Sonoma Wine-Winemaker for A Day at Christie Vineyards Winery in Healdsburg, CA

Healdsburg Kicks Off Its Winemaker for a Day Series, June – October

Monthly Event Features Wine Education, Hands-On Winemaking,

Gourmet Lunch and Blend Competition

Participants Receive Significant Cost Savings by Choosing to Stay at Select Healdsburg Lodging

WHAT: Healdsburg’s inaugural Winemaker for a Day series gives participants hands-on experience and teaches invaluable skills needed to make, blend and taste wine at the beautiful Christie Vineyards Winery in Healdsburg, California.

Activities are as follows:

· Take a tour of the vineyards with the winemaker and learn insider tips on grape- growing and winemaking. Participants will familiarize themselves with vines of Russian River Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec (all Rhone blend wines), and Petite Syrah, Zinfandel and Proseco. The tour also includes a visit to the organic gardens.

· Listen as a local expert teaches participants how to blend wine, choosing the right mix of varietals, what to look for when tasting a wine and how to identify key tasting components and aromas.

· Break into small teams for a hands-on blending competition whereby a winning blend will be selected.

· Dine on an al fresco buffet lunch prepared by Mike Watson of Vintage Valley Catering.

· Bottle, cork and label the winning blend to take home.

WHEN: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the following five Thursdays:

June 26, July 24, August 21, September 25, October 23

WHERE: Christie Vineyards Winery

851 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Healdsburg is located just 67 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

COST: The cost per person is $195 for attendees who stay at one of the select Healdsburg lodging options for a minimum of two nights. Price does not include overnight stay. This represents a savings of $40 off the regular price of the “Winemaker for a Day” series.

Participating lodgings include:

All Seasons Vacation Suites, www.camelliainn.com

Bella Villa Messina, www.bellavillamessina.com

Best Western-Dry Creek Inn, www.drycreekinn.com

Calderwood Inn, www.calderwoodinn.com

Camellia Inn, www.camelliainn.com

Grandma’s Victorian Cottage, www.victorian-cottage.com

Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza, www.healdsburginn.com

Hotel Healdsburg, www.hotelhealdsburg.com

Irish Rose Inn, www.theirishroseinn.com

Piper Street Inn, www.piperstreetinn.com

PUBLIC Please contact individual lodgings for more information.

INFO:

# # #

CONTACT: Lani Kopstein, Alison Stout or Tish Gallegos at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500 or Lani@glodownead.com.