2nd Annual Cult Wine Classic Celebrates California's Greatest Wines and Winemakers; The 'Cult Tradition' Alive and Well
Wednesday September 1, 11:00 am ET

NAPA, Calif., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Got Cult Wines? Wine enthusiasts from across the country will gather in San Francisco at the 2nd Annual "CULT WINES CLASSIC" to celebrate the finest red wines and winemakers in California. The event takes place on October 29th 2004 at the Ritz Carlton, the limited and much coveted tickets go on sale today via the internet.

The Cult Wine Classic was conceived by Mark Russo of Angel's Share, a Bay area company which creates fabulous food, wine, spirits and lifestyle events in California and around the country. According to Russo the winetasting extravaganza is a unique affair. "As far as we know it's the only place in the country where you can enjoy ten to fifteen 'cult' wines in a single location. Our Cult Wine Classic isn't a competition -- we don't rate or rank the wines -- it's simply a wonderful evening where people can taste these very special and hard to get wines in an elegant atmosphere and with tremendous food and good friends. It's a way for us to celebrate the winemakers and the winery owners who create these outstanding products for us to enjoy. I've heard that 'cult wines' is a dead concept, well people are flying in from all points of the country just to attend this unique wine dinner. We've more than doubled our crowd from last time, the event sells out quickly. And next year we want to host this event on the East Coast as well as in the West, and possibly bring it to the country's hottest wine and food locale -- Las Vegas."

The event will honor a single winemaker with a special award, "The Golden Barrel," given to a vintner who distinguishes their self above the host of winemakers and over 1,200 wineries in California. This is the first year for the Golden Barrel Award, which will go to Philippe Melka, a Bordeaux native noted for crafting some of the finest "cult " wines that collectors find irresistible. Several other cult winemakers and winery owners will also attend the affair.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Spencer Christian, popular ABC/KGO TV weatherman and known around the country as a former host of the Good Morning America TV show. Cult Wine Classic sponsors include a bevy of high end lifestyle companies and wine industry partners such as the Ritz Carlton Club, Elite Traveler Magazine, Crystal Cruises, Fine Wine Travel, Zino Platinum Cigars, Spiegelau, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Demptos Cooperage, Broadbent Selections and others.

Guests will arrive decked out in tuxedos and evening gowns ready to enjoy over a dozen wines, outstanding hors d'ouevres and a formal six-course dinner presented by renowned Ritz Carlton chefs Jean-Pierre Dubray and Braddly Bennick. The event will finish with a selection of fine cigars, cognacs and ports on the Terrace Room courtyard.

The evening features such notable wines as Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Bryant Family, Shafer, Abreau, David Arthur and other "cult" wines known to drive wine enthusiasts and wine buyers into a frenzy. Cult Wine event producer Russo explains, "We wanted to create a fabulous environment so people can enjoy these wines, which are typically unavailable to the average consumer. As a special bonus we hand-pick eight to ten 'next generation' cult wines, wines we feel are every bit as good as the heavy hitters but people haven't heard about yet. The advantage is you can still buy them, and they're a bargain compared to what you pay for cult wines at retail. Those are wines like the incredibly rich and juicy LookOut Ridge pinot, Barnett's wonderful Rattlesnake Vineyard cabs, and Showket, a truly outstanding wine made by Heidi Barrett-Peterson the winemaker at Screaming Eagle."

The beneficiary is the American Institute of Wine and Food Norcal "Days of Taste" program, which was developed by Julia Child to educate schoolchildren about nutrition. A special toast honoring the life and achievements of Julia Child and the Days of Taste program will be given, underwritten by Krug Champagne.

The festivities include a live auction with unique lifestyle and wine lots. Special auction lots include a wine cruise to Australia and New Zealand aboard Crystal Cruise Line's ultra luxury ship "Serenity," a custom wine tasting led by international port and Madeira expert Bartholomew Broadbent, a specially etched and painted 1000 ml bottle of Grace Family Vineyards 2000 cabernet; a foie gras and sauterne tasting for ten; plus a brand new Harley Davidson V-Rod motorcycle with a wine touring package in the Napa valley.

Tickets and a complete description of the wines, menu and auction lots are available through the official website, www.cultwineclassic.com or by calling 866-615-7661. Tickets are $425 per person, the event is limited to 125 persons.

For more information contact:
Mark Russo Angel's Share (415) 806 4625
Email: mark@angelsshare.com