The Culinary Institute of America

Contact:

Cate Conniff
Marketing Manager
707-967-2303
c_connif@culinary.edu

Tyfanni Peters
Media Relations
707-967-2322
t_peters@culinary.edu

St. Helena, CA, August 8, 2008 – Join world-renowned wine writer and critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. for a tasting of wines from the 2005 Bordeaux vintage at the Robert M. Parker, Jr. Annual Seminar & Tasting held at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the annual event provides scholarships to the CIA Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies. A sparkling wine reception will follow the tasting, which takes place on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. in the college's Ecolab Theatre.

The tasting will feature 18 of the extraordinary growths of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage, including all five of the Premiers Grand Crus of the Left Bank and several of the top wines from the Right Bank. The five Premiers Grand Crus from the Left Bank at the tasting have a current case price in excess of $75,000 and "are likely to become primarily museum pieces given their astonishing price climbs." (The Wine Advocate, April 2008)

Robert Parker, perhaps more than anyone, has defined modern wine criticism with his writing, tasting notes, and ratings published in his bi-monthly newsletter, The Wine Advocate. Parker hails the 2005 Bordeaux vintage as "the greatest vintage produced during my 30-year career…extraordinarily rich, concentrated, massive wines so high in tannin and extract, yet with such precision, definition, and freshness." (The Wine Advocate, April 2008 and April 2006)

The Parker Tasting & Seminar has been standing-room-only every year and with this year's event will have raised a total of $1 million, providing some $50,000 per year in scholarships for students pursuing wine education and certfication at the CIA Rudd Center.

One recent student recipient is Kellie Stafford of Austin, TX, who used her scholarship to attend the CIA's month-long Wine Immersion program in the spring of 2008. "The scholarship made a huge difference in my life," says Stafford, who upon returning to Austin made a big career change by working for a wine distributor.

Seating is limited for this once-in-a-lifetime tasting of the remarkable 2005 Bordeaux vintage and the rare opportunity to be guided through these tastings with one of the world's greatest wine authorities. The price, $2,000 per person, includes a charitable contribution of $1,000.

To reserve your seat, please contact Reuben Katz at r_katz@culinary.edu or call 707-967-2305.

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Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees, as well as certificate programs, in either culinary arts or baking and pastry arts. As the world's premier culinary college, the CIA has a network of more than 37,000 alumni that includes industry leaders such as Grant Achatz, Anthony Bourdain, Cat Cora, Harold Dieterle, Steve Ells, Todd English, Duff Goldman, Sara Moulton, Charlie Palmer, and Roy Yamaguchi. The college has campuses in New York (Hyde Park), California (The CIA at Greystone, St. Helena), and Texas (San Antonio), as well as an additional location in New York City (Astor Center, Manhattan). In addition to its degree programs, the CIA also offers courses for professionals and food enthusiasts, as well as wine education. For more information, and a complete listing of program offerings at each site, visit the CIA online at www.ciachef.edu.

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