The Culinary Institute of America's 2008 Vintners Hall of Fame Gala Dinner

ST. HELENA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) announced eight wine
industry leaders who will be officially inducted into the Vintners
Hall of Fame at a gala fund-raising reception and dinner ceremony on
March 7th, 2008 at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at
Greystone, in St. Helena, CA.

Leading this year's Hall of Fame inductees are Ernest & Julio
Gallo (E&J Gallo Winery), Paul Draper (Ridge Vineyards), Milijenko
"Mike" Grgich (Grgich Hills) and Sacramento wine merchant and forager
supreme, Darryl Corti.

In addition, the panel also voted in as "Pioneer," the founders of
three iconic wineries: John Daniel, (Inglenook); Louis P. Martini,
(Louis M. Martini Winery); and Carl Wente (Wente Vineyards). "Pioneer"
recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the
California wine industry and who passed away prior to March 1988.

"We all owe a huge 'Thank you' to the wine writers, critics and
historians who selected this year's inductees. They made some very
difficult decisions in an industry with so many outstanding leaders,"
says Dr Lawrence Timothy Ryan, President of the CIA, "and I am looking
forward to celebrating their choices at the 2nd Annual Induction
Dinner this March."

This year's nomination and selection process was chaired by noted
wine journalist W. Blake Gray, who was joined by Toni Allegra, Mike
Dunne, John Olney, Sara Schneider, Leslie Sbrocco, Paul Wagner and
Alder Yarrow.

The Vintners Hall of Fame annual induction dinner endows new
scholarship programs for the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies
at the CIA at Greystone. Tickets for the gala are $250. For
reservations and more information, contact events@balzac.com or call
707-255-7667.

For more information on the Vintners Hall of Fame and to view
photos from last year's gala, please visit
here.

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an
independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate
degrees in the culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. For more
information, visit the CIA's Web site at www.ciachef.edu.

Balzac Communications
Matthew Levy, 707-255-7667
mlevy@balzac.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008