State Fair to Host Nation's Largest Tasting
of Award-Winning California Wines
Sacramento Magazine and the California State Fair Proudly Present One Of
The Most Prestigious Wine And Food Tasting Events - California's Grape & Gourmet

Individual Tickets, Groups Sales & Fundraising Opportunities Now Available
 
SACRAMENTO, CA (May 8, 2006) - The countdown has begun to California's preeminent wine event. The tenth annual California Grape & Gourmet will be held on Thursday, July 13 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Cal Expo's Buildings A and B and will be the largest showcase of award-winning California wines in the world. The annual fundraising event will feature winning wines from the 2006 California State Fair wine competition, which is the oldest and most prestigiously judged wine competition in the nation.
 
The public is invited to attend the California Grape & Gourmet on Thursday, July 13, from 5:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. at Cal Expo Buildings A and B. Advanced tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased online until noon on July 13 at www.bigfun.org, or by calling the Cal Expo Box Office at (916) 263-3049.  Tickets will also be sold at the door for $60. Parking is $7. Discounted group rates are also available for parties of 10 or more.
 
This year's California Grape & Gourmet will showcase more than 600 medal-winning California wines from more than 200 of California's prestigious wineries and vineyards. The exquisite collection of wine will be complimented by fabulous food from 80+ of Northern California's award-winning restaurants and food purveyors. Attendees will enjoy unlimited food and wine tasting, as well as free commemorative wineglasses. Top medal-winning wines will also be available for purchase by the bottle.
 
"We're expecting well over 230 California award-winning wines, 80 restaurants from around Northern California, 25 microbreweries and over 3000 consumers enjoying this event," says G.M. "Pooch" Pucilowski, Chief Judge of the California State Fair Wine Competition.  "We are excited and looking forward to another great year."
 
"Pooch" - a Wine Educator and Consultant - has managed the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition for the last 20 years and teaches wine classes in Sacramento.
 
The event will be a complete showcase of California culture with live musical entertainment, an array of fine foods and delicacies, award-winning microbrews and cheeses, and much more.
 
Several of the top 40 wines from the 2006 competition will also be available for sale with proceeds going to the non-profit Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program. This is the only opportunity to purchase these wines before they are released to the Fair public.
 
The Friends of the California State is planning to give away more than $35,000 in scholarships to top California students this year. The volunteer group raises a substantial portion of its annual giving budget at the Grape & Gourmet event.
 
The 2006 California State Fair will run from August 11 - September 4.  Award-winning wines from the Grape & Gourmet Event will also be showcased during the California State Fair in the Albertson's Wine Country.

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Amber Bagwell - Media Center Director
916-263-3237 direct phone
916-263-5823 media fax
abagwell@calexpo.com