JULY 2006-The 2006 New York Wine & Food Classic competition will be held on August 14-16 at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua, the northwest gateway to Finger Lakes wine country, the site of the 2005 Classic as well.

The Inn is adjacent to the brand new New York Wine & Culinary Center, a culinary tourism gateway featuring New York wines, foods and agriculture. The majority of judges are from other states, including several from California, providing them with a unique opportunity to not only sample the wines but also experience the region and the new Center. (See listing of judges below.)

"We are excited about hosting the Classic in Canandaigua again this year," said Jim Trezise, President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation which organizes the event. "Last year the judges just saw an empty, overgrown field which has since been transformed into a world- class, five-star facility attracting thousands of eager visitors. I am delighted that Mark Chandler and Peter Marks will be joining us as judges this year, since they were very generous in sharing information that helped us develop the Center."

Mark Chandler is Executive Director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, which runs the Lodi Visitor Center in that northern California region. Peter Marks, Master of Wine, is Curator of Wine at COPIA-The American Center for Wine, Food & The Arts in Napa. Trezise visited both facilities in early 2001 to begin the conceptual process for the Center in Canandaigua.

Last summer, the Wine Spectator featured the Finger Lakes region as one the country's finest destinations for great regional wine and food, a reputation that the Center will enhance. This spring, the magazine devoted a cover and 40-page spread to the New York wine industry, and also became one of the Center's founding sponsors.

Known as "The Oscars" of New York wine, the competition is open to all New York wineries and this year will include over 650 entries from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie and the Niagara Escarpment regions, as well as other parts of the state. While the wine competition is a focus, the event also emphasizes wine as a food that enhances, and is enhanced by, other foods. Again this year the focus will be on the foods of the Finger Lakes. About a dozen Finger Lakes wineries now have fine restaurants on premise, and some of their culinary creations will be part of the festivities.

A "Welcome Dinner" for judges and staff will be held on Monday evening, August 14 at the New York Wine & Culinary Center. Using the 18-cook top Hands-On Kitchen sponsored by Viking Range, judge Jerry Pellegrino-the Chef/Owner of wine-focused Corks restaurant in Baltimore-will guide other volunteer judges into whipping up the Welcome Dinner for judges and backroom staff. A selection of premium wines from around the world will be offered by Constellation Brands, the driving force behind the Center's creation. (Judges are not allowed to taste New York wines before the actual judging to ensure they don't taste any that might be entered in the competition.)

On Tuesday evening, the judges and staff will board the Canandaigua Lady paddlewheel boat for a 3-hour sunset cruise around Canandaigua Lake. The grazing dinner will include delicious creations from Steamboat Landing, Fox Run Café, Red Newt Bistro, and Sheldrake Point Café as well as a selection of cheeses from McCadam Cheese, grape tarts from Arbor Hill Winery, fabulous Mercer's Ice Cream and delicious Saratoga Spring Water. The Canandaigua Wine Trail will be sponsoring the wine for this scenic and relaxing dinner.

After the conclusion of the competition late Wednesday morning, the multi- course "Governor's Cup Luncheon", for the unveiling of the top winning wines, will be held at the Inn. The luncheon will be created by the Chef Tony Gullace based around the top scoring wines from last year's Classic. Governor George Pataki has been invited to preside over the festivities, as he did last year, and to present the Governor's Cup for the wine judged to be "Best of Show".

Results of the 2005 New York Wine & Food Classic, as well as the hundreds of Gold medals that New York wines have won in other competitions, are available by clicking on "New York Gold" at www.newyorkwines.org. The 2006 Classic results will be available on line shortly after the competition concludes.

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation's goal is "To have the New York grape and wine industry recognized as a world leader in quality, productivity, and social responsibility."

Judges for the 2006 Classic include:
Julie Arkell, Freelance Wine Writer, London, England
Linda Bramble, Wine Writer/Wine Educator, Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Ontario, Canada
Ellie Butz, Enology Specialist, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Hudson Cattell, Co-Publisher, Wine East, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Mark Chandler, Executive Director, Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission
Rene Chazottes, Maitre Sommelier, The Pacific Club, Newport Beach, California
Bill Dowd, Associate Editor, Albany Times Union, Albany, New York
Mike Dunne, Food Editor, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California
Traci Dutton, Wine Director, Culinary Institute of America, Napa, California
Lorraine Hems, Instructor-Hospitality & Service Mgmt., Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Linda Lawry, Director, International Wine Center, New York, New York
Fred LeBrun, Columnist, Albany Times Union, Albany, New York
Ann Littlefield, Direct Wine Marketing Specialist, Napa, California
Bill Mahoney, Manager Premium Wine & Spirits, Williamsville, New York
Peter Marks, MW, Curator of Wine, Copia, Napa, California
Tim McDonald, Director of Fine Wine Communications, E & J Gallo, Napa, California
Hope Merletti, Co-Publisher, Vineyard & Winery Management, Watkins Glen, New York
Ann Miller, Executive Director, Missouri Grape & Wine Program, Rolla, Michigan
Bill Moffett, Publisher Emeritus and Coordinator Grand Harvest Awards, Vineyard & Winery Management, Watkins Glen, New York
Jerry Pellegrino Chef/Owner, CORKS, Baltimore, Maryland
Mike Riley, Category Manager/Buyer Wine and Spirits, Wegmans, Princeton, New Jersey
Coke Roth, Wine Consultant, Kennewick, Washington
Sandra Silfven, Wine Writer, Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan
Dr. Bob Small, Director, Cal Poly University, Pomona, California

Media Contact: Jim Trezise, 585-394-3620, ext. 203, jimtrezise@nywgf.org

Additional Contact for this Subject: Kim Kelsey, ext.206, kimkelsey@nywgf.org