(May 24, 2007) - Tickets are available for the 25th anniversary A Celebration of Wine on June 3, which will bring together representatives from 125 West Coast wineries offering tastes to 2,500 wine and food enthusiasts. It will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Rancho Vista del Rio, north of Madera.

The annual event is presented by the Fresno State Viticulture and Enology Alumni Association. Proceeds benefit the Vincent E. Petrucci Library at Fresno State, the university's Viticulture and Enology Research Center and the Department of Viticulture and Enology.

The library is named for a former professor, who played a major role in the development of the viticulture and enology programs at the university. The library, which is open to the public, is a resource for grape and wine research and education.
A future goal of the fundraiser is to support scholarships and assistantships for students within the department, organizers said.

Joining the wineries for the celebration on the banks of the San Joaquin River (on Golden State Boulevard, west of Highway 99 at the Avenue 7 offramp) will be more than 40 restaurants offering food tastes to accompany the wine. There also will be an exhibit by local artist Phyllis Neufeld and a silent wine auction, featuring many large-format bottles of wine. After 6 p.m., the Joe Lenigan Band will play and there will be dancing until dusk, accompanied by coffee and desserts. 

This year, the Fresno State Pavilion will feature the Fresno State Winery, which will provide a special one-of-a-kind large-format bottle of wine for the auction. Other food items produced on campus will be available for guests to sample, including sausages from the Meat Processing Unit, ice cream from the Dairy Processing Unit and yogurt-coated raisins and almonds, fruits and vegetables from the Fresno State Orchards. The Farm Market, which sells the products, will have displays at the event and will barbecue Fresno State foods. It also will offer a tasting of the award-winning Estate Reserve Olive Oil and of campus-produced ice cream. The campus Floral Lab will prepare arrangements.

Barrels Unlimited of Fresno will provide a cooperage demonstration and donate a commemorative 15-gallon barrel of wine featuring A Celebration of Wine's 25th anniversary logo to be auctioned off at the event.

Tickets are $70 per person (must be 21 years of age or older to attend. No children please) and are on sale at Eau de Vie, both locations of Old Doc's Liquors, Vino 100 and WineStyles, all in Fresno. They also may be purchased online at www.acelebrationofwine.com or by calling 559.244.5741.  

Related links:
Petrucci Library's online catalog - http://petruccilibrary.csufresno.edu/
Viticulture and Enology programs - http://cast.csufresno.edu/ve
Fresno State Winery -  www.FresnoStateWinery.com 
 
California State University, Fresno is the largest institution of higher education in Central California and has a growing reputation as one of the West Coast's premier universities. Founded in 1911, Fresno State has earned national acclaim for programs in teacher-preparation, health care, water technology, winemaking, entrepreneurship and the Classics. Guided by a distinguished faculty, our 22,000 students receive the academic, practical and leadership skills to meet the dynamic challenges of today and the future in the global community.