Prager Port Works Answers the Question:
What to Do This Memorial Day?
 Raise a toast to summer with two new ports -- one red, one white

St. Helena, CA, March 14, 2007- Prager Winery & Port Works announces its Annual Memorial Day Open House Celebration, which coincides with the release of two new Prager ports, one red and one white. 
 
"Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity for us to welcome back old friends, make new ones, and share what's new at Prager with all of them," according to John Prager. "Our customers look forward to this event all year long."
 
Everyone is invited to join the Prager family in raising a toast to summer.  The festivities will take place on the lawn and patio overlooking the family's estate vineyards and lovely flower gardens in St. Helena, May 26-27.  Visitors can look forward to sunny skies typical of the season and to tastings of the newly released Aria and Royal Escort Ports.  The family will serve up nibbles for pairing with port, too, including fresh local strawberry-goat cheese poppers, nuts, cheeses and, of course, chocolate. 
 
The first new release to be celebrated is Prager's newly released 2003 Aria, a seductive white port made from Napa Valley Chardonnay grapes and named after a Prager grandchild.  The port aged in three years in small oak cooperage, where it developed aromas of fresh pear, caramel apple, vanilla, and toasted hazelnut.  Ideal as an aperitif, Aria also pairs nicely with creamy soups, shellfish, and crème brûlée.
 
Prager's 2004 Royal Escort will share the spotlight this Memorial Day weekend. "The 2004 Royal Escort is rich, full bodied and tasty," says Peter Prager, port maker.  The port aged in wood for 2 1⁄2 years where it developed aromas of spiced cherries, boysenberries, cedar and plums.  Those flavors were enhanced by carefully balancing the sugar and acid in the wine, a Prager port-making trademark.  The grapes are harvested at a lower brix and with higher acid, resulting in a full-bodied red port that is less sweet than most.  This technique allows the bright fruit flavors so typical of California ports to shine.

At their family winery, the Pragers have produced ports and welcomed visitors since 1979.  Stepping onto their tidy property tucked into the vineyards just outside St. Helena is like stepping back into Napa Valley history.  Prager Winery & Port Works evokes a time when making wine was about improving the quality of life rather than buying into architectural splendor and wine country glitz.

The Prager family also produces Noble Companion Tawny port made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, Tomas Port made from rare Portuguese Touriga and Tinta Cao grapes and named after another grandchild, as well as a Petite Sirah table wine.  Their dessert wines, Madeline and Sweet Claire, are also named after grandchildren.

Prager Wines and Ports are available at the tasting room at 1281 Lewelling Lane in St. Helena, from their Web site at www.pragerport.com, and at select retail stores.  There is a $10 charge for the Memorial Day tasting; those enrolled in the Prager Port Club taste for free.  Tasting hours are 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.