Entries Sought for California State Fair Wine Competition

SACRAMENTO, (April 18, 2007) - The California Exposition & State Fair today announced that it is now seeking entries for the 2007 Commercial Wine Competition. First held in 1855, the State Fair's wine competition, limited to California wines, is the oldest and most prestigiously judged wine event in North America. Last year brought a record number of entries with over 650 wineries participating in the competition.

Entry forms, fees, wine labels, and the wine itself may be submitted between April 30th and May 18th to Expo Center, Building 6, located on the grounds of Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Boulevard, Sacramento, CA.

The 2007 judging, which is open to the media, will take place June 15, 16 and 17 at Cal Expo, with announcement of the competition winners on Thursday, July 12 at the California Grape & Gourmet food and wine tasting event. The list of awards presented include "Best of Region," "Best of California," "Best Red, "Best White," "Best Value Wine," and the coveted "Golden State Winery of the Year Award." The winners will also be featured in the 2007 edition of California Wine magazine, scheduled for publication in August 2007. California Wine is perennially the definitive guide to the best California wines.

"The California State Fair Wine Competition is not only a ranking of the state's best wines as viewed by our judges, but also a reflection of the growing quality of wine as it continues to have a wide impact on all Californians, the nation, and the global marketplace," says Norb Bartosik, CEO of the California State Fair.

The California Grape & Gourmet will also feature more than 80 award-winning restaurants, the Fair's Gold Medal cheeses and award-winning micro-brews. This popular event, which is open to the public, is the largest wine tasting of award-winning California wines in the Golden State with more than 200 wineries participating. Visit the California State Fair website at www.bigfun.org for the most up-to-date ticket and event information. Fairgoers will also have the chance to taste top award winning wines at the California State Fair Wine Garden during the run of the 2007 State Fair, August 17th through Labor Day, September 3rd.

Commercial wineries may access a Competition Handbook and Entry Form by going on-line to www.bigfun.org. Interested parties may obtain additional competition information by calling the California State Fair Wine Department at (916) 263-3159.

The 2007 California State Fair will be held from August 17 to September 3, 2007 at Cal Expo in Sacramento, CA.



California Exposition and State Fair
Contact: Jessica L. Dunning - Media Manager
916-263-3237 or 916-416-0799
jdunning@calexpo.com