Roseburg, Ore. — Demand is high for the new V.I.P. tickets being offered for this year’s Greatest of The Grape, Oregon’s premier wine and food pairing event. For the first time ever, wine and food enthusiasts with a V.I.P ticket can get exclusive access to Greatest of The Grape a full hour before the doors officially open. Already, nearly half of the allotted 100 V.I.P tickets have been sold. General admission tickets are selling quickly as well, putting the 2013 Greatest of the Grape on track for its fourth consecutive sellout.
The Greatest of The Grape will be held March 2nd at The Grand Ballroom of Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon. Now in its 43rd year, Greatest of The Grape is the oldest wine festival in Oregon, and it is one of the few festivals in the region that focuses on the pairing of a specially prepared dish with every wine served.
“As the event has become more popular, the lines to get in have been getting longer and longer”, says Rob Ikola, Co-Chairperson of the event. “With the V.I.P tickets, we’ve found a way to alleviate the wait by providing exclusive access to patrons who want it without raising prices for people who want to attend the same great event they’ve enjoyed in the past.”
This year, 28 wineries from Oregon’s Umpqua Valley and beyond will be serving a select vintage alongside a unique dish created especially for it by a local chef. The V.I.P option offers a rare opportunity for participants to linger a bit longer over each pairing and discuss it with the winemakers and the other with enthusiasts in attendance. And everyone who attends is invited to vote on The People’s Choice Awards for Best Wine, Best Food and Best Wine and Food Pairing.
V.I.P tickets for priority admission at 6pm are $100. General Admission tickets with a 7pm entry are $75. Tickets are available online at www.umpquavalleywineries.org or in person at Melrose Vineyards, Becker Vineyards, Abacela Vineyards, and at Pedotti’s Restaurant in Sutherlin. Proceeds benefit The Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association and provide scholarships for students in The Viticulture and Enology program at Umpqua Community College.
