UC Irvine and The Hotel Hanford Partner in Wine Education
Partnership will celebrate the world of wine through special events, classes and field trips.

TUSTIN, CA, December 04, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Hotel Hanford and UC Irvine Extension today announced the founding of "The Perfect Blend," a collaborative program to enhance the quality of wine education in Orange County. With a mutual interest in the art of making and serving wine, Donald Sodaro, co-founder of The Hotel Hanford and Kirwan Rockefeller, director of arts & humanities for UC Irvine Extension, envision a synergy of classroom instruction and inventive celebrations for food and beverage professionals, as well as casual wine enthusiasts seeking to advance their study of wine through expertly led tastings, special events and field trips.

"The Perfect Blend is designed for individuals who want to grow their love for wine in their hearts, and at the same time, gain practical industry knowledge," said Sodaro. "This partnership offers the perfect mix of professional studies and life-long passion for all things pertaining to wine."

The Perfect Blend launches its array of special events with the "The Nobel Vine Series" at The Hotel Hanford on December 6, 2011, from 5:30-8:30 pm. The theme is "Bubble Express," a fun tasting featuring at least six sparklers from around the world plus an array of tasty nibbles. Cost is $25 per person. Registration can be made by calling 714-913-9060.

This exchange of experts and educational resources between The Hotel Hanford and UC Irvine Extension's Wine Studies provides a new dimension in wine exploration in Orange County that is fun, adventurous and academically thought provoking. Besides the special tastings and events, preparation is underway for a series of workshops slated for January and February that will focus on wine service techniques for professionals in the food and beverage industry. A field trip is also being planned in spring of 2012 that will explore all the aspects of a vineyard including the art of wine making, soil testing, tasting, harvesting and other hands-on adventures.

"From the amount of passion and knowledge I see in going into the partnership, participating wine lovers will surely stay on top of their game," said Rockefeller. "On the professional side, 'The Perfect Blend' will enable food, spa and hospitality professionals to be on the cutting edge of selecting the perfect wine with confidence and inspiring their clients."

The wine exploration programs offered by The Hotel Hanford and UC Irvine Extension was the genesis of this optimal partnership. As part of the boutique experience, The Hotel Hanford offers a Wine Salon led by 25 year wine veteran and expert Cyrille Hanson. UC Irvine Extension's Wine Studies offers a host of courses ranging from traditional wine tasting methods, food and wine pairing, history of wines, types of wine products available and classification of major worldwide wine producing regions. The partnership of these two organizations will raise the study and enjoyment of wine to a new level in Orange County. For additional information, please contact Cyrille Hanson, The Hotel Hanford wine and events manager, at (714) 913-9060 or UC Irvine Extension at (949) 824-5592. To learn more about UC Irvine Extension's course offerings, please visit www.unex.uci.edu/courses.

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