THE 6th ANNUAL SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

WINE WEEKEND GETAWAY PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Hotel Accommodations, VIP Experiences and Premier Tastings Available in Travel Packages for the 6th Annual Festival Held November 18-22

San Diego, CA (September 3, 2009) - The producers of the 6th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (November 18-22) announced today the availability of Wine Weekend Getaway packages for the avid wine and food traveler. Wine and food enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience Southern California's largest wine and food festival with affordable packages that put them right in the action, said Michelle Metter, the Festival's co-producer.

"The packages offered at this year's Festival give attendees the option of enjoying an extraordinary wine weekend getaway filled with award-winning wine, gourmet foods, celebrity chefs, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, and more," added Metter. "Our packaged deals give attendees an experience of downtown San Diego's unique hotels and VIP accommodations combined with the culinary excellence found only at the Festival, and create savings that food and wine lovers will raise their glasses to."

The 2009 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival offers two packaged deals including:

Wine Weekend "Grape Escape" Package:
2 tickets to the Reserve Tasting
2 tickets to the Grand Event (General Admission)
2 nights hotel (Choice of participating property)

Packages range from $679 to $890 based on hotel selection

Wine Weekend VIP Treatment Package:
2 tickets to the Reserve Tasting
2 VIP tickets to the Grand Event
2 Cooking or Wine Tasting Class tickets (Choice of wine or cooking class while supplies last)
2 nights hotel (Choice of participating property)

Packages range from $829 to $1037 based on hotel selection

Participating Hotels include:
San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Se San Diego
Omni San Diego

(more)

Events included in the package give attendees their best opportunities to sample from over 800 different wines and 70 of the city's top restaurants.  Events include:

Reserve & New Release Tasting
An exclusive and elegant evening for collectors of fine wine, the Reserve & New Release Tasting (November 20) sets the stage for wine enthusiasts to taste the pride of the vine from 160 wineries and spirits producers. Guests will also enjoy cuisine from 10 gourmet food companies and more. Exciting silent auction items such as large format bottles, libraries, and decanters will take the spotlight this year with proceeds benefiting the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship programs.

Grand Tasting
The star-studded Grand Tasting Event will be held on November 21 at the Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village.  Seventy of San Diego's star chefs show off their culinary artistry, 30 gourmet food companies will wow food and wine enthusiasts with their scrumptious fare, and 170 international winemakers and spirits producers pour some of the most renowned wines and spirits on the market today.  Also featured at this year's event will be a cookbook author signing tent, live entertainment and the "Chef of the Fest" competition!

Cooking & Wine Tasting Classes (VIP Package Only)
Held at the Macy's School of Cooking and the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center on November 19 & 20, the celebrity chefs and wine experts participating in this year's Festival will strut their stuff in these interactive and engaging classes. Each chef hosting a cooking class will prepare a series of mouth-watering dishes with instruction and recipes provided so that attendees can make the dishes at home. Cooking class attendees will taste their host's cuisine paired with one of the wineries featured at this year's Festival. Wine tasting classes feature discussions led by award-winning winemakers, sommeliers and master sommeliers from around the world. Guests will sample between five and seven wines per wine tasting class.

To take advantage of these special San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Wine Weekend packages call 877-385-9595.
        
For a complete schedule of events or to purchase tickets for the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival outside of the package deals, please visit www.worldofwineevents.com or call 619-342-7337.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

The 6th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is an international showcase of the world's premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods. Held November 18-22, 2009, the event benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program. Over 800 wines, 70 of San Diego's top fine dining restaurants and 30 gourmet food companies and exhibitors will participate in the 2009 Festival. For more information on Wine Weekend Getaway packages, please visit www.worldofwineevents.com.

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