The Annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival Set for March 14-16

The 2008 Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival is set to take place the evening of Saturday, March 15.

This marquee event consists of a Live Auction from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and features a tasting of the annual Zinfandel Collaborative Blend, wine country cuisine by five of the premier restaurants in Paso Robles, and unique wine-country-lifestyle auction lots.

The Zinfandel Grand Tasting promptly follows the Live Auction from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The Grand Tasting showcases over 40 wineries from the Paso Robles appellation that will present more than 200 Zinfandel and Zinfandel blend wines in an unlimited tasting format.

A celebration in Paso Robles would not be complete without an entire weekend dedicated to it. Look for individual events at a majority of area wineries beginning on Friday, March 14 ending Sunday, March 16.

Individual winery events include:

J. Lohr Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival Events: Friday, March 14, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Begin your weekend at J. Lohr's Paso Robles Wine Center celebrating the release of the winery's 2006 J. Lohr Estates Old Vines Zinfandel and the long awaited 2005 J. Lohr Estates Hilltop Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Saturday, March 15, 6:30 p.m., J. Lohr Zinfandel Festival Dinner, Paso Robles Wine Center, Members: $100/person, non members: $110/person. Chef Claude Chazalon will prepare an incredible five-course dinner. Seating will begin at 6:30 PM. Reservations are required and can be made through the wine center at (805) 239-8900 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily or email: prwinecenter@jlohr.com. Sunday, March 16, 11:00 a.m., J. Lohr Cuvée Symposium & Brunch, Paso Robles Wine Center, Members $65/person, non members $75/person. Join Steve Lohr for an exclusive J. Lohr Cuvée Symposium and taste our estate Bordeaux varietals as well as Bordeaux varietals from France. The event will be held in our barrel room. Brunch, featuring Chef Charlie, precedes the event. Reservations are required. For more information on J. Lohr Winery, please visit jlohr.com.

A full list of events searchable by activity, day or winery is available on pasowine.com.

The Zinfandel Festival is a celebration of Paso Robles Wine Country’s heritage grape variety which provides the basis for an annual highlight – the Zinfandel Collaborative Blend.

The only opportunity to sample the Collaborative Blend is at the Live Auction component of the Zinfandel Festival on Saturday, March 15th which is shared with attendees ready to place the highest bid on a number of wine country auction lots.

Tickets are on sale now for the March 15, 2008 event. Advance purchase is highly recommended. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit pasowine.com.