Introducing Lenox Square Grill!

Grape Crush Productions welcomes new partner - Lenox Square Grill!

The new Buckhead eatery is a concept from CentraArchy, the company that brought Atlantans The Tavern at Phipps, Joey D's, and New York Prime.The full-service restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in a lively, stylish atmosphere and since opening this Fall has quickly come a celebrity spotting site. The menu features imaginative, yet classic comfort foods such as the signature Mac Skillets - Cajun Shrimp, Barbecue Chicken, or Cheeseburger - the creative side of homemade macaroni and cheese. The signature cocktails and great wine list make it a new favorite for both business gatherings and social events alike.

Lenox Square Grill is located at Lenox Square Mall in the space formerly occupied by Clubhouse. It features seating for more than 300 guests, an extensive outdoor patio and private dining rooms.

Location: 3393 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30326

Phone: 404.841.2377

They're open daily until 2a.m. and have a live DJ on the weekends. The Grape Girls invite you to sample tasty tidbits from Lenox Square Grill at Bloomingdale's Shopping Benefit (Lenox Square Mall) on October 29th and other upcoming events. RSVP required - click here to visit our blog for more information.

We'll see YOU there!

Introducing Montaluce Winery!

Grape Crush Productions welcomes new partner - Montaluce Winery & Estates located on the Dahlonega Plateau, one of the emerging wine-growing regions of the United States!

Blessed with some of the steepest, well-drained hillsides to be found in the U.S., North Georgia's topography, elevation, and long growing season creates an extraordinarily climate well-suited for premium wine grape cultivation. This climate, coupled with the classic "Terra Rosa"

wine- growing soils of the region, serves as the foundation for the new wave of Georgia vintners producing wines of truly exceptional quality. Montaluce is North Georgia's finest!

The more than 35 acres of Montaluce's vineyards include varieties of premium vinifera grapes including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sangiovese, and others. Montaluce is dedicated to growing and making premium wines which compete favorably with artisan wines around the world.

The Grape Girls invite you to sample the quality and taste of Montaluce at Bloomingdale's Lenox Square Mall on Thursday, Oct. 29th from 5-8pm in the Ladies Shoe Department for THE SHOPPING BENEFIT. RSVP required, send an email to VIP@GrapeCrushEvents.com by Thursday at Noon. Be sure to state your full name, guest names, email address and phone number. Must be 21 and older to participate. Click here for more information.

Cheers!

Wine-Down at Bloomingdale's on Oct. 29th!

THE SHOPPING BENEFIT
Fashion, Fun & Fundraising!
Thursday, October 29, 2009

Bloomingdale's at Lenox Square Mall hosts its 12th annual charity shopping night to benefit nonprofit organizations in Atlanta. Join the Grape Girls from 5-8pm in the Ladies Shoe Department (Level 2) for a sampling of fine wines. Plus, you could be the lucky winner of a private home or office wine tasting party!

Your $10 donation to one of the featured local nonprofits at the event that evening gives you access to complimentary:

Fine Wine and Food Pairings
Book Signings
Fashion Shows
Live Entertainment
Makeovers & Pampering
Merchandise Discounts
Prizes, Giveaways & More!

Featured Nonprofits:

Amy's Holiday Party
Atlanta Film Festival
Atlanta Union Mission, My Sister's House
Bright Futures Atlanta
Chemoflage, Inc.
Girl Talk
HERO for Children, Inc.
Kate's Club
Senior Connections
Shallowford Presbyterian Preschool
Share Our Strength
Shepard Center Auxiliary
St. Jude's Recovery Center, Inc.
Students Without Mothers
Young Survival Coalition

Click here for more information. RSVP required for wine tasting, please send an email to VIP@GrapeCrushEvents.com. Be sure to state your full name, guest names, email address and phone number. Must be 21 and older to participate. Space is limited, RSVP today!

Give a little, Get a lot!

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!

Pinot, Pearls & Poker: Facebook Pre-Sale Ends Saturday!

The Grape Girls Present...



Pinot, Pearls & Poker

A Sophisticated Ladies Night Out

Saturday, December 12th at 6PM
-Private Event Location-

5 Wines - 5 Cards - 5 Times the fun!

Pinot, Pearls & Poker offers all the fun, glitz, mystery and thrills of Sin City without the risk:

*Interact with other fabulous women

*Explore the country's "trendiest" grape and enjoy tasty treats

*Learn the basics of poker or advance your game

*Win cool prizes for the best (and worst!) hands

*VIP "Lady Luck" spa lounge and deluxe goodie bags

Ante Up for a unique wine tasting fundraiser featuring a fun-filled evening of games, girlfriends and good times! The event benefits Atlanta's Young Survival Coalition (YSC).



YSC Greater Metro Atlanta was formed at the end of 2000 by a 22-year old college student facing a breast cancer diagnosis. YSC Atlanta currently serves 11 counties in the Metro Atlanta area. They focus on education and outreach opportunities and provide peer-to-peer support for newly diagnosed young women. YSC Atlanta provides educational programs, support and long term survivorship planning for a young woman from the moment she is diagnosed throughout her life. For details, visit www.youngsurvival.org/atlanta.

FACEBOOK PREVIEW SALE: Use our special discount code GGYSC to save $10 off ALL ticket levels - this week only!! Special offer ends October 17, 2009. Visit www.ppp.eventbrite.com for tickets and more info. Click here to fan us on Facebook!

Don't delay, purchase your event ticket today!

Two Great Foodie Festivals!

So, 2 of my favorite food and wine events have come and gone! Harvest Midtown was held on October 4th and Taste of Atlanta took place October 10th & 11th - both in new locations this year. Click here to visit our Facebook fan page and view photo albums.

The 6th Annual Harvest Midtown Festival moved to the newly renovated Georgian Terrace hotel and took over ballrooms, mezzanines and terraces for the day. The event gave oenophiles the opportunity to select samples from some 200 wines and tastes from the city's top intown chefs. In between sips and bites, Harvest Midtown presented a variety of live entertainment, vendors and art for the enjoyment of all. An elegant hotel with fabulous food and wine on display - all overlooking the lively Peachtree Street in Midtown - if only I could spend every Sunday this way!

The 8th Annual Taste of Atlanta was truly a foodies delight! The 2 day outdoor festival encompassed eight acres and ten city blocks of Tech Square in the heart of midtown. Taste of Atlanta featured more than 80 of Atlanta's finest restaurants, cooking demos from local and national celebrity chefs, a "farm to table" market, kids activities and more. Grape Crush Productions was an official partner of the highly anticipated VIP Wine & Beer Experience and provided 200 enthusiastic volunteers! I had the opportunity to "talk wine" with Atlanta's leading experts including Gil Kulers, Atlanta Journal Constitution wine columnist, and Gina Hopkins, sommelier and owner of Holeman & Finch Public House and Restaurant Eugene. Gil and Gina's engaging seminar - King of Pinot: Burgandy vs. Oregon - even sparked a 2010 Grape Escape. Hopefully you can come with us to explore Oregon's renowned pinot noirs - stay tuned for details!

Click here to join our mailing list to stay "sipped in" on upcoming food and wine event news. Click here to view more event photos.

Cheers!

We've been nominated...

Wow, we've been nominated for Atlanta Tribune's People's Choice Award as Atlanta's BEST specialty business of 2009. Please help us by submitting a supporting nomination via email, it only takes a few seconds!

















Grape Crush Productions is a minority and female owned mobile wine tasting service. The Grape Girls specialize in wine tastings, events, education and excursions. We are the creators and producers of Atlanta Food & Wine Month (held each April) and the Winter Wine & Jazz Festival. We are also partners with the City of Atlanta (Office of Cultural Affairs), Taste of Atlanta (VIP Wine & Beer Experience), Taste of Marietta and support other local, regional and national festivals and cultural events.




















As the leaders in food and wine themed special events and fundraisers, we pride ourselves on bringing the “tasting room” to living rooms, offices and venues all across the country. Wine tasting events are great traffic drivers for businesses of all types, and perfect for home parties too!



















Please email your supporting nomination today! Simply cut and paste the following information into an email if you think we are the BEST of 2009:

Grape Crush Productions - Best Specialty Business
Wine Tastings, Events, Education & Excursions!
Contact: Kyla Cox, 770.579.0808
Email: info@GrapeCrushEvents.com
Web: www.GrapeCrushEvents.com

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Mail your nomination to kmines@atlantatribune.com by October 23, 2009. Be sure to include our website and email address.







Thanks for your support. Cheers!