NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
3 May 2004

INAUGURAL CENTRAL PA WINE FESTIVAL SET FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 AT HILTON HOTEL AND TOWERS; 100 OF WORLD’S TOP VINTERS TO ATTEND

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed, PA Liquor Control Board Chairman Jonathan H. Newman, and Harristown Vice President William Kohl today announced plans for the first-ever Central Pennsylvania Wine Festival, slated for Wednesday, May 5th, at the Harrisburg Hilton on Market Square. The daylong festival is part of Pennsylvania Wine Week 2004, and is highlighted by the attendance of one hundred of the world’s top vintners, with many of the attending owners or their winemakers making their first visit ever to Pennsylvania.

Reed said the inaugural Central Pennsylvania Wine Festival is being held in conjunction with similar festivals in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, all of which have been designed by PLCB Chairman Jonathan H.Newman to increase the profile of Pennsylvania’s winemaking industry, and educate consumers about fine wines and winemaking. The Central Pennsylvania Wine Festival is a direct outgrowth of the highly successful Tres Bonne Annee wine festival held each September at the Hilton.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for wine lovers to taste and purchase some of the finest wines in the world,” said Mayor Reed. “Many of the products being offered at the Festival are otherwise unavailable to Pennsylvania consumers, and this will be their one and only chance to purchase wines from vintners that are not normally carried in Pennsylvania’s State Stores.

“We are also honored to serve as the host community for such a prestigious gathering of vintners and winery owners. Many are making their first-ever visits to Harrisburg and we appropriately extend our appreciation for their attendance.”

Reed said the inaugural Central Pennsylvania Wine Festival begins at 3:00 p.m. with opening remarks from PLCB Chairman Jonathon H. Newman, “who has worked tirelessly to improve Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board and the services and products it provides to Pennsylvania consumers,” said the Mayor.

An invitation-only tasting program for wine industry officials and Workers will be followed by a public Grand Tasting program, open to everyone, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the Grand Tasting start at $75 per person, and includes the tastings of over 400 wines, food, and the opportunity to purchase the featured wines.

The Mayor said the event is being sponsored by the Central Penn Business Journal, Tres Bonne Annee, the PA Liquor Control Board, and the Hilton, with additional support provided by Mountz Jewelers, Stevens & Lee Lawyers and Consultants, CommunityBank, Keller Financial Group, World Premier Home Theater, Bearing Point and WHP TV-21.

For more information on the Central Pennsylvania Wine Festival, please call (717) 214.ARTS for tickets, or visit www.centralpawinefestival.com.

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