FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Ann Kodmur, 707/963-9632, corking@julieannkodmur.com , www.zinposium.org or www.zinfandel.org

Digital photos available at www.zinfandel.org or on request

ZAP ANNOUNCES 2006 ZINPOSIUM

Theme: ‘The newest American revolution is 150 years old: THIS IS ZIN!'

Rough & Ready CA, spring 2006—Zinfandel Advocates & Producers is announcing its second Zinposium, to take place July 7-9, 2006, at The Meritage Hotel (875 Bordeaux Way, Napa CA 94558, 707/259-0633).

Zinposium is a “an outstanding opportunity to interact with top winemakers and Zinfandel leaders, to collect tools to promote America’s heritage grape, to travel to the source for in-depth sensory experiences and finally to learn about the unique and diverse characteristics of Zinfandel and how its versatility can translate into increased business,” explains Rebecca Robinson, Executive Director, Zinfandel Advocates & Producers. There will also be many tastings of Zinfandels in sessions illustrating price point, region, marketing, food pairings and ageability.

Members of the trade---retailers, restaurateurs, distributors, brokers---are welcome, as well as consumers. Tickets are $295/person for members of the trade (the Saturday dinner is $85 extra) and $375 for ZAP Advocates (dinner $85 extra). A consumer can join ZAP at the time they purchase tickets. Tickets can be purchased at www.zinfandel.org or by calling 530/274-4900. ZAP’s first Zinposium occurred in 2002 and was extremely popular; the organization now organizes a Zinposium once every few years.

The evening of July 7 will be a ‘refresher’ course on the uniqueness of Zinfandel, in a walk-around format with wines presented by appellation.

The Saturday July 8 session will begin with opening remarks by Karen MacNeil, author and educator, addressing the topic of Why Zinfandel: An Overview of Its Appeal.

Next will be a panel, The State of Zinfandel Today (speakers are Dr. James Wolpert, UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Department, Doug Frost, M.S., M.W., WineSight Technologies, and Wine Educator, Christian Miller, Full Glass Research) The panel will examine today’s supply and tomorrow’s demand for the world of Zinfandel. Attendees will gain insights into the business and market issues and view current research and analysis of the Zinfandel industry.

The next session will be Zin Takes the Heat: Debunking the Myths, moderated by Karen MacNeil, during which Paul Draper (Winemaker, Ridge Vineyards) and Joel Peterson (Winemaker, Ravenswood) will discuss the ageability of Zinfandel, while presenting mini-verticals of their own wines to illustrate their points.

Breakout sessions will be: Let’s Order Zin: What’s Driving On-Premise Sales, moderated by Doug Frost, wine educator and journalist. Frost will report on the state of Zinfandel on wine lists and unique approaches to presenting Zinfandel in the restaurant landscape. Based on his expertise, attendees will taste the top selling on-premise Zinfandels.

Let’s Take It Home: Zinfandel in the Retail Channel. Speakers will be Bert George (Joseph George Wines, San Jose), Jessie Salazar (Union Square Wine and Spirits, New York City), Mark Pucylowski (Sam’s, Chicago), Mark Albrecht (Cost Plus, Oakland) and Brian Sypher (Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, New York). These experts represent a cross-section of the retail channel and they will discuss the successes and challenges of selling Zinfandel. Explore Zinfandel merchandising, media influences, chain store competition, and on-line sales; there will be a tasting of top-selling Zinfandels from different price points.

Lunch will be followed by a busy afternoon. One session will be It’s a sin not to dine with Zin, presented by Tony Lawrence, who will explain Zinfandel’s versatility in the fine dining arena; his talk will include a tasting of specific foods and sauces with specific Zinfandels to illustrate his insights.

One afternoon session will be Standing Out From the Crowd: Zinfandel Marketing Innovations, moderated by Cyril Penn, the editor of Wine Business Monthly and Wine Business Insider. Penn will explore the vast array of innovative marketing tools and techniques in the Zinfandel marketplace, including alternative closures, unique packaging, heavy glass, large formats and creative communications.

Another session will be Zinfandel Culture: A Perspective on the Evolution of Zinfandel, a talk by Tish, respected wine journalist and wine educator (www.wineforall.com). Tish will give a wine critic’s perspective on Zinfandel’s unique popularity and enthusiastic customers.

On Saturday, July 8, the attendees will choose amongst a number of different wineries as the host venues for lively “Zinmaker Dinners,” hosted by Zinfandel wineries.

On Sunday, July 9, the attendees will visit vineyards in the morning in small groups and then join together for a closing ‘Zinday’ at The Heritage Vineyard in Oakville (administered by UC Davis’ Viticulture & Enology Department, the living lab where Zinfandels from all of California’s growing regions were collected from Zinfandel ‘safaris’ in the 1980s). Attendees will taste wines from the vineyard they’ve just walked through and hear first-hand from growers and winemakers how great wine starts in the vineyard.

Another important date to note: the 16th Annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Festival will take place at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on January 24 – 27, 2006; details at www.zinfandel.org. This summer ZAP has organized The Masters of Zin Cruise in the Mediterranean, which has sold out; plans are underway for the cruise in 2007 so stop by www.zinfandel.org for more information or to sign up.

Visit www.zinfandel.org to join ZAP, research Zinfandel and more! The Association of Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is a non-profit, educational 501(c)(3) organization. ZAP is dedicated to advancing public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Winegrowers, winemakers and wine enthusiasts combine to form the membership. The common focus is the preservation and recognition of Zinfandel as America’s heritage wine. ZAP’s membership includes approximately 300 winery-members, more than 5,000 advocate-members and 50 associate members.

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