8/20/2012 - St Helena, CA--Vintners from the Napa Valley, the official wine region of the 34th America's Cup, will be pouring their wines for the first stop of the 2012-2013 AC World Series in San Francisco this week. The world's fastest 45-foot catamarans are racing in the magnificent amphitheater of San Francisco Bay, along the city shoreline, providing viewers with unprecedented vistas of the races.
"The America's Cup is a fantastic way to showcase the wines of Napa Valley. This high-profile, world-renowned sporting event's stature perfectly aligns with the high quality and world renown of Napa Valley, America's premier wine region," said Linda Reiff, executive director of the Napa Valley Vintners.
During the first San Francisco event, August 21-26, 2012, America's Cup spectators can visit the Napa Valley Wine Lounge at the Race Village at Marina Green and enjoy Napa Valley wines while viewing the regatta. Renowned Napa Valley vintners will make personal appearances from August 22 to August 26 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm daily.
A second AC World Series in San Francisco will take place October 2-7, coinciding with Fleet Week.
Special Napa Valley wine selections will also be poured at Club 45, an exclusive VIP experience for VIPs and partners of the America's Cup, and at the America's Cup Club, an exclusive hospitality experience available for purchase by corporate groups or individuals.
The America's Cup Napa Valley Featured Wineries for August in San Francisco include: Atalon Winery, Bouchaine Vineyards, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Duckhorn Vineyards, Freemark Abbey, Heitz Wine Cellars, Heritance, Miner Family Winery, Mt. Brave, PEJU, Saintsbury, Schweiger Vineyards, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Somerston, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, and Waterstone.
Located a little more than an hour north of San Francisco, the Napa Valley is also the exclusive wine destination for the America's Cup. The region is prized for its natural beauty, 14-Michelin Star culinary scene, world-class hotels, robust arts community, and one-of-a-kind wellness experiences including the region's famed spas, mud baths and healing geo-thermal hot springs.
"The 34th America's Cup is focused on creating a one-of-a-kind experience for every fan, so we look forward to showcasing the natural bounty that the Napa Valley has to offer our guests," said Stephen Barclay, CEO of the America's Cup. For more information, please visit www.AmericasCup.com and www.SailNapaValley.com
About the America's Cup
One of the most fiercely competitive and sought after trophies in all of sport, the America's Cup was first raced in 1851, 45 years before the modern Olympics. The US yacht America won, giving the international sailing competition its name.
The next Louis Vuitton Cup, America's Cup Challenger Series (July-August 2013) and America's Cup Match (September 2013) will be held for the first time in San Francisco Bay, a natural sailing arena where more than one million spectators are expected.
The 2012-2013 racing season for the America's Cup World Series starts August 21, 2012, in San Francisco― the first time America's Cup teams will race on San Francisco Bay. Admission to the America's Cup Village on Marina Green will be free to the public and open from August 21-26.
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents more than 430 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.NapaVintners.com
About Visit Napa Valley
Visit Napa Valley is the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley, with a mission to promote, protect, and enhance the region's position as the world's premier wine, food, arts, and wellness capital. The area is internationally recognized as one of only nine Great Wine Capitals, and its restaurants were awarded 14-Michelin Stars in the 2012 guide. www.VisitNapaValley.com
Contact: Terry Hall, Communications Director 707-968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
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