Contact: Lissa Rosenthal
office: 412-281-2681, cell: 412-952-6017
email: lrosenthal@pittsburghwinefestival.com
web: www.pittsburghwinefestival.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Whether an Oeno-phile, an “Oeno-it-all”
The 2008 Pittsburgh Wine Festival will be “Oenoverwhelming"!
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
PITTSBURGH, PA February 1, 2008--- The Pittsburgh Wine Festival announces tickets for the sixth annual event are now available at the Wine Festival website www.pittsburghwinefestival.com. The Pittsburgh Wine Festival will take place May 3-9, 2008. The Pittsburgh Wine Festival, which has been a sold out event every year, is presented by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Comcast.
The Pittsburgh Wine Festival will again bring the excitement of what has been called “One of the Top-10 Wine Festivals in the Country,” and hosts some of the world’s finest wine makers, wine educators and chefs for the oenophile and amateur alike.
The Pittsburgh Wine Festival is a weeklong event that starts on Saturday, May 3, 2008 with a dinner and live auction at The Carlton Restaurant and ends with the VIP and Grand Tasting events at Heinz Field on Thursday, May 8. This year, the Pittsburgh Wine Festival is delighted to announce that acclaimed chef, restaurateur, author and public television series celebrity Lidia Bastianich and former White house chef will be a featured guests during the 2008 Wine Festival.
2008 PITTSBURGH WINE FESTIVAL EVENTS WILL INCLUDE:
| - Opening Dinner and Live Auction at The Carlton Restaurant | May 3 |
| - Informative wine and food seminars | (TBA) May 6-8 |
| - Wine Dinners in local restaurants | May 4-7 |
| - Private Home Dinners | May 6-7 |
| - Signature VIP and Grand Tasting Main Event at Heinz Field | May 8 |
| - Slow Food Pittsburgh Wine Event | date tbd. |
VIP AND GRAND TASTING EVENTS AT HEINZ FIELD:
This year's VIP and Grand Tasting on Thursday, May 8 will be held at the beautiful Heinz Field East and West Club Lounges on Pittsburgh's North Shore. Over 100 of the finest wineries in the world will be in attendance at this event, pouring 300+ varieties of their most notable wines. In addition, a silent auction will feature incomparable wines to benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
Tickets to the signature VIP and Grand Tasting events draw more than 3,000 wine enthusiasts. Tickets to both events are currently available by phone or online. The December tickets promotion sold more than 200% from the previous year. People are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets early, as the event sells out fast.
VIP Tasting Event: Presented by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Comcast
May 8, 5:00 - 6:30 PM Tickets: $250 each (includes Grand Tasting Event).
Wineries from around the world will be serving special wines in addition to the wines that will be tasted during the Grand Tasting.
Grand Tasting Event: Presented by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Comcast. 6:30 - 9:00 PM. Tickets: $125 each
Over 150 wines from around the world will be presented.
Enjoy on-site PLCB stores with Chairman's Selections special purchases, exhibits and café. The Tasting Events are the best opportunity to try before you buy.
WINE FESTIVAL KICK OFF DINNER AND AUCTION MAY 3:
To commemorate the beginning of the 2008 Pittsburgh Wine Festival, a special Pre-Festival evening of wine and food at The Carlton downtown on Saturday, May 3 will get everyone into the spirit of Wine Festival Week in Pittsburgh. Kevin Joyce, owner of The Carlton, is proud to continue the tradition of hosting blockbuster events for the Pittsburgh Wine Festival. “Pittsburgh’s Wine Festival is clearly recognized as one of the finest wine events in the world,” said Joyce.
The evening will also feature the Pittsburgh Wine Festival Live Auction to benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Reservations for this special dinner and live auction are available by calling The Carlton at 412-391-4099
SEMINARS, RESTUAURANT WINE DINNERS, WINE FEATURES AND MORE:
During the week there will be wine dinners in area restaurants, wine education seminars and private home dinners with notable celebrities including acclaimed chef, restaurateur, author and public television series star Lidia Bastianich and former White House chef Walter Scheib.
PRIVATE FUNDRAISING HOME DINNERS:
This year, exclusive Private Home Dinners that benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Wine Festival, will take place in various outstanding homes around the Pittsburgh region. Chefs and vintners of notoriety will be paired to create a unique and delightful dining experience for guests.
Last year private home dinners and auctions raised $1.238 million for UPCI. Special guest chefs this year will include former White House chef Walter Scheib and Lidia Bastianich. Through this year's charitable efforts organizers hope to raise over 3 million dollars for cancer research.
More information about the private home dinners will be announced soon. For more information regarding the 2008 Pittsburgh Wine Festival Private Home Dinners, please contact Jennifer Zgurich at 412-623-4709.
The private home dinners and live and silent auctions benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. For the past two years, the UPCI has been the beneficiary of the Pittsburgh Wine Festival, with proceeds directed toward cancer research. The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Western Pennsylvania, serving a population of more than six million.
DINE OUT DURING WINE FESTIVAL WEEK AND ENJOY FINE WINES AND GREAT FOOD:
Leading up to the VIP and Grand Tasting events at Heinz Field on May 8, dozens of restaurants in the Pittsburgh region will celebrate Pittsburgh Wine Festival Week with great wine offerings including wine luncheons, wine dinners, wine pairings and special by-the-glass features.
Please be sure to check in the upcoming month for more details about each restaurant event and a complete listing of participating restaurants. To date participating restaurants include:
Lidia's Pittsburgh – including a special wine luncheon with Lidia Bastianich.
The Carlton – special wine dinners in addition to kick-off dinner and live auction May 3.
Bistro 19
Capital Grille
Common Plea
HyeHolde
Isabella on Grandview
McCormick & Schmidts
Mio Kitchen and Wine Bar
Nine on Nine
Palate
Palomino
Passport Café
Pines Tavern
Sewickley Cafe
Six Penn Kitchen
Sonoma Grille
Stone Mansion
Tusca
Tuscan Inn
*list in formation as of February 1, 2008
Wine Festival fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early tickets early and to bookmark www.pittsburghwinefestival.com to keep up with all the exciting news about the upcoming festival.
SPONSORS:
The 2008 Pittsburgh Wine Festival is presented by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Comcast. Other sponsors of the celebration include: UPMC and Giant Eagle Market District.
Media sponsors are Comcast, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh Magazine and Lux Magazine. Official radio sponsor is Clear Channel Broadcasting through their stations: 96.1 KISS FM, WWSW, WXDX, WDVE and WPGB.
Sponsorship Opportunities Are Still Available. The Pittsburgh Wine Festival creates special opportunities for all of its sponsors. Sponsorship packages can be customized to meet prospective partner’s goals. For further information, please contact Lissa Rosenthal at 412-281-2681 or lrosenthal@pittsburghwinefestival.com.
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The Pittsburgh Wine Festival is one of the top ten wine festivals in the United States. The Wine Festival is produced by Pittsburgh Wine Festival LLC. For more information visit www.pittsburghwinefestival.com.
Comcast digital subscribers may preview the Pittsburgh Wine Festival by going to Comcast's "On Demand" in the "Your Town" folder under "Pittsburgh Life and Style". Highlights of the Grand Tasting event and Marnie Old’s seminars are included.
Lidia Bastianich and Pittsburgh Wine Festival president Ed Harrell are available for interview by contacting PR and marketing representative Lissa Rosenthal at cell: 412-952-6017, office: 412-281-2681, or by email lrosenthal@pittsburghwinefestival.com.
Additional wine experts are also available for interview about the wine festival and wine-related stories.
Contact: Lissa Rosenthal
office: 412-281-2681, cell: 412-952-6017
email: lrosenthal@pittsburghwinefestival.com
web: www.pittsburghwhiskeyfestival.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"Do Not Open Until May 8, 2008"
Pittsburgh Wine Festival 2008 Tickets Now On Sale
PITTSBURGH, PA December 1, 2007--- Just in time for holiday gift giving, the Pittsburgh Wine Festival announced today that tickets for the sixth annual event are now available at the Wine Festival website www.pittsburghwinefestival.com.
The Wine Festival will again bring the excitement of what has been called "One of the Top-10 Wine Festivals in the Country," and hosts some of the world's finest wine makers, wine educators and chefs for the oenophile and amateur alike.
This year, the Pittsburgh Wine Festival is delighted to announce that acclaimed chef, restaurateur, author and public television series celebrity Lidia Bastianich will be a featured guest at the Wine Festival.
The 2008 Pittsburgh Wine Festival will take place May 3-8, with the sixth annual VIP and Grand Tasting events to take place Thursday, May 8 at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Wine Festival, which has been a sold out event every year, is presented by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Comcast.
SPECIAL HOLIDAY DISCOUNT NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31:
A ticket to the Wine Festival's VIP and Grand Tasting event on Thursday, May 8, is one of the most sought after holiday gifts for wine lovers. Now though December 31 participants can take advantage of a 10% discount on tickets at www.pittsburghwinefestival.com.
MORE ABOUT THE WINE FESTIVAL:
The Pittsburgh Wine Festival is a weeklong event that starts on Saturday, May 3, 2008 with a dinner and live auction at The Carlton Restaurant and ends with the VIP and Grand Tasting events at Heinz Field on Thursday, May 8. At the VIP and Grand Tasting events on Thursday, May 8, more than 3,000 participants will have the unique opportunity to sample more than 400 wines from more than 20 countries. More than 125 wine makers will be represented.
During the week there will be seminars on wine and food as well as dinners in restaurants around town featuring wine makers and local chefs.
Fundraising dinners in private homes will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday night of that week and proceeds will benefit The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). A live and a silent auction will also be held in conjunction with the festival and proceeds will also go to the Cancer Center. Last year private home dinners and auctions raised $1.238 million for UPCI.
Wine Festival Fans should check the web site www.pittsburghwinefestival.com over the upcoming months for additional information on seminars and other events in connection with the Festival.
SPONSORS:
The 2008 Pittsburgh Wine Festival is presented by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Comcast. Other sponsors of the celebration include: UPMC and Giant Eagle Market District.
Media sponsors are Comcast, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh Magazine and Lux Magazine. Official radio sponsor is Clear Channel Broadcasting through their stations 96.1 KISS FM, WWSW, WXDX, WDVE and WPGB.
Sponsorship Opportunities Are Still Available. The Pittsburgh Wine Festival creates special opportunities for all of its sponsors. Sponsorship packages can be customized to meet prospective partner's goals. For further information, please contact Lissa Rosenthal at 412-281-2681 or lrosenthal@pittsburghwinefestival.com.
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The Pittsburgh Wine Festival is one of the top ten wine festivals in the United States. The Wine Festival is produced by Pittsburgh Wine Festival LLC. For more information visit www.pittsburghwinefestival.com.