From: "Mike Libbee" To: "Friends of Claar" Subject: MerlotFest--A Wine and Food Adventure Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 12:10:16 -0700 Dear Friends, Claar Cellars is proud to join with the Yakima Valley Winery Association to sponsor our first annual MerlotFest, A Wine and Food Adventure, the weekend of 26-28 July. The weekend begins at 6:30 Friday evening when participating wineries team with outstanding local restaurants in a "Meet the Maker" hour. Mingle with those responsible for making some of the best wines in Washington State, while sampling great wines and appetizers. Follow the winemakers into the Presentation Dinner, where you will discover a delectable menu, drink award-winning Merlots, bid on unique wine items, and enjoy an unforgettable evening. Dress for the dinner is casual and the cost is $80 per person. Claar Cellars will sponsor at least one reserved table and we hope you will consider joining us. (I have four half-price seats available to the first Friends of Claar who contact me. After those are gone, I will be happy to make arrangements for you, but it will be at full cost.) Spend the remainder of the weekend touring the beautiful Yakima Valley Appellation, where many of our top wineries will be featuring special activities. Renowned pastry chef Ivone Petzinger will be at Claar Cellars from 12:00 to 4:00 PM Saturday with her incredible "Warm Spice Cake, Mascarpone Ice Cream and Cherry Poblano Wine Sauce," which she designed specifically for pairing with our 1998 Claar Cellars Merlot. (This wine, which recently took a silver medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, will be available to the public for the first time at our tasting room that weekend at a reduced price.) We hope this will become a premier annual event that will complement Red Wine and Chocolate, Spring Barrel Tasting, and Thanksgiving in Wine Country. Come give us a hand getting started! More information is available on the Internet at www.merlotfest.com or by calling 509-469-8170. Sincerely, Mike Michael W. Libbee Retail Sales Manager Claar Cellars 509-829-6810 FAX: 509-829-6812 zillah@claarcellars.com zillah2@earthlink.net 1001 Vintage Valley Parkway Zillah, WA 98953