FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2005

Napa Valley's Wine and Food Pairing Expert

Chef Erika Heinemann Launches Savvy Wine Food

NAPA, Calif. - Napa Valley's food and wine pairing expert Chef Erika Heinemann today announced the official launch of Savvy Wine Food, Napa Valley's leading source for food and wine pairing. The new Napa, Calif.-based business will be "the" go-to source for the California wine industry, offering contemporary brand building and consumer satisfaction strategies through customized food and wine pairing programs, education and unique hospitality events. Additionally, Savvy Wine Food will bring to market a variety of perfectly paired, gourmet food and wine complements, or what Chef Erika calls "Savvy Wine Food," for the savvy food and wine consumer.

"Savvy Wine Food offers wineries the opportunity to create customized food and wine pairing programs and hospitality events focused on showcasing their portfolio of varietals and demystifying the relationship between food and wine," said Chef Owner Erika Heinemann. "And at the end of the day, Savvy Wine Food helps wineries satisfy their customers’ demand for both entertainment and knowledge, leading to greater customer experiences and retention."

Four million tourists visit Napa Valley annually because of its world-class wineries, gourmet restaurants and savvy chefs, together creating a romantic food and wine culture that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. Today, in fact, there are nearly 400 wineries in Napa County, and growth in the number of wineries since 2000 is nearly 40%.

Paralleling this growth in wineries is the heightening knowledge and enthusiasm of wine consumers. Visitors to California’s wine regions are becoming increasingly savvy about wine, and their desire to learn more about a broader spectrum of varietals and the winemaking process has expanded. They are also becoming increasingly savvy about the relationship between food and wine, including the importance of this centuries-old relationship.

"There is increased competition by wineries to attract visitors to their tasting rooms and hospitality events," commented Heinemann. Savvy wineries understand that they must offer new and unique experiences that will increase customer loyalty and strengthen their overall brand."

Media Inquiries
 

Chris Heinemann

chris@savvywinefood.com

707.260.4055