2006-04-28
7th Annual Merlot in May at Sterling Vineyards
The 7th Annual Merlot in May® at Sterling Vineyards® being held on Friday, May 12, from 2 to 5 p.m., at host winery, Sterling Vineyards, in Calistoga. The most comprehensive Merlot consumer tasting event if its kind, Merlot in May offers a global array of 130 domestic and international Merlot wine producers pouring over 200 distinctive Merlots in one festival setting. General admission tickets are $45 dollars and are available for online purchase through May 11 at www.sterlingvineyards.com or by calling 1-800-709-7667.
“Interest in Merlot in May has grown exponentially in the past seven years. Merlot producers see this event as a way to unite and showcase this versatile and well-respected wine variety,” said Vice President of Winemaking for Sterling Vineyards, Mike Westrick. “In 2005 Merlot received a bum wrap in the movie Sideways. It, however, was a movie, and the fact remains that Merlot is one of the most popular wines by-the-glass in restaurants, outselling Pinot by nearly ten to one.”
Merlot in May at Sterling Vineyards will once again offer food preparation demonstrations and other culinary treats to complement Merlots from wine regions around the world. In collaboration with Viking Range Corporation and the Gene Schick Company, Merlot in May features a Viking Festival Kitchen. Scheduled to present is Chef Joey Altman, featured locally on KRON’s Bay Area Café, who will demonstrate the preparation of a special Merlot paired entrée. In the wine tasting tent, regional food specialists offer a range of locally produced gourmet fare to sample.
The musical group, Back Burner Blues, will return to delight the audience with their unique mix of rocking and cooking. Members of the band, many of whom are noted Bay Area chefs and culinary professionals, will also participate in cooking demos in the festival kitchen.
Staged in a large festival tent overlooking the vines at Sterling Vineyards, Merlot in May has developed a reputation for a comprehensive wine tasting experience in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. This combination provides a unique draw for both wine lovers and vintners to sample the current vintages of some of the world’s great Merlots in one setting. Merlot in May 2005 hosted close to 1000 wine enthusiasts.
For more information, log onto www.sterlingvineyards.com or call Balzac Communications at (707) 255-7667. Merlot in May, coordinated by Balzac Communications and hosted annually by Sterling Vineyards, is dedicated to expanding the knowledge of, and appreciation for Merlot in the world wine community.
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