Thanksgiving Delights

DID YOU KNOW? American wine drinkers consume more wine on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. Wow!







On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for Our blessings all year through,

For family we dearly love,

For good friends, old and new.


For sun to light and warm our days,

For stars that glow at night,

For trees of green and skies of blue,

And puffy clouds of white.


We’re grateful for our eyes that see

The beauty all around,

For arms to hug, and legs to walk,

And ears to hear each sound.


The list of all we’re grateful for

Would fill a great big book;

Our thankful hearts find new delights

Everywhere we look!


Happy Thanksgiving from the Grape Girls!

Please be safe and drink responsibly.

What's the deal with screwcaps?

Screwcaps, actually known as Stelvins in the trade, are quickly replacing natural cork in many wine bottles. Natural corks are, well, naturally irregular. Some produce great seals, others less so, resulting in different bottles of the same wine behaving differently as they age. In addition, natural corks are prone to becoming corked: a chemical reaction, which can happen when bleaching corks, that imparts wines with a taint known as TCA. Screwcaps are perfectly uniform and provide a perfect seal for your wine, avoiding the issues that might arise with cork-finished bottles. Many high-end wines now use screwcaps, and they are the wave of the future.


Click here for answers to more commonly asked wine questions.

Follow the Grape Girls on Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

You're Invited: New York Life - Atlanta VIP Reception!

VIP CLIENT RECEPTION
SIP. SAVOR. GET INFORMED.

You are cordially invited to join us for a special evening featuring an exciting tasting of fine wines from around the globe courtesy of Grape Crush Productions, live entertainment and an informal presentation from New York Life.





Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cellar 56 Bistro & Wine Bar
-Buckhead's Andrews Square-
56 East Andrews Drive, Atlanta, GA 30305

Complimentary wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres from 6-8pm.

RSVP today: Send an email to RSVP@GrapeCrushEvents.com including your full name, address and phone number along with the full name of each guest. Space is limited!


Complimentary valet parking and street parking along East Andrews Drive.


Cheers to the good life!

------------------------------------
This is an informational and sales presentation. Neither New York Life nor its agents provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult with your professional advisors concerning tax, legal or accounting advice.

Ga Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan - Book Signing & Wine Tasting on November 16th!

Georgia Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan will be on hand to sign copies of her book No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics at The Colors of Wine on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 6pm.



First elected at age 23, Representative Morgan quickly ascended as a political star on both the national and regional stages. Now, in her signature “truth-telling” style, Rep. Morgan’s debut book offers no apologies for standing up for what is right and provides practical insights for how other leaders can “live life unapologetically.”

“I’ve learned and experienced a lot during my eight years of service in the Georgia legislature,” said Rep. Morgan. “I’ve learned being a ‘trailblazer’ means more than meets the eye and that challenging the status quo can mean living through some very lonely seasons, but more than anything, I've learned to never, ever, apologize for my convictions.”

Visit The Colors of Wine to meet Alisha Thomas Morgan and enjoy a wine tasting with the Grape Girls featuring a variety of fine wines from around the globe. Click here to read an excerpt from the book No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics.

RSVP now to attend the No Apologies book signing and wine tasting. Send an email to VIP@GrapeCrushEvents.com with your full name and the full name of any guests. The Colors of Wine is located at 2355 Cumberland Parkway Boulevard, Atlanta, Ga. 30339. A $5 donation is requested for the wine tasting.

Join us for Sunday Wine Socials at St. Regis!

SIP. SAVOR. SOCIALIZE.

Sunday Wine Socials
Upcoming Events: Nov. 7, Jan. 16, Feb. 13








Join us on select Sundays from 4-6pm in the St. Regis Wine Room for personalized tastings around the marble-topped sommelier counter! Learn about the subtleties of fine wine and its history and traditions as we sample artisan wines from around the globe.

On, November 7th we're featuring Italy's best grapes. Plus, enter-to-win fabulous door prizes including tickets to Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art, a FREE home or office private wine tasting party (valued at $500) courtesy of the Grape Girls and special giveaways from William David Salon in honor of their new location in Buckhead at the Terminus building.

For more information and to RSVP, visit www.winesocial.eventbrite.com.

Hosted by Grape Crush Productions and Harry Constantinescu, Wine Director at the St. Regis.

How-To Host a Wicked Wine Tasting Party!

I vant to drink your vine...

Halloween heralds the start of the holiday season - and where there is a party, there is wine! A wine tasting party doesn't have to be a stuffy affair, so mix things up a little by throwing a unique Halloween bash that is sure to be a treat.

Host a wicked wine tasting party in 5 easy steps:

1. Invitations - Get crafty and make your own wine bottle shaped party invitations. Use construction paper or poster board, flat sheets of cork to make a life-like cork stopper for the top, a label in the middle of the "bottle" should provide party details.
2. Decor - Create your very own haunted wine cellar with equal amounts of sophistication and spook factor. Use old wooden barrels to hold platters of food and wine and decorate with large glass jars, grapes, pumpkins, gourds, faux leaves, lots of candles and scary touches like fake spider webs and spiders.
3. Food - Set up a nice assortment of fruit, cheese, crackers, bread, nuts and a few heavier appetizers (think stuffed mushrooms or a hearty pumpkin soup). Be sure to label your assortment with toothpicks that have labels attached - use a ghoulish computer font or eerie hand writing for maximum effect!
4. Wine - Use an old wooden door, wine crates or designate a large coffee table to display your wicked wine collection. Be sure to include some spooky brands like Vampire Wines (from Transylvania!), Poizin Zinfandel (comes in a coffin shaped box), Owen Roe Sinister Hand or Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Add some dry ice to the display area for a ghostly effect!
5. Attention to Detail - Be sure to have great music, lots of candy, plenty of dump buckets and bottled waters handy. Place small gift bags or containers near your candy station so guests can help themsleves to take-home treats as parting gifts.
   
   

Wine & Candy Pairing Tips:

• Almond Joy and Sparkling Wine

• Snickers and Sangiovese

• Three Musketeers and Ice Dessert Wine

• Hershey’s Dark Chocolate and Syrah

• Caramel Apples and Sauvignon Blanc

• Candy Corn and Chardonnay

With these spook-tacular tips from the Grape Girls you are sure to pull off the perfect Halloween wine party. So, dress up, party down and enjoy the wine. Cheers!

Taste of Atlanta 2010 Photos!

Did you know? Grape Crush Productions provides more than 100 wine volunteers and professionals for the Taste of Atlanta VIP Wine Experience each year!

The 2-day foodie fest was filled with great food, fun and wine.
Cheers to Gil Kulers and Bob Townsend for great educational seminars all weekend including the Brashness of Barolo and Refinement of Ribera del Duero, American Craft Beer and Farmstead Cheese, Greatness of Greece, Passion of Paso and more!

Click here or visit us on Facebook for more photos.

Event Pics - Sunday Wine Social!

Thanks for joining us for the October Sunday Wine Social featuring Antonio Hildalgo- winery owner and importer of Spain's best grapes.

Next event is Nov. 7th featuring the best of Italy!
More info: http://winesocial.eventbrite.com.
Use discount code BACCO to save $5 OFF tickets!

More pics: http//tinyurl.com/grapegirls

Join us for Sunday Wine Socials at St. Regis!

SIP. SAVOR. SOCIALIZE.

Upcoming Events: October 17 & November 7











Join us on select Sundays from 4-6pm in the St. Regis Wine Room for personalized tastings around the marble-topped sommelier counter! Learn about the subtleties of fine wine and its history and traditions as we sample artisan wines from around the globe. Plus, enter-to-win fabulous door prizes including tickets to Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art, Taste of Atlanta VIP Wine Experience and a FREE home or office private wine tasting party (valued at $500)! For more information and to RSVP, visit www.winesocial.eventbrite.com.

Hosted by Grape Crush Productions and Harry Constantinescu, Wine Director at the St. Regis.

Cheers!

Taste of Atlanta VIP Volunteers

WANTED: ENTHUSIASTIC WINE VOLUNTEERS!

Grape Crush Productions is seeking experienced volunteers for the VIP Wine Experience at Taste of Atlanta on October 23 and 24, 2010.

The popular foodie event features "tastes" from the city's best restaurants, cooking demonstrations from national and local celebrity chefs and live entertainment. The event takes take place in an 8-block area of Tech Square located in the heart of Midtown.

A highlight of the 2010 festival is the VIP Wine Experience, open only to VIP ticket holders over the age of 21. The "Experience" will feature a series of highly anticipated wine tastings and educational seminars led by top industry professionals. Wine enthusiasts and experienced volunteers are encouraged to register to help with this one-of-a-kind event. Volunteers are rewarded with "taste" coupons to enjoy the festival after their shift.

VOLUNTEER:
Interested participants should send an email to volunteers@GrapeCrushEvents.com for more information.
Registration deadline is October 8th!

TICKET DISCOUNT:
Purchase tickets at www.tasteofatlanta.com.
Use our special discount code GRAPE to save $5 OFF VIP or General Admission advance online tickets!

Taste of Atlanta dishes up flavors to satisfy every taste. So, grab a fork and a glass and prepare to stimulate your mind, body and taste buds. Cheers!

Wedding Wine Tips

Say "I Do" to fabulous wine on your wedding day...

Every bride and groom wants to put a mark on their memorable day. Set the tone of your wedding simply by personalizing the details. What is meaningful to you as a couple? A love of travel, or a memorable song or color... Use what is meaningful as a starting point for developing a theme that will carry through your wedding, reception and even the pre-event activities.

Here are tips for incorporating your love of wine into your wedding:


The First Impression
When guests arrive at your reception, the first thing they will look for is a beverage, which becomes the first impression of what's to follow. Why not have servers line up at the entrance with beautiful flower-adorned trays filled with sparkling wine.

Reception Wines
Wine tasting bars at receptions add an element of elegance, and can serve as an icebreaker at the beginning of the reception. Consider hiring a local expert, such as Grape Crush Productions, to help your guests with their wine experience. The wine station can be a preview of your honeymoon destination, favorite region or a collection of the couples' favorite varietals. We'll even take into account the food you are serving to ensure great pairings!

Cost-Cutting Tips
Doing it yourself or on a budget? Keep it simple by selecting one white and one red to serve. Best Bet: Chardonnay & Cabernet or Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir for wines your entire crowd is sure to enjoy.

Gift Ideas
When choosing wine for gifts, take the packaging into consideration as well as the taste. Choosing one with an attractive label can eliminate the need for gift bags - just tie a beautiful bow and personalized card around the neck. For an even more useful favor, simply attach a corkscrew engraved with the couple's names. A great gift for engagement parties or bridal showers is putting together the couple's first "wine cellar" by filling a wine rack with different bottles of wine designated for special occasions. Attach tags with pretty ribbon and notes such as, "Enjoy on your one-month anniversary" or "For a romantic movie night in." A group of friends can give this gift together, or family members can each contribute one bottle of wine with a special note.

Before the Big Day
If the bride or groom is a wine lover, consider making the bridal shower or bachelor party a private wine tasting event. Grape Crush Productions can bring the tasting room to YOUR living room or venue!

Contact us today for help in making your wedding or pre-event activity a wine lover's dream! Send an email to info@GrapeCrushEvents.com.

EXCLUSIVE EVENT INVITATION: Join us on June 9th from 6-8p.m. at Bloomingdale's Lenox Square for a "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party with Get Married Media!
Click here to read our latest newsletter for RSVP details.

Champagne & Culture in the City

Friday, May 21, 2010
@103 West, 7-10PM
103 West Paces Ferry Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30305

Tour de Champagne features tastes from prestigious Champagne houses combined with samples from Atlanta's finest restaurants and chefs. This year's special silent auction will benefit Angel Flight of Georgia. The evening ends with a fin de soirée (after party) at Bluepointe where VIP guests will continue to mingle and enjoy live music and additional complimentary champagne and cognac. Guests may then head across the street for a nightcap at the St. Regis hotel which is offering special overnight and weekend packages to enhance the total experience.


Did you ever wonder who invented Champagne?

Well, here's a brief history of what some call "culture in a glass":

French monks were the first to bottle a sparkling form of wine called Champagne, named after the Champagne region of France. The method of making "mousse" (another name for bubbles) in a bottle was invented by the efforts of Frère Jean Oudart (1654 - 1742) and Dom Pierre Pérignon (1639 - 1715), Benedictine monks and cellarmasters at the respective abbeys of Saint-Pierre aux Monts de Châlons and Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers.

The region of Champagne has a colder and shorter growing season. Champagne grapes had to be picked late in the year, with less time available for fermentation. During fermentation yeasts are used to convert the sugars of the grape juice into alcohol and cold winter temperatures stopped the process. The monks developed a method of making Champagne wine by using a second fermentation process that took place in the bottle during the following spring. The second fermentation created carbon-dioxide bubbles that are the sparkle of Champagne.



TICKETS: Click here for more information or visit www.tourdechampagne.com.

For updates on local food and wine events follow the Grape Girls on Facebook and Twitter or join the Virtual Grape.

You're Invited: A Spring Wine Tasting & Bites on May 4th!

Join Us for a Spring Wine Tasting...


Tuesday, May 4, 6:30PM
Social - 12 West Peachtree Place Atlanta, GA 30308
http://www.Socialintown.com

Located in downtown Atlanta, Social is comprised of two sprawling floors of scintillating Euro-Mediterranean flavors. A 25 foot marble bar and communal tables are perfect for an after-hours drink or neighborhood gathering. An elegant split level dining room overlooks the trees below on West Peachtree place, resulting into a perfect private culinary experience. Don't miss this fabulous tour of great wines from Bacco paired with yummy bites for only $25/person!

Wine Pairing Selections:

Giribaldi Gavi, Piedmont, Italy
Eggplant Caviar

Printhie Chardonnay, Orange, Australia
Mussels au Pernod

Mas de Bazan Rosado, Utiel-Requena (Valencia)
Roasted Portabella Mushroom

Heredad Hidalgo Tinto, Rioja
Grilled Chicken Livers on Toast

Mas de Bazan Bobal, Utiel-Requena (Valencia)
Andalusian Meat Balls

Bodegas Hidalgo Marqués de Pagollano, Cigales
Cheese Plate

RSVP:
Telephone: 404.525.2246
E-Mail: info@socialintown.com


Cheers!

Champagne Sabering Concludes Atlanta Food & Wine Month 2010 on April 30th!

Champagne Sabering Ritual Closes Out the Month!
Friday, April 3Oth from 6-8p.m.

sa·ber: (verb) to strike with a heavy, one-edged sword

You're invited to a special reception at the prestigious St. Regis hotel to celebrate the conclusion of the 2nd Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Month series! The event will include an authentic champagne sabering ritual and a Proclamation from the City of Atlanta.

RECEPTION TICKETS & INFO: Click here for more information.

Join us for dinner immediately following the reception at Paces 88 American Bistro (located inside the St. Regis). Reception guests will receive a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entree. Offer is valid for tonight only - April 30, 2010.

DINNER RESERVATIONS: Please make your reservation now as seating is very limited. Call 404.563.7910 or visit Open Table for online reservations.

Cheers!

Food Network - Atlanta Open Call!

Are you a hopeless home cook? Or is someone you know totally incompetent in the kitchen?

Food Network is looking for the most disastrous home cooks in Atlanta to participate in a very different culinary competition show and they've come to Grape Crush Productions to help spread the word!

This is the opportunity of a lifetime—to work with the best chefs in the country and learn to cook like a professional. Seeking people with a genuine inability to cook, but a need and desire to improve!

NOMINATE YOURSELF
• Has your wife told you it was probably better if you ordered take out?
• At the big potluck dinner, are you always asked to “just bring the napkins?”

NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW
• Is someone you know constantly offering you food that you have to turn down?
• If you know a dad/mom who can’t scramble an egg, a colleague who can’t convince anyone to try their culinary creations, or a guy friend who tries but can’t seem to get it together in the kitchen, this is your chance to get them the help you BOTH need!

OPEN CALL ATLANTA
W Atlanta Midtown
188 14th Street NE, Atlanta GA 30361
Saturday, May 1st
9am – 3pm
*Please bring a dish that represents your cooking

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY:
CASTING PHONE INTERVIEWS ARE THIS WEEK, SO PLEASE APPLY ASAP!
• Send an email to worstcooksatlanta@gmail.com
• State why you (or the person you are nominating) is the most disastrous cook in the country
• Include name, age, hometown, occupation, contact phone number, and a recent photo of the hopeless cook

Additional information and application available at http://worstcookscasting.com.

You're Invited: Shop, Sip & Savor!

The 2nd Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Month (April 1-30) continues with the ultimate ladies night out - Shop, Sip & Savor! From sangria and shopping, to belly dance lessons and relationship advice, it's the perfect opportunity to get together with the girls.

Click here for tickets and more information. The online discounted ticket sale ends Tuesday.

Be sure to donate to the toiletry drive for your chance to win a FREE home or office wine tasting party!

Organic Food & Wine Tasting

Lenox Square - Home Store
April 17, 2010 from 2-4PM

Join us for a special cooking demonstration and organic wine tasting. Come taste samples of sustainably produced local food and drink, and learn how to re-create at home. We'll also be giving you some ideas for how to dress up your spring parties with chic, eco-friendly style!



Chef Angela McKeller , our favorite "Kook", will demonstrate her party-starting, organic Red Apple & Cherry Wine tartlet as we sample artisan wines made with organically grown grapes. Plus, learn how to reuse your grocery bags for refuse, cut down on energy expense and the importance of finding multiple uses for
each ingredient - and the containers they come in! Angela has appeared on the Food Networkwith Paula Deen and loves to teach others how to make the kitchen their playground.

Tickets are $10 in advance online; $5 from each ticket sold benefits
Share Our Strength. Click here to purchase tickets today or vist
www.gogreenatl.eventbrite.com.

Artisan Wine Dinner at Paces 88!

April 1 - 30, 2010


St. Regis Atlanta Turns One!

Their anniversary is your lucky day...


SPECIAL PRIX FIXE MENU

$50/person prix fixe menu; $75/person with wine pairing

Join us on April 14th at Paces 88 American Bistro (located inside the St. Regis Atlanta Hotel) to celebrate with an amazing four course Artisan Wine Dinner complete with amazing prizes and giveaways throughout the evening. The price is $50/person plus tax and gratuity or $75/person with wine pairing:

APPETIZER
(Choice of)

Lobster Bisque
Maine lobster and mushroom duxelle
2008 Albert Mann Pinot Blanc – Alsace

Goat Cheese Tart
Roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, arugula
truffle & lemon vinaigrette
2007 J.L.Chave Crozes-Hermitage “Sybele” – Rhone

Intermezzo
Sorbet

ENTRÉE
(Choice of)

Osso Bucco
Red wine braised veal shanks, saffron risotto
2007 Margerum “Colson Canyon” Syrah – Santa Barbara

Scottish Salmon
Sweet corn & bacon ragout, spinach, basil oil
2007 Persimmon Creek Cabernet Franc – Georgia

CHEESE COURSE
A selection of 3 artisanal cheeses
Kluge Estate “Mélange Nouveau” – Virginia

HOMEMADE DESSERTS
(Choice of)

Crème Brulee
Chocolate Caramel Bar
Quinta do Portal 10yr tawny Port

Mention the word Anniversary and receive a discounted rate for your stay at the St. Regis for $199/night!

RESERVATIONS:

Please make your reservation today as seating is very limited.
Call 404.563.7910 or click here to visit Open Table for online reservations.

Complimentary valet parking available.

This is an official Atlanta Food & Wine Month event.

Join the Food Revolution!

Ryan Seacrest and Jamie Oliver invite you to take a stand and change the way America eats, in our home kitchens, schools and workplaces with the thought-provoking new series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

Premieres: Friday, March 26th
9/8c on ABC

In the six-part series, Jamie heads to Huntington, West Virginia, the unhealthiest city in America. Through his efforts in this one town, he hopes to start a chain reaction of positive change across the country.

Click here to watch the trailer. Join the Grape Girls and sign the petition to show you care about this important issue.

Cheers!

Atlanta Food & Wine Month 2010 "Sips Off" on April 1st!

Discover the Art of Wine! Join us for the Atlanta Food & Wine Month 2010 launch party on Thursday, April 1st at Kai Lin Art.




About Atlanta Food & Wine Month:

At Grape Crush Productions we believe the culinary arts are a vital part of a city's culture. In partnership with the City of Atlanta (Office of Cultural Affairs), we are celebrating the local food and wine scene for an entire month with exciting events at diverse venues. Atlanta Food & Wine Month, now in its second year, effectively fuses the love of food and wine with all art forms in a series of special events highlighting the best venues, chefs, restaurants, sommeliers, art galleries, retailers and more that our city has to offer. April is also Jazz Appreciation Month and many events will feature live entertainment from Atlanta's best jazz artists. From wine tasting parties at art galleries and clothing boutiques, to hot restaurant meal deals - locals and visitors alike are encouraged to eat, sip and savor all around town!

Click here for tickets or visit www.foodwine.eventbrite.com. Don't miss the early bird ticket specials!

Come on out to celebrate Atlanta's fabulous food and wine scene...

Cheers!

Eat Wine...

Wine Cellar Sorbet - My New Favorite Find!



I can never leave Whole Foods without spending at least $80. I know, my husband doesn't get it either. I usually walk in the store with a short list of must haves for a quick dinner or impromptu gathering, but I simply cannot resist picking up and trying new things as I'm browsing the aisles. Which brings me to the point - Wine Cellar Sorbet. Yes, they have found a way to turn fabulous wines into a fabulous new treat!

Wine Cellar Sorbet creates sorbets with varietal wines as the main ingredient. A great selection of bold flavors include Sangria Rojo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Riesling and Champagne. Dave Zablocki, the world's first Sorbet Sommelier, worked with vintners around the world to find the right wines to later spin into festive sorbets. The result is an extraordinarily refreshing frozen confection bursting with fruit flavors without being overly sweet. Did I mention the dessert is fat-free, dairy-free AND gluten-free?! The sorbets pair extremely well with a variety of foods (try the Riesling or Sangria flavor to cool off after a spicy meal) and are a great palate cleanser between courses. They can even be an interesting accompaniment for cheese. The petite one-pint packages retail at $6.99. For more information, visit www.winecellarsorbets.com or check the frozen section of your nearest Whole Foods Market.

A tasting of these fabulous sorbets will definitely be on the menu for my next dinner party!

Cheers!

Atlanta Food & Wine Month 2010

Savor the Date...

Atlanta Food & Wine Month 2010 sips into town on April 1st with the Art of Wine kick-off reception!

We are celebrating the local food and wine scene for an entire month with exciting events at diverse venues. Atlanta Food & Wine Month effectively fuses the love of food and wine with all art forms in a series of special events highlighting the best venues, chefs, restaurants, sommeliers, wineries, art galleries, retailers and more that our city has to offer. April is also Jazz Appreciation Month and many events will feature live entertainment from our city's best jazz artists. From wine tasting parties at art galleries and clothing boutiques, to hot restaurant meal deals - locals and visitors alike are encouraged to eat, sip and savor all around town.

Limited opportunities still exist to:
• Add your April food and wine event to the calendar - 100,000+ calendars distributed across metro Atlanta!
• Sponsor the opening and closing receptions
• Showcase your business, product or service at select events
• Donate door prizes and silent auction items
• Volunteer to staff an event

Contact us for details, send an email to info@GrapeCrushEvents.com with Atlanta Food & Wine Month in the subject heading. The participation deadline ends soon!

Stay tuned for event details.

Cheers!

Thanks for attending!

Atlanta Winter Wine + Jazz Festival

30+ Vendors * 50+ Wines * 300+ Guests

Thanks to everyone who attended the

1st Annual Atlanta Winter Wine + Jazz Festival!

The event serves as a prelude to Atlanta Food & Wine Month (April) and the Atlanta Jazz Festival (May). Congratulations again to our honorees (Harry Constantinescu - Top Sommelier, Jane Garvey - Grape Guru), and a special THANK YOU to our seminar leaders (Ted Field - Vinicode, Rob Beecham - Montaluce Winery & Estates) and each and every event participant, vendor, volunteer, sponsor and team member who helped make the event a success.

Click here to view a photo slide show.

We'll see YOU next year at our new, bigger event home!

SIP. SAVOR. JAM.

You're Invited to a VIP Wine & Dessert Reception!

Tie on your aprons and join the fun at the 3rd Annual Great American Baking Contest as we raise funds for Share Our Strength, a national organization working to ensure no child in America grows up hungry. Professionals, amateurs and children will compete for cash prizes courtesy of Domino Sugar.

Share Our Strength’s Great American Baking Contest
Presented by Domino Sugar
March 11, 2010
Strength.org/bakingcontest

Not a baker? Buy your tickets today to attend the judging and Wine and Dessert reception at The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown, featuring tasting by Atlanta’s premier pastry chefs as well as our amateur entrants.

VIP Reception Host & Emcee
Jenn Hobby, Q100

Judges for Professional Category
John Kessler, Food Writer, Atlanta Journal Constitution
Mary Moore, Founder and Owner, The Cook’s Warehouse

Judges for Amateur and Children Categories
Jonathan St. Hilaire, Chef and Owner, Bake Shop
Alon Balshan, Chef and Owner, Alon’s Bakery & Café
Kathryn King, Pastry Chef, Aria Restaurant

To learn more about Share Our Strength and buy tickets, please visit: strength.org/bakingcontest

GENERAL ADMISSION: $25 per person to attend the event judging and dessert tasting; reduced price of $35 for VIP tickets which includes an hour earlier admission to the event and a special reception with
Q100’s Jenn Hobby.

We hope to see YOU there...
Cheers!

Join Our Hunger Walk Team!

Grape Crush Productions is joining the fight to end hunger by participating in Hunger Walk 2010 - and we hope you will join our team!

This event is one of the most important hunger relief efforts of the year for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The money we raise will go a long way in touching the lives of our neighbors in need.

We know times are hard, but that's all the more reason to support the Hunger Walk. We all know someone who has been affected by this economy, and many people are seeking food assistance for the first time in their lives.

We need your support. If you can't join our team, please consider making a donation on our behalf. Click here to view our team page to join or donate today.

Thanks so much, we hope to see you March 14th!

Wine & Chocolate Tasting Party

SIP, SAVOR & SHOP!

Lenox Square Mall - Feb. 10th from 5-8p.m.

Level 2

We're treating YOU to a wine and chocolate tasting!




The Grape Girls will share the basics of wine and chocolate pairing as you enjoy fabulous shopping deals. Here's a taste of the fun:

• Sample delectable chocolates and fine wines


• Purchase $1000 or more in Bloomingdale's New View's fresh spring looks from your favorite designers to receive a $200 splurge card and a pair of tickets to Diana: A Celebration, the new exhibit honoring Princess Diana at the Atlanta Civic Center


• You'll also receive spring's most stunning new accessory, an exquisite multi-media necklace (a 125.00 value!) with your purchase (while supplies last) and complimentary alterations


• Buy more, Save more in Ladies Shoes, Fashion Accessories and Handbags

Click here for more information.

RSVP: Send an email to VIP@GrapeCrushEvents.com with your full name and primary email address no later than Noon on February 9th. Please, no more than 2 guests per party. Must be 21 and older with valid ID to attend the tasting.

UPCOMING EVENT: The Atlanta Winter Wine & Jazz Festival sips into town on Sunday, February 21st. Come on out to sip, savor and jam with the Grape Girls and friends! Click here to purchase tickets, or vist http://winejazz.eventbrite.com.

Cheers!

WANTED: Volunteers for the Atlanta Winter Wine & Jazz Festival!

WANTED: Experienced Special Event Volunteers!

Grape Crush Productions invites you to volunteer at the Atlanta Winter Wine & Jazz Festival on Sunday, February, 21st!

Volunteers must commit to a 4 hour shift and will assist with set up, break down, registration, hospitality, wine tasting, beer tasting and other general duties. In return for your service, you will be able to enjoy the event at no cost and participate in volunteer-only prizes and giveaways. Great opportunity for young professionals, wine/beer enthusiasts and volunteer organizations!

Follow these instructions to be considered:

1. Send an email to Volunteers@GrapeCrushEvents.com with your full name, mailing address, primary email and phone number no later than Feb. 10, 2010.
   
2. Indicate if you prefer to work the early shift (11:30am - 3:30pm) or late shift (3:00pm - 7:00pm).
   
3. Be sure to state your past volunteer experience and list the last 3 events you worked.

You will be contacted with a confirmation (if selected) and more information. Space is limited, so submit your interest today!

Would you rather attend the event than work? Click here to purchase tickets or visit http://winejazz.eventbrite.com/. The event benefits the Children's Restoration Network.

Cheers!

Atlanta Winter Wine & Jazz Festival - Showcase Your Business!

Sips into town on Feb. 21st...

Last call to sample or "show and sell" at the upcoming Atlanta Winter Wine & Jazz Festival!

A partnership with the City of Atlanta (Office of Cultural Affairs), this event will provide access to hundreds of Atlanta area foodies, wine lovers and luxury shopping consumers. The event takes place on Sunday, February 21st at the historic Trolley Barn located in Inman Park and serves as a prelude to Atlanta Food & Wine Month (April) and the Atlanta Jazz Festival (May).

Event Highlights:

• Recognition of Atlanta's top sommeliers



• Fine wines from around the globe



• Tasty treats from local restaurants, bakeries and specialty food vendors



• Indoor Street Market (Art, Books, Fashion, Jewelery, Etc.)



• Community Corner (Nonprofits and Associations)



• Men's Lounge with craft beer tastings



• Live entertainment, book signings, door prizes and more

The event benefits the Children's Restoration Network.

For participation details or more information, send an email to info@GrapeCrushEvents.com.

Tickets on sale to the public Feb. 1st.

Cheers!

Italy: Wine Guide, Events & Travel!

Hundreds of wines are produced in Italy each year, making it hard for most of us to select the right bottle for a pasta dinner or simply warming up in front of the fireplace. It can be a bit intimidating!

From Sangiovese to Trebbiano, wine guru Stacy Slinkard's Italian Wine Guide helps decipher Italian wine terms, interpret Italian wine labels, discern grape varietals and more. Click here for easy pointers to navigating wine shop shelves or a restaurant wine list.

Looking for first-hand knowledge of Italy's viticultural variations?

Well, sip and savor with the Grape Girls at our Italian Art & Wine Tasting event at the High Museum of Art on January 21st from 5-9pm.

Guests will enjoy complimentary admisson to the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, Italian wine samples, live entertainment and favoloso prizes and giveaways. While there be sure to pick up details of the upcoming Grape Escape travel excursion to Italy coming September 2010.

Click here to register today or visit http://italianwine.eventbrite.com/.

Salute!

Happy New Year - Our Gift to You!

Thanks for voting Grape Crush Productions one of Atlanta's Best Businesses of 2009 - what an amazing honor!

You're invited to become a Grape Guru and have even more fun with wine! A Grape Gurus club membership is the perfect opportunity to expand or develop your love of wine.



Grape Gurus enjoy:

*FREE and discounted wine tastings, wine dinners and special events
*Wine education opportunities
*Advance notice of special events and travel excursions with priority registration
*Complimentary welcome gift and more

SPECIAL OFFER: Join for only $20.10 (Reg. $59, a $250 value) and enjoy complimentary admission to the Atlanta Winter Wine & Jazz Festival coming February 21st. To receive the special discount link, send an email to info@GrapeCrushEvents.com.

This offer has been extended thru Monday, January 11th.

Cheers!