FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, October 1, 2009

A dozen different wine related events are scheduled during the 14th Annual Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine.  In fact, so many offerings have been scheduled that the for the first time in the event’s history, the “weekend of wine” has been extended to four days, beginning on Wednesday, November 4 and continuing through Saturday, November 7. 

Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or sip an occasional glass, there’s something for everyone who enjoys wine at the Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine.

The popular Grand Tastings at The Terrace Club at Progressive Field remain the centerpiece of this year’s Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine with Wine Tasting Seminars and Winery Dinners also returning to complement the lineup.  Several new offerings make this year’s World Series of Wine even more extraordinary: The “Season Opener,” a Winery Dinner at Sokolowski’s University Inn begins the festivities on Wednesday, November 4; a special reception with one of the wine world’s most notable names, Michael Mondavi, is scheduled prior to the Saturday evening, November 7 Grand Tasting; and a new “Double Header” ticket allows patrons to attend two Grand Tastings at a discounted rate. Also new this year:  for every pair of Grand Tasting tickets purchased, a year’s subscription to Wine Spectator Magazine will be provided free of charge.
The Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine benefits WVIZ/PBS, public television for Northeastern Ohio. 

THE GRAND TASTINGS & MORE:
Friday, November 6, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., $75 per person.
Saturday, November 7, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., $75 per person.
Saturday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., $75 per person.
All Held at The Terrace Club at Progressive Field

The Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine Grand Tastings are famous for the enormous variety of wine and lavish array of hors d’oeuvres that are offered.  The Terrace Club at Progressive Field transforms into a two story tasting room, where wineries from around the world showcase their best wines.  Whatever your preference and wherever your palate takes you, The Grand Tastings have it all.  Both major and minor wine producing regions are represented, and nearly 400 wines from 150 wineries are available.  Winemakers and their representatives will be on hand to share their knowledge and answer questions.

Admission includes samples of all wines, a souvenir Schott Zwiesel crystal wine glass, a bountiful display of taste-tempting hors d’oeuvres, a tasting program, and the opportunity to bid on a variety of wine-related items that will be available at a patrons-only Silent Auction. 

DOUBLE HEADER TICKET, New This Year
$125 per person.

The new Double Header ticket allows guests to attend the Friday evening Grand Tasting, and their choice of the Saturday afternoon or Saturday evening Grand Tasting.  This allows for even more exploration of the wines offered.  Guests may want to explore white wines at one Grand Tasting, reds at another.  Or they can conquer one floor of the Terrace Club on Friday night, and the second floor at one of the Saturday Grand Tastings. Purchasing the Double Header Ticket provides guests with a $25 savings over the purchase of two single tickets.

ALL STAR PRE-GAME TASTING with Special Guest Michael Mondavi,
New This Year.
Saturday, November 7, 6:30 p.m., $125 per person (includes admission to Saturday evening, November 7 Grand Tasting)
Champion Suite, Progressive Field

Held in the Champion Suite at Progressive Field just prior to Saturday evening’s Grand Tasting, this is an opportunity to meet and talk with Michael Mondavi, former CEO and Chairman of the Robert Mondavi Winery. Michael’s turned his talents to his new company, Folio Fine Wine Partners, and he’s bringing in some exciting, quality wines especially for this intimate gathering.

But that’s not all: during the All Star Pre-Game, attendees can sip and savor the evening’s Connoisseurs’ Table selections at no additional cost. These are special wines that will be offered later in the evening to Grand Tasting patrons at an additional “per taste” cost, and they will be poured at no additional cost during the Pre-Game Tasting. The All Star Pre-Game ticket includes the reception and your admission to the Saturday evening, November 7 Grand Tasting.

WINERY DINNERS

The taste-filled Winery Dinners return to the Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine on Thursday, November 5, but new this year is a Winery Dinner on Wednesday, November 4 that is designed to celebrate some of the best things our region has to offer. 

Wednesday, November 4 at 7 p.m., The Season Opener (new this year)
$75 per person
Sokolowski’s University Inn
1201 University Rd.
Cleveland, 44113 (Tremont)
$75 per person

This year, The Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine kicks off on Wednesday, November 4 at 7 p.m. with its “Season Opener” at Sokolowski’s University Inn, a haven for Polish-style comfort food since it opened in 1923.  The five course feast will be filled with Sokolowski’s famous comfort food flavors and complemented by wines from some Ohio’s finest producers, including Debonne, Ferrante, Firelands, Harpersfield and Markko. 

Winery Dinners
Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m.
Held at Fire Food and Drink (13220 Shaker Square, Cleveland, OH 44120)
and Luxe Kitchen and Lounge (6605 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102)
$150 per person ($50 tax deductible per person)

An exceptional evening of gustatory greatness is in store as two of Northeast Ohio’s finest restaurants, Fire Food and Drink on Shaker Square, and Luxe Kitchen and Lounge in the West Side’s exciting Gordon Square Arts District, celebrate the Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine by presenting an evening of outstanding wine and fine cuisine.  You’ll partake in a multi-course, gourmet feast while visiting winemakers or their representatives help you discover how and why their wines pair perfectly with each course! 

At Fire, Michael Mondavi (Folio Wine Partners) and Jose Manuel Ortega Fournier (O. Fournier Winery Group) will be on hand to talk about their wines.

Luxe will feature the wines from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Nine North Wine.  Tim Clark, National Wine Educator for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Chuck Easley, National Sales manager from Nine North will pour and talk about their wines. 

WINE TASTING SEMINARS
Saturday, November 7
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Public Square

This is the place to sample some remarkable wines and vintages, many not widely available. Experts lead these fun and flavor-filled seminars and share their knowledge and love of wine.

The following two seminars will occur at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 7:

Seminar #1, Champagne Stunners, $60 per person.
Tasted are some wonderful tete cuvees from the cellars of Perrier-Jouet and G. H. Mumm: 1999 Perrier-Jouet ‘Fleur’ Brut; 2002 Perrier-Jouet ‘Fleur’ Rose; 2000 Perrier-Jouet ‘Fleur’ Blanc de Blanc; NV Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose; NV G. H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Rose; and 1998 G. H. Mumm Cuvee Rene La Lou. Ed Thompkins, Wine Buyer from Heinen’s, presents.

Seminar #2, The Bordeaux (and more) Seminar, $100 per person.
This year’s “Great Estate” tasting led by Heidelberg Distributing Company president and Bordeaux importer Daniel Greathouse will combine a blind tasting, some bubbles, a special guest and an estate profile of Chateau Valandraud, a wine far more rare than Bordeaux’s first-growths.

The following seminars will occur at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 7
Seminar #3, Michael Mondavi – A Napa Legend’s New Frontier, $60 per person.
Robert Mondavi’s oldest son, Michael, leads a seminar of his new Folio Wine Partners Cabs including Oberon, Emblem, Oberon Hillside Reserve, and M by Michael Mondavi. The just-harvested grapes from those same vineyards are being flown in especially for this event.

Seminar #4, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Vineyard and Vertical Tasting, $60 per person.
A rare opportunity to taste multiple vintages (1995, 2001 and 2005) of the Cabernets from Stag’s Leap Cellars’ most famous vineyards: Fay Vineyard and SLV Vineyard. Tim Clark, National Wine Educator for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, presents.

Seminar #5
Quinta Do Portal Ports, $60 per person.
This seminar offers a dramatic example of the two styles of Port aging as four decades of Tawny Port and two Vintage Ports from the house of Quinta Do Portal are tasted.  Pedro Branco, owner of Quinta Do Portal will his pour his 10, 20, 30 and 40 Year Tawny Port and his Portal 2003 and Portal 2007 Portos.

The following cooking demonstration/wine seminar is held “On Location” at The Viking Store at Legacy Village, Saturday, November 7 at 1 p.m. $60 per person.

Italian Food and Wine Tasting
Italy has long been a gastronomic capital of the world. In this food and wine demonstration/ feast, Chef Adam Wilson prepares five courses of Italian favorites while Certified Wine Educator Gary Twining presents a stunning array of some fabulous Italian wines.  Best of all, guests get to taste it all! 

Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino are the Official Water Sponsors of the Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine.  The event receives promotional support from Cleveland Magazine, 90.3 WCPN and Majic 105.7 and is made possible by the continued support of area wine distributors including:  55 Degrees, Cutting Edge Selections, European Wine Imports, Inc., Euro Fine Wines, Glazers of Ohio/The Hammer Company, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Private Reserve, RC Distributing Company, Superior Beverage Group, Vanguard Wines, LLC, Vintage Wine Distributor, Wine Trends, WineBeerImports.com and Wines LLC.