Big Plans for Merlot in May at Sterling Vineyards; Unique Annual Wine & Food Festival Celebrates 6th Anniversary.

NAPA, Calif. -- The 6th Annual Merlot in May(R) at Sterling Vineyards(R) will be held on Friday, May 20, 2005, at host winery, Sterling Vineyards, in Calistoga, CA. No other tasting has a global array of 125 domestic and international Merlot wine producers pouring over 200 distinctive Merlots in one festival setting. General admission tickets are $35 dollars and will be available for online purchase March 29 - May 18 at www.sterlingvineyards.com or by calling [phone].

"When actor Paul Giamatti in the movie Sideways sneered at Merlot, I nearly fell out of my chair laughing," said Vice President of Winemaking for Sterling Vineyards, Mike Westrick. "Paul's character loved Pinot Noir. I can understand that, we all love Pinot. But the fact remains that Merlot still outsells Pinot nearly ten to one, and is one of the most popular wines by-the-glass in restaurants. Giamatti's character in the movie may have been unaware that Chateau Petrus, one of the world's most prestigious wines, is predominantly Merlot. Merlot in May at Sterling Vineyards provides us Merlot producers a venue in which to showcase this versatile and well-respected wine variety."

With the recent popularity of the movie Sideways, the wines made from Pinot Noir have taken center stage while Merlot has gotten a bum rap. The 125 Merlot producers who participate in Merlot in May at Sterling Vineyards feel that the debate between Pinot Noir and Merlot couldn't happen at a better time. Each year, this brotherhood of wineries collect in one place, Sterling Vineyards, to celebrate the versatility and accessibility of one of the most popular varietal wines: Merlot. This year, the participating producers invite all to come and see for themselves what a great wine Merlot can be.

Merlot in May at Sterling Vineyards will once again offer food preparation demonstrations and other culinary treats to complement Merlots from wine regions around the world. In collaboration with Viking Range Corporation and the Gene Schick Company, Merlot in May features a Viking Festival Kitchen. Scheduled to present is Chef Joey Altman, featured locally on KRON's Bay Area Cafe, who will demonstrate the preparation of a special Merlot paired entree. In the wine tasting tent, regional food specialists offer a range of locally produced gourmet fare to sample.

The musical group, Back Burner Blues, will return to delight the audience with their unique mix of rocking and cooking. Members of the band, who appropriately are all Bay Area chefs and restaurateurs, will also participate in cooking demos in the festival kitchen.

Staged in a large festival tent overlooking the vines at Sterling Vineyards, Merlot in May has developed a reputation for a comprehensive wine tasting experience in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. This combination provides a unique draw for both wine lovers and vintners to sample the current vintages of some of the world's great Merlots in one setting. Merlot in May 2004 hosted close to 1000 wine enthusiasts.

For more information about Merlot in May, log onto www.sterlingvineyards.com or call Balzac Communications at [phone]. Merlot in May, coordinated by Balzac Communications and hosted annually by Sterling Vineyards, is dedicated to expanding the knowledge of, and appreciation for Merlot in the world wine community.