AIT, Northwest Wine Coalition Launchwine Promotion Tour in Taiwan March 12-17, 2009

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Logo

PR-0907E | The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) of the American Institute in Taiwan, in conjunction with The Northwest Wine Coalition (http://www.northwestwine.org), is pleased to announce the launch of the Northwest Wine Promotional Tour in Taiwan.

The Northwest Wine Coalition has the singular mission of introducing quality wineries in their region to wine enthusiasts all over the world.  The 14-member delegation, arriving in Taiwan on March 12, collectively represents a total of 27 Washington and Oregon wineries and more than 70 wines.

The Northwest Wine Tour will visit Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, and at each stop delegates and guests will partake in wine seminars, grand wine tastings, and a dinner featuring Northwest wines.  All wine seminars, led by resident wine expert Vivien Chen, will be open to wine importers and food and beverage managers.  A wide range of varietals will be featured and sampled, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, etc.  Through the series of professional seminars and grand wine tasting fairs, Taiwan oenophiles will have better understanding of these boutique U.S. Northwest wines, and consumers will have a wider range of choice in the future.

The ATO is also working with the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei, Hotel One Taichung, Grand Hi-Lai Kaohsiung, and importers of Northwest wines to organize winemaker’s dinners in each of the respective cities.  Each dinner, which will include Northwest Wine Coalition delegates, invited guests, and ATO Staff, will be the kick-off to menu promotions featuring wines from the Northwest.  Following the kick-off dinners, participating restaurants will allow diners to select from specially designed menus featuring gourmet food and wines from the U.S. Pacific Northwest and provide lucky draw tickets, with a chance to win prizes such as free Northwest Airline tickets, hotel stays, and dinner coupons.

The highlight of the promotional tour will be the AIT Agricultural Appreciation Banquet “A Symphony of Great American Wine & Chinese Cuisine” to be held at the National Palace Museum’s Silks Palace Restaurant on March 13.  Guests will enjoy their favorite Chinese cuisine paired with six wines from the Northwest region of the United States. Fan Tsung Pei “Cello Fan”, owner of the Gourmet Cello and Cello Pasta restaurants, will be choosing a musical selection to accompany each food and wine pairing.  It will be a special event designed to celebrate AIT ATO’s great partners and the exciting Northwest Wine Promotional Tour.

For more information on the Northwest Wine Promotional Tour, please contact Katherine Lee of AIT’s Agricultural Trade Office at (02) 2705-6536, ext. 245.  Please sign up for the seminar and the grand wine tasting.  Invitation will be sent upon the completion of your registration.  Here is the link to download the sign-up sheet:

http://www.jobank.com.tw/pic/edm/wine/registration.pdf


NORTHWEST WINE PROMOTIONAL TOUR – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TAIPEI

  • Friday, March 13th – Silks Palace Restaurant, National Palace Museum
    • Seminar 1-3:00 PM
    • Grand Wine Tasting  3-4:30 PM
    • AIT Agricultural Appreciation Dinner 6-9:30 PM
  • Saturday, March 14th – Robin’s Grill, Regent Hotel
    • Gala Dinner 7-9:30PM
  • Northwest Wine Menu Promotion
    • Restaurant: Robin’s Grill Grand Formosa Regent Taipei (02) 2523-1321
    • Date: March 15th – 29th
    • Set Menu Price: Lunch specials between 1,050-1,100 NT with 10% Service Charge
      Dinner specials between 1,250 ?1,675 NT with 10% Service Charge

TAICHUNG

  • Monday, March 16th – Hotel ONE , (04) 2303-1234
    • Seminar 1-3:00 PM
    • Grand Wine Tasting 3-5 PM
    • Wine Maker’s Dinner 6-8:30PM
  • Northwest Wine Menu Promotion
    • Restaurant: Top of ONE – 46th Floor, Hotel ONE Taichung (04) 2303-1234
    • Date: March 17th – April 14th
    • Set Menu Price: 2,280 NT with 10% Service Charge

KAOHSIUNG

  • Tuesday, March 17th – KH Hospitality College
    • Seminar#1 10AM?2PM
    • Seminar#2 1:00 -3:00 PM
    • Grand Wine Tasting      3:30-5:00 PM
    • Wine Maker’s Dinner6:30 ?:30 PM
      (Grand Hi-Lai Hotel, (07) 213-5732)
  • Northwest Wine Menu Promotion
    • Restaurant: Oriental Restaurant -12th Floor, Grand Hi-Lai Hotel (07) 213-5732
    • Date: March 18th ?April 12th
    • Set Menu Price: 1,500 NT with 10% Service Charge

The following wines will be presented at the seminar and grand wine tasting events:

No.

State

Winery Name

Web Site

Representative

1

WA

*Chateau Ste. Michele www.ste-michelle.com Al Portney

2

WA

*Columbia Crest www.columbia-crest.com

3

WA

*L’Ecole www.lecole.com

4

WA

*Domaine Ste Michelle www.domainestemichelle.com

5

WA

*Erath www.erath.com

6

WA

Kestrel www.kestrelwines.com Jonathan Ryweck

7

WA

Reininger www.reiningerwinery.com

8

WA

St. Laurent www.saintlaurent.net

9

WA

Whitman www.whitmancellars.com

10

WA

Russell Creek Winery www.russellcreek-winery.com/ Larry Krivoshein

11

WA

*Andrew Will www.andrewwill.com

12

WA

*Seven Hills Winery www.sevenhillswinery.com/ Nick Hsu, Jason Lock

13

WA

*Sleight of Hand Cellars www.sofhcellars.com

14

WA

*Va Piano Vineyards www.vapianovineyards.com

15

WA

*Cuillin Hills Winery www.cuillinhills.com/

16

WA

*Northwest Totem Cellars www.nwtotemcellars.com/

17

WA

K Vintner www.kvintners.com/

18

WA

Charles Smith Wine www.charlessmithwines.com/

19

WA

Woodhouse Family Cellars www.woodhousefamilycellars.com

20

OR

*Henry Estate www.henryestate.com Doyle Hinman

21

OR

Five H www.fiveh.net

22

OR

Willamette Valley Vineyards www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com Anna Goodman

23

OR

Maysara www.maysara.com Moe & Flora Momtazi

24

OR

Evergreen Vineyards www.evergreenvineyards.com Trevor Krivoshein

25

OR

Elk Cove Vineyards www.elkcove.com Shirley Brooks

26

OR

King Estate www.kingestate.com Steve Thomson & Chelsea Hinman

27

OR

Firesteed Wines www.firesteed.com/ Howard Rossbach