MEDIA CONTACTS:
Leigh Lyons Office 817-410-3195/ Cell 817-903-9424
llyons@GrapevineTexasUSA.com
Christine VolkmerOffice 972-863-8100/ Cell 214-794-5498
christine@volkmerpr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26TH ANNUAL GRAPEFEST® – A WINE EXPERIENCE
Largest Wine Festival in the Southwest Concludes with People’s Choice Award Winning Wines, GrapeStomp Champions and More
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS – (September 16, 2012) – Throngs of visitors celebrated the 26th Annual GrapeFest – A Wine Experience, the largest wine festival in the Southwest, in the heart of Historic Downtown Grapevine September 13, 14, 15 and 16. As part of the four-day festival, the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation, had the largest participation from Texas wineries in the festival’s history.
The award winners of the 2012 People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic are:Chardonnay
· 1st: Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Bryan, TX, Private Reserve Chardonnay, 2011· 2nd: Texas Hills Vineyard, Johnson City, TX, Chardonnay, 2010
· 3rd: Delaney Vineyards, Grapevine, TX, Chardonnay, 2010White Varietals, All others (<1.5%)
· 1st: Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Bryan, TX, Father & Son Riesling, 2011· 2nd: Landon Winery, McKinney, TX, Viognier, 2011
· 3rd: Becker Vineyards, Stonewall, TX, Viognier, 2011White Proprietary Blends· 1st: Brennan Vineyards, Commanche, TX, Austin Street Three White Chicks, 2010
· 2nd: Homestead Winery, Ivanhoe, TX, Desert Rose, 2011· 3rd: Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock, TX, Viviana, 2009
White Varietals, Sweet (>1.5%)· 1st: Landon Winery, McKinney, TX, Yellow Rose, NV
· 2nd: Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Bryan, TX, Hill Country Angel Late Harvest Riesling, 2011· 3rd: Duchman Family Winery, Driftwood, TX, Orange Muscat, 2009
Blush/Rosé
· 1st: CrossRoads Winery, Frisco, TX, My Cheeky Bastard, NV· 2nd: LightCatcher Winery, Fort Worth, TX, Texas Kiss Merlot Rosé, 2010
· 3rd: Salado Creek Winery & Vineyard, Salado Sweet Blush, NVCabernet Sauvignon· 1st: Texas Hills Vineyard, Johnson City, TX, Kick Butt Cab Newsom Vineyard, 2008
· 2nd: LightCatcher Winery, Fort Worth, TX, 10pt Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007· 3rd: Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock, TX, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010
Merlot· 1st: Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Bryan, TX, Private Reserve Merlot, 2009
· 2nd: Haak Vineyards and Winery, Santa Fe, TX, Purple Porpoise, NV· 3rd: Sunset Winery, Burleson, TX, Moon Glow Merlot, 2005
Red Varietals, All others (<1.5%)· 1st: Lost Oak Winery, Burleson, TX, Syrah, 2010
· 2nd: Brennan Vineyards, Comanche, TX, Dark Horse, 2010· 3rd: Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard & Winery, Harleton, TX, Norton, 2009Red Proprietary Blends
· 1st: Bluff Dale Vineyards, Bluff Dale, TX, Paragon, NV· 2nd: Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock, TX, Viviano, 2008
· 3rd: CALAIS Winery, Dallas, TX, Cuvee du Canton, 2010Red Varietals, Sweet (>1.5%)
· 1st: Homestead Winery, Ivanhoe, TX, Chocolate Rose, 2011· 2nd: La Buena Vida Vineyards, Grapevine, TX, Redheaded Stepchild Sangria, NV
· 3rd: Bluff Dale Vineyards, Bluff Dale, TX, Nexus, NV
“The 26th Annual GrapeFest was a huge success,” said Mark Terpening, Festival Co-Chair. “Throughout the festival, folks from all over North Texas, the Southwest and the nation, along with many international guests, enjoyed a truly spectacular event. All of the events including the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the Vintners’ Auction Classic and the Texas Wine Tribute were well-attended.”
“GrapeFest is the perfect opportunity for many of the Texas wineries to showcase their wines and this year proved to be a very successful event for them,” added Sonya Terpening, Festival Co-Chair. “In addition, the high quality of the
artistic offerings at this fine festival was another element that patrons could enjoy.”
Other events at the four-day festival included the Vintners’ Auction Classic with the guest favorite Bubbles & Baubles event; GrapeStomp: the Texas Wine Tribute; the Culinary Pavilion; the Champagne Terrace; the
Champagne Cork Shoot-Off; five stages of live entertainment throughout the festival and so much more!
The ever-popular GrapeStomp returned to the delight of festival-goers! Teams of two participated in stomping 18 pounds of grapes. The winners received the coveted Purple Foot Award, as well as a glass foot sculpture of the winners own feet by Grapevine’s Vetro Glassblowing Studio. This year’s winning team was Grape Expectations team featuring Cody Cheek and Abbey Soto, both of Cedar Hill, TX, stomping a total of 46¼ ounces of juice.
The 2012 Mayoral GrapeStomp featured mayors and/or city representatives from Carrollton, Colleyville, Combine, Coppell, Euless, Flower Mound, Grapevine, Irving, Keller, Pantego, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watuaga, and Westlake.
Special guests at the Mayoral GrapeStomp included representatives from Grapevine’s Sister Cities of Parras de la Fuente, Mexico and West Lothian, Scotland. The winners of the Most Juice Stomped Award were the team from West Lothian Scotland with 30.75 ounces of stomped juice. Some of the local team winners included City of Coppell with the Funniest Costume Award and the City of Carrollton with the Most Enthusiastic Award.
In addition, the 26th Annual GrapeFest welcomed Peter Magic, a nationally recognized carnival game winner who has spent years honing his gaming skills while working with his father at the Michigan State Fair. He has spent years
playing games at carnivals across the United States and winning prizes to donate to children in need. Peter won more than 40 stuffed animals at the 26th Annual GrapeFest. The prizes were presented to representatives from The Family Place, the largest family violence service provider in the Dallas area reaching out to thousands of victims of family violence each year.
In 2013, the 27th Annual GrapeFest will occur September 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Final festival attendance numbers will be available by end of business Wednesday, September 19. Contact Leigh Lyons at LLyons@GrapevineTexasUSA.com ( mailto:llyons@grapevinetexasusa.com ) or call 817-410-3195. For more information, visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com/GrapeFest ( http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/GrapeFest ).