FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              

Contact: Tom Uribes

March 13, 2002                        

(559) 278-2795 or News pager 261-6189

www.fresnostatenews.com

Tenaya Lodge:  Catherine Boire, (707) 255-5997

Tenaya Public Information: (800) 635-5807

www.tenayalodge.com

Fresno State and Yosemite -- A Classic

Fresno State Wines Will Be Featured April 6 At
Tenaya Lodge’s ‘Toast To The Sierra’ Wine Event

NEW! See Tenaya Lodge's full release

Menu at the Event

The “Toast of the Sierra” dinner at Tenaya Lodge near Yosemite National Park will showcase California State University, Fresno’s Viticulture and Enology programs on Saturday, April 6.

Fresno State’s award-winning student-produced wines will be featured at the lodge’s final event of its spring winemaker dinner series prepared by Tenaya Lodge’s Executive Chef, Frederick Clabaugh.

Fresno State Winemaster Kenneth Fugelsang, an associate professor of enology, will provide an overview of the wines and winemaking style for each course of the dinner which will be served at 7 p.m. following a 6:30 p.m. welcome reception in Tenaya’s Grand Ballroom overlooking the Sierra National Forest

Cost for the dinner is $85 per person, including wines, tax and gratuity. 

Fresno State is the only university in the nation with a facility licensed to operate as a “commercial” winery as part of its overall educational program. Operated independent of the university by the Agricultural Foundation, the state received its license in 1998 and sells its products in the foundation’s Farm Market located on campus as well as local retail outlets. All proceeds from the Farm Market, located on Chestnut and Barstow avenues, benefit the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology programs.

The university wines, produced by students under the direction of Fugelsang with grapes grown both on campus vineyards and in partnership with growers throughout the Valley, have won top awards at California State Fair competition and last month at the Jerry Mead International Wine Competition for the second year in a row.

Tenaya Lodge, a 244-room world-class resort property set on 35 acres bordering the Sierra Nevada National Forest and two miles from the south entrance to Yosemite National Park, is owned and operated by Delaware North Parks Services, one of the nation’s leading hospitality management companies.

For reservations or more information, contact the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite at (877) 322-5492 or visit online at www.tenayalodge.com.

Fresno State Winery 

The Winery at Fresno State is a nonprofit operation of the Agricultural Foundation of California State University, Fresno, a recognized nonprofit auxiliary organization. The winery is licensed by the State of California to sell its products to the public. As a result of the winery operations of the Agricultural Foundation, Fresno State is the only university in the nation with a facility licensed to operate as a “commercial” winery as part of its overall educational program. All proceeds from the winery operations support the university’s education and research in the College of Agriculture and Science Technology, which administers the Fresno State Viticulture Research and Enology Center where the winery is located. 

BIO - Fresno State Winemaster Kenneth Fugelsang

Fresno State Winemaster Kenneth Fugelsang, an associate professor of enology, joined the California State University, Fresno faculty in 1972. He received his master’s in Zoology and Botany from Fresno State in 1972.  His areas of expertise are in wine stability and microbiology. In 1990 he was awarded the Claude Laval Research Award for Innovative Technology and was also honored by the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology as the Salgo-Noren recipient for excellence in teaching and advising.

EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: University Relations provides press releases via email for news media companies. To be added to the distribution list, send your address to tomu@csufresno.edu. Thank you.

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