THE TASTING ROOM AND MAX’S WINE DIVE ANNOUNCE STELLAR LINE UP FOR The 2007 HOUSTON CELLAR CLASSIC

Houston – As The Houston Cellar Classic draws near, Houston’s Premier Week-Long Celebration of Wine and Food is shaping up to include a stellar line up of 27 wine and food events destined to bring people from around the country to the City of Houston. The Cellar Classic is scheduled to take place October 29th through November 4th, 2007. A portion of the proceeds from the week’s events will benefit Houston Grand Opera.

“Without question, Houston is a cosmopolitan city with a tremendous food and wine culture,” said Jonathan Horowitz, co-owner of The Tasting Room and director for the festival, “but from a national culinary perspective, the city is quite underappreciated.” Horowitz said the goal of the Cellar Classic is to create a nationally-recognized wine and food event that helps put Houston on the map as a culinary destination, “so others will gain a greater respect and appreciation for what we enjoy in our own backyard everyday.” The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau also is lending its support to help promote the event and the city’s food scene to tourists and residents alike.

In addition to naming Houston Grand Opera as the event’s charitable beneficiary, The Tasting Room and MAX’s Wine Dive are also partnering with The Granduca hotel, which will be offering special room rates for out of town visitors. Horowitz also announced the following Event Updates:

• Dinner to the Max – A Texas-themed culinary extravaganza at MAX’s Wine Dive featuring Texas Monthly Food Editor Pat Sharpe and Texas’ own Inwood Estates Vineyards wine paired with an All-Texas menu.
• Riedel Crystal Demonstration and Wine Tasting at TTR Uptown Park - featuring a presentation and discussion by Maximilian Riedel.
• Grillin’ and Chillin’ Patio Party at TTR Lounge in Midtown – featuring Food Network Celebrity Chef Joey Altman.
• Sommelier Smackdown at TTR Uptown Park – Houston’s greatest restaurant and wine bar sommeliers compete for “Best of the Best.”
• Dessert & Dessert Wine Pairing – Featuring desserts created by *17’s Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Rebecca Masson, recently named Houston’s “Best Pastry Chef.”
• The Grand Tasting Experience at TTR Uptown Park – the true cornerstone of the Cellar Classic, this afternoon-long indoor and outdoor event includes a tasting of more than 100 wines, food tastings from Houston’s best restaurants, live music and more. General admission and VIP passes are available. Restaurant participants include: Bistro Lancaster, Bistro Moderne, Quattro, Farrago, Flemings, Glass Wall, Houston Art Institute, Houston Dairy Maids, Max’s Wine Dive, Mockingbird Bistro, Monsoon, The Oceanaire, Polo’s Signature, Shade, Strip House, Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, The Tasting Room and Taverna.
• The Taste of Uptown Park Farmer’s Market – The first of its kind in the Galleria/Uptown Park District. Enjoy a glass of wine while sampling fresh produce, cheeses, chocolates, breads and much more from numerous Texas purveyors. Vendor booths will be set up indoors and outdoors.
• St. Arnold’s Beer & Cheese Tasting at TTR Lounge in Midtown – Featuring locally-brewed handcrafted beers paired with artisanal cheese from the Houston Dairy Maids
• “How to Blind-Taste Like a Master Sommelier” – featuring a discussion and tasting by Master Sommelier Bob Bath.
• Dinner to the Max II – Featuring Master Sommelier Bob Bath and some of his favorite wines paired with a tasting menu inspired by his experiences in New Zealand.

For a detailed schedule of events and more information, please visit www.houstoncellarclassic.com. To purchase tickets, please visit www.localwineevents.com/Houston-wine. For hotel information visit www.granduca.com.
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The Tasting Room (tastingroomwines.com), TTR Gourmet (ttrgourmet.com), TTR Lounge and MAX’s Wine Dive (Maxswinedive.com) are owned and operated by Lasco Enterprises, headquartered in Houston, Texas.