four hour radius. The scheduling made it difficult for some of them to arrive in time for the Friday night Winemaker Dinners. We believe that the addition of Saturday dinners will help all of our guests, both locals and visitors, to enjoy the wonderful experience of food and wine pairings with the experts. The addition of a silent auction at the Hyatt tasting on Saturday, and an exclusive barrel tasting on Sunday, are also sure to please our guests that want to take home a little bit of Monterey Wine Country with them. "
Sunday, November 10th, is another wine-filled day at the Inn at Spanish Bay! Pebble Beach is the perfect setting for this event as Monterey County winemakers and grape growers get together to discuss their world-class wines at this showcase event, The Great Wine Escape Finalé. This grand tasting will feature barrel samples, new releases, and reserve wines from over 35 Monterey County wineries. New in 2003 will be a barrel auction event for guests to bid on their favorite barrels! Local restaurants will provide their latest delicacies to complement this wine and food extravaganza.
Special Great Wine Escape Packages are available. For information and tickets, contact MCVGA at 831/375-9400 or order online at www.montereywines.org
About MCVGA
The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (MCVGA) brings together the talents and resources of members, partners and our community in order to promote and support our leadership in the art, the science and the business of wine. Founded in 1974, MCVGA is a non-profit organization representing over 65 vintners and growers in Monterey County. MCVGA can be reached by calling 831-375-9400 or visiting online at www.montereywines.org
