This is NOT a commercial event. It's free and you won't be able to buy a thing there. The purpose is to get together and taste a bunch of award winning wines from last year's Competition, and for all the members of the Santa Barbara wine firmament to get together on a Friday afternoon and let loose. Dress is wine country casual (which means wear clothes of some kind).
If you are going to be around the Central Coast for World of Pinot Noir, or for some other reason, please feel free to come to the Media Event to sip, taste, nibble and meet some of the winemakers. We'd be happy to see you!
Here's the details and the 'Invite' I sent out to the press: (again, consumers aren't generally being invited, so if anyone asks, just tell them I invited you! If you are in the Media, even better. If you're not in the Media, just post a thread about all the great wines you tried, and VOILA, you ARE the Media.)
You and Your Staff are Cordially Invited
To a Special Afternoon of Wine, Cheese and Socializing
Celebrating the Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition 2003
Friday, March 21, 2003 at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn, Los Olivos
Who: Those involved with the Media, Santa Barbara Wine, and their friends.
What: A MEDIA EVENT describing and celebrating the Second Annual Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition. A casual afternoon of sipping and supping. Award-winning wines from last year’s Competition will be poured for your pleasure. The purpose of the event is to bring winemakers, wine lovers and the media together to further understand the wine industry and its importance to the County, to consumers and to the media’s wide audience. A short presentation will be offered by Director Wes Hagen on the Wine Competition, on the Wine Industry in Santa Barbara, and how judges will evaluate the wines entered into Competition. Cheese and wine will be served.
Why: To celebrate the diversity and quality of Santa Barbara County Wines, and to compliment the rising popularity of the region in the media, in national critics’ ratings, and among wine consumers across the world. The event will also offer press releases and other materials to the media, so they may successfully communicate important information about Santa Barbara County Wines and the Wine Competition to their audience. An excellent excuse to start a party early Friday afternoon.
Where: The event will take place outside, on the beautiful courtyard behind Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn, 2860 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA, 93441. (805) 686-5749. The Inn lies in the heart of the quaint wine-country village of Los Olivos.
When: Friday, March 21, 2003 from 2 pm to 5 pm. From 2 pm to 3 pm will be a social hour for tasting and evaluating award-winning wines from last year’s inaugural Wine Competition and general chatting. At 3 pm Wine Competition Director Wes Hagen will give a short presentation concerning the Competition, its goals and philosophies, as well as a short lesson on wine evaluation.
How: The Media Event (3/21/03), The Wine Competition (5/13/03) and the Public Tasting (7/9-7/13/03 at Santa Barbara County Fair in Santa Maria) are all hosted and supported by the Santa Maria Fairpark, home of the Santa Barbara County Fair, Dennis K. Pearson, C.E.O. The wine industry of Santa Barbara County thanks the Santa Maria Fairpark, its Board, Dennis Pearson and Terri Lee Coleman for their gracious support.
See you March 21st for some tasting and fun! There is no charge for admission.
Wes Hagen
Director, Santa Barbara County Wine Competition
http://www.sbwinecompetition.com