The Vines of Mendoza (www.vinesofmendoza.com) has been named the exclusive wine sponsor for the first-ever Masters of Food & Wine South America U.S.A. Tour, scheduled for next month in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Chicago. Created and hosted by Park Hyatt Hotels, the Tour will preview the second-annual Masters of Food and Wine South America taking place at the Park Hyatt Mendoza and Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt Buenos Aires February 12-17, 2008 (www.mfandw.com.ar).

The Vines of Mendoza will invite guests to enjoy a selection of wines from the prestigious Mendoza region, one of the world’s eight great wine capitals. Participating wineries from Mendoza include: Catena Zapata, Traipiche, Tapiz, Luigi Bosca, Mairena, Matices, Pascual Toso, Tempus Alba, Enrique Foster, Lorca, Salentein, Vina Cobos, Septima, Gimenez-Riili, Dominio del Plata, and Tikal. Each winery was personally invited to participate by The Vines of Mendoza and Park Hyatt.

“We are very pleased to introduce wine enthusiasts to an outstanding selection of Argentine wines and help them discover wines they may not have previously known,” said Michael Evans, CEO of The Vines of Mendoza. “Each winery was hand-chosen for this event and represents a unique aspect of Argentina and Argentine winemaking.”

The Masters of Food & Wine South America U.S.A. Tour will be held at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia on Monday, September 17, the Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, September 19, and the Park Hyatt Chicago on Friday, September 21.

At the U.S. events, a pre-dinner wine tasting session will be followed by an exclusive pairings dinner where culinary masterpieces prepared by visiting Argentine chefs will be masterfully paired with wines, specially selected by The Vines of Mendoza, to complement each course on the evening’s menu. Participating chefs include, Fernando Trocca, executive chef and owner of Buenos Aires’ Sucre and El Diamante and New York City’s Industria Argentina; Juan Manuel Guizzo, chef, Bistro M, (Park Hyatt Mendoza); Màximo López May, Restaurant Gioia, (Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires) and Juliana López May, owner, Taller de Cocina, Buenos Aires.

Each Park Hyatt location is also planning additional special programming. In Philadelphia, guests will be treated to an exclusive reception and authentic Argentine entertainment. In Washington, D.C., Mr. José Octavio Bordón, Argentina’s Ambassador to the U.S., and his wife, Mrs. Monica Bordón, will serve as honorary hosts at a VIP reception. Also scheduled to attend are internationally-renowned tennis champion and International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Garbriela Sabatini, NBA stars Fabricio Oberto (San Antonio Spurs) and Carlos Delfino (Toronto Raptors), Academy Award®- winning actor Robert Duvall, and supermodel Valeria Mazza. In Chicago, special events include a “Flavors of Argentina” cooking demonstration, a wine tasting lunch hosted by Catena Zapata winery and a lecture and tasting with Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado.

For more information about the Masters of Food & Wine South America U.S.A. Tour, including ticket information for each city’s events, please contact:

Park Hyatt Philadelphia – jbracken@hyatt.com or +1 215 790-8800

Park Hyatt Washington – saleswasph@hyatt.com or +1 202 419 6633

Park Hyatt Chicago – NoMI@hyatt.com or + 1 312-239-4044

About The Vines of Mendoza




Based in the heart of the Argentine wine country, The Vines of Mendoza is revolutionizing the way wine lovers around the world enjoy boutique Argentine wines. In the city of Mendoza, The Vines of Mendoza operates South America’s first collective tasting room and wine-focused information center, where it presents the continent’s widest selection of premium, small-production wines. Through its Private Vineyard Estates in Mendoza’s acclaimed Uco Valley, The Vines of Mendoza offers wine enthusiasts the unique opportunity to own their own vineyard and produce premium wines under the expert guidance of a team of renowned wine specialists. In the United States and Europe, The Vines of Mendoza brings Argentina’s best boutique wines directly to customer’s homes through its Acequia Wine Clubs and online wine shop showcasing the largest selection of boutique Argentine wines available outside of Argentina. For more information, please visit www.vinesofmendoza.com.

About Park Hyatt Hotels

Intimate and residential in style, Park Hyatt hotels promise elegant and gracious service on a personal scale and are further distinguished by prime locations and exceptional interior design. Hyatt International Corporation and its subsidiaries operate 23 Park Hyatt brand hotels in 17 countries. There are five Park Hyatt hotels in the United States and Canada.