Contact:

Wendy Talarico
(909) 865-4263
or Renee Hernandez
(909) 865-4261

        Wine connoisseurs and novices alike can attend wine tasting and education classes at the L.A. County Fair’s wine tasting and education center, The Vineyard, presented by Ralphs and located in the Home and Gardens Neighborhood. The Fair will run Sept. 12-28.
         As the Fair’s wine tasting and education center, The Vineyard provides an opportunity for Fairguests to taste more than 300 gold medal winning-wines at $1.50 per ounce.  The wines are from the Fair’s prestigious Wines of the World competition, which was held in May.  In this year’s competition approximately 4,000 wines from 800 wineries were entered.  The gold and silver medal winners will be on display at The Vineyard during the Fair.
         “This is a great opportunity to taste an array of wines,” said Mary Ellen Cole, Fairplex cellar master. “We have wines from Argentina, South Africa and Australia as well as California and European wines.”
         Fairguests who attend classes will learn from industry experts about what to look for in particular wines.  The expert wine judges will also explain how to taste and judge wine and what to expect from wine.  Fairguests may then participate in “You Be the Wine Judge” classes.  A variety of wines will be offered to test the taste buds. The “Guess Which Wine?” seminars will enable participants to taste five different wine varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  Experts will explain the characteristics of each wine while participants attempt to guess each wine they taste. And what chocolate goes best with which wine? Find out at The Vineyard.
        Wine classes are $7.50 and they are offered at various times throughout each day of the Fair.  Participants will receive five tastes of wine, one gold medal taste ticket and a wine judge ribbon.
       Located in The Vineyard, The Crushed Grape is a retail store where commemorative wineglasses, wine books and other wine-related items are available for purchase.
      Also available at The Vineyard will be beer tasting from the entries in the L.A. County Fair

Commercial Beer Competition.
 Following is a schedule of the wine education classes:
• Sept. 12, 5 p.m. – Harmonies of Wine & Food Tasting
• Sept. 12, 7 p.m. – European vs. California Wine – Is There a Difference?
• Sept. 13, 1 p.m. – Wine with Asian or Fusion Foods
• Sept. 13, 3 p.m. – Guess Which Wine? – White
• Sept. 13, 5 p.m. – Guess Which Wine? – Red
• Sept. 13, 7 p.m. – You be the Wine Judge – Bordeaux & Meritage
• Sept. 14, 1 p.m. – Harmonies of Wine & Cheese Pairing
• Sept. 14, 3 p.m. – You be the Wine Judge – Chardonnay
• Sept. 14, 5 p.m. – Guess Which Wine?
• Sept. 14, 7 p.m. – You be the Judge – Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sept. 15, 7 p.m. – Pinot Noirs from Around the World
• Sept. 16, 2:30 p.m. – Cooking with Chef Henry Gonzales of Spaggi’s Restaurant
• Sept. 16, 7 p.m. – Guess Which Wine?
• Sept. 17, 7 p.m. – Chardonnays from Around the World
• Sept. 18, 2:30 p.m. – Cooking with Chef Henry Gonzales
• Sept. 18, 7 p.m. – Harmonies of Food & Wine Tasting
• Sept. 19, 5 p.m. – Aromatic Wines
• Sept. 19, 7 p.m. – Sparkling Wines of the World with Sabering Demonstration
• Sept. 20, 11 a.m. – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sept. 20, 1 p.m. – Summer Wine & Food Pairing
• Sept. 20, 3 p.m. – Guess Which Wine?
• Sept. 20, 5 p.m. – Rieslings from Around the World
• Sept. 20, 7 p.m. – Sparkling Wines of the World with Sabering Demonstration
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