FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tom Uribes

March 5, 2004

(559) 278-5366 or 246-1717

NOTE: Fresno State’s award-winning wines will be available at the Fresno State Winemaster's Weekend on March 5-7 at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite.

Fresno State Enology Wins International Wine Awards for Fourth Year

California State University, Fresno student-produced wines have again won international acclaim – including four gold medals, three best of class, and two best of variety -- all from grapes grown in the San Joaquin Valley.  Leading the vintage awards are several new releases. 

The 2002 Fresno County Orange Muscat and 2003 San Joaquin County Primitivo Rosé — each with a gold medal, best of class and best varietal — led ten Fresno State wines that won honors at the 14th Annual 2004 New World International Wine Competition in Ontario.

Another highly-decorated wine was the 2002 California Syrah, winning a gold medal and best of class honors.  The fourth wine to receive a prestigious gold medal was the California Port Dessert Wine.

A total of 14 awards will be presented to Fresno State’s Department of Viticulture and Enology representatives at the Inland Empire Wine Extravaganza, Gold Medal Showcase and Auction in Ontario later this spring. (See complete list below).

Winemaster Kenneth Fugelsang plans to attend this wine tasting and auction, limited to only medal winning wineries, and will accept any medals and trophies on behalf of the university’s winery.

Seven of these newly awarded wines will be among the many Fresno State wines featured at the Fresno State Winemaster's Weekend on March 5-7  at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite, located just 2 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Wine and food enthusiasts alike will have an opportunity to taste the award-winning 2003 San Joaquin County Primitivo Rosé at the reception that precedes the six-course gourmet dinner on Saturday evening, March 6, masterfully prepared by Chef Fred Clabaugh at the Tenaya Lodge. 

The 2002 Fresno County Orange Muscat, and 2002 San Joaquin County Petite Sirah are also among the wines that will be featured during this dinner.  Both are limited release vintages.

Some tickets and weekend packages are still available for this unique event that showcases Fresno State agricultural products during several activities featuring culinary and enology cooking demonstrations and wine tasting.

The New World Wine competition held in February 2003 was open to wines produced anywhere in the "New World" including all of North America, Central America and South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.  Over 3000 entries compete for honors.

Fugelsang said the 2002 Orange Muscat was produced from Muscat Canelli grapes grown in the John Diener Vineyard in Fresno County and from Muscat Canelli brandy.  The distillation of the Muscat Canelli was donated to the university by St. George Spirits in Alameda, California.

“This succulent wine features honey, hazelnut, apricot and citrus flavors,” Fugelsang said.  “Look for this wine to continue to garner more awards.”

The 2002 California Syrah was also produced from grapes grown in the John Diener Vineyards in Fresno County.  According to Fugelsang, this Syrah is a rich full-flavored style that will appeal to those who appreciate wine.

“Our gold medal California Port dessert wine, made in the traditional solera style, was aged in 60-gallon American oak cooperage for one to four years prior to bottling,” Fugelsang said.  “The result is a medium-bodied dessert wine with abundant black fruit, licorice, caramel, chocolate and brown spice flavors.”   

He said the 2003 Primitivo Rose is a unique wine with an abundance of berry aromas and flavors that is sure to be a popular choice for celebrations and light meal venues. 

 “We are very pleased at our student’s performance at the New World Wine Competition.  We have exceeded our previous best record in terms of gold and other super awards for our wines,” Fugelsang added.

Robert Wample, chair and director of the Department of Viticulture and Enology and Viticulture and Enology Research Center at Fresno State is also proud of this accomplishment.  “We have demonstrated once again that growers in the valley, using proper management practices, are capable of producing fruit that, in the hands of outstanding winemakers, can be made into award-winning wines,” he said.

In April (to be announced at a later date), Fugelsang will present the New World International award winning wines and medals at the university’s Farm Market on Chestnut and Barstow Avenues.  The student-produced award-winning wines can be purchased and autographed by Fugelsang at this event. 

Fresno State wines can be purchased at the university’s Farm Market, on the winery’s web site at www.FresnoStateWinery.com, or at several retail locations.

Limited production wines, including the 2002 Orange Muscat and 2002 Petite Sirah, are only available for purchase through the winery and/or on the winery’s website.  Contact Kevin Connor (559) 278-WINE (9463) for details.

Fresno State is the first university in the nation to establish a bonded winery on campus as part of its overall educational program. Operated independent of the university by the Agricultural Foundation, the state received its license in 1998 and now also sells its products in local retail outlets.  All proceeds from the market benefit the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology programs.

For more information on the Department of Viticulture and Enology, call 559 278-2089 or visit http://cast.csufresno.edu/ve. 

For more information on the Fresno State Winemaster’s Weekend at the Tenaya Lodge, visit www.FresnoStateWinery.com, contact the Tenaya Lodge reservations office at (877) 322-5492, or visit www.tenayalodge.com.

For more information about the Fresno State winery and wine events, including Vintage Days (April 17) and Vino Italiano (Apr. 22), visit the winery’s web site, visit www.FresnoStateWinery.com.

ABOUT THE FRESNO STATE WINEMASTER'S WEEKEND MARCH 5-6, 2004

Admission to attend the March 6 dinner is $85 per person.  One- and two-night overnight weekend packages are also available through the Tenaya Lodge.  Fresno State Alumni Association members will receive a 10% discount on all dinner and overnight reservations made this week for this event.

NOTE: For reservations, call (877) 322-5492. To see links with more details, the menu, planned activities and news updates, as well as coverage of last year's event, visit www.FresnoStateNews.com or www.tenayalodge.com.

2004 New World International

Fresno State Medals

Best Of Class, Best Of Variety, Gold And Silver Medalists:

• The 2002 Fresno County Orange Muscat (Best Muscat, Best of Class, Gold Medal) — produced from grapes grown by the John Diener Vineyard in Fresno County.

• The 2003 San Joaquin County Primitivo Rosé (Best of Rosé/Blush, Best of Class, and Gold Medal) – from the Duarte Linden Hills Vineyards in San Joaquin County.

• The 2002 California Syrah (Best of Class, Gold Medal) — produced from grapes grown by the John Diener Vineyard in Fresno County.

• The university’s non-vintage California Port Dessert Wine (Gold Medal) – from a blend of three vintages produced from grapes grown in Fresno and Madera counties.

• The 2002 San Joaquin County Petite Sirah (Silver Medal) – from the Duarte Linden Hills Vineyards in San Joaquin County.

•  The 2001 California Muscat Canelli (Silver Medal) — produced from grapes grown by John Diener in Fresno County.  

 • The 2001 San Joaquin County Barbera (Silver Medal) — produced from grapes grown by Duarte Nursery’s Linden Hills Vineyards near Stockton in San Joaquin County.

   • The 2002 San Joaquin County Barbera (Silver Medal) – from grapes grown by Duarte Nursery’s Linden Hills Vineyards near Stockton in San Joaquin County.

• The university’s non-vintage Red Wine Vinegar (Silver Medal) — produced from grapes grown in Fresno State Vineyards.

 1) MEDIA AVAILAVBILITY:  International Wine Awards for Fresno State Announced

Fresno State Winemaster Ken Fugelsang will be available today at 1 p.m. to comment on the awards that Fresno State wines won recently at the 14th Annual 2004 New World International Wine Competition in Ontario. The awards were announced yesterday.

The 2002 Fresno County Orange Muscat and 2003 San Joaquin County Primitivo Rosé — each with a gold medal, best of class and best varietal — led ten Fresno State wines that won honors. For the full press release see www.FresnoStatenews.com or call (559) 278-2795:

 • FRIDAY (March 5) Afternoon

In Fresno: 1- 2 p.m at the Fresno State Winery. Call: (559) 246-1717 or 259-3330.

• FRIDAY NIGHT and SATURDAY (March 6)

He will also be available at the Winemaster Weekend event at Tenaya Lodge (near Yosemite). Call to set up time: (559) 246-1717 or 259-3330.

2. PHOTO OPP:  Winemaster Weekend Workshops And Activities

Saturday, March 6

10 – 11:30 am             Wine Barrel Making Demonstration

                                    Featured speaker: Steve Tillman, Mendocino Cooperage -- An up close and personal chance to learn the art of barrel making and the impact/influence on the winemaking process. Fresno State sausages, cheeses and port served.

1-2 p.m.                       Culinary Demonstration  -- Wine and Food Pairing Workshop

                                    Featured speakers: Tenaya Lodge’s Executive Chef Fred Clabaugh and Fresno State’s Winemaster Ken Fugelsang. An interactive discussion of wine and food pairing plus demonstration of a three-course culinary

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite presents the 2004 California State University, Fresno Winemaster’s Dinner Weekend

March 5-6, 2004

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2004

6:00 – 8:00 pm                        Welcome Wine Reception

Informal gathering to mix, mingle and meet Fresno State Winemaker Ken Fugelsang, Tenaya Lodge Executive Chef Frederick Clabaugh and event guest speakers. 3 varieties of Fresno State wines will be served.

8:00 – 9:00 pm                        Wine and Music Pairing

Featured speaker: Clark Smith, winemaker for WineSmith of Sebastopol, and co-owner of Vinovation Inc. of Sebastopol. A fun, interactive and entertaining event  demonstrating how good wine and good music complement each other. Fresno State wines, cheeses, nuts and fruits served.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2004

10:00 – 11:30 am                    Wine Barrel Making Demonstration

                                                Featured speaker: Steve Tillman, Mendocino Cooperage

An up close and personal chance to learn the art of barrel making and the impact/influence on the winemaking process. Fresno State sausages, cheeses and port served.

1:30 – 2:30 pm                        Culinary Demonstration (Wine and Food Pairing Workshop)

Featured speakers: Tenaya Lodge’s Executive Chef Fred Clabaugh and Fresno State’s Winemaster Ken Fugelsang. An interactive discussion of wine and food pairing plus demonstration of a three-course culinary feast to include:

Chilled Spiced Watermelon Soup with Jicama Jalapeno Salsa, Pan Seared California Halibut with Citrus Tarragon Salsa

 and Strawberry Tart with Chocolate Almond Crust.

Food and wine samples served.

6:30 – 7:00 pm                        Winemaster Dinner Reception

             2003 San Joaquin County Primitivo Rose

7:00 – 9:30 pm                        Winemaster’s Dinner

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