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CONTACT: Juan Camaliche
The Cellar Club  (305) 913.3203
e-mail: jcamaliche@biltmorehotel.com

THE BILTMORE INTERNATIONAL FOOD & WINE WEEKEND
An All Reserve, Single Vineyard & Upper Tier Wine Weekend
Presented by The Cellar Club at The Biltmore and Wine Spectator
April 29 - May 1, 2005

Coral Gables, FL-- The Cellar Club at The Biltmore, in cooperation with Wine Spectator magazine, presents the Ninth Annual Biltmore International Food & Wine Weekend, April 29-May 1, 2005, to benefit the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The annual extravaganza, which has raised more than $5 million in support of South Florida charities, is the only major festival in the country to feature all Reserve, Single Vineyard & Upper Tier wines, along with a cast of international and local celebrity chefs and world-renowned winemakers.

The Biltmore International Food and Wine Weekend’s three glorious days of continuous food, wine and entertainment, kicks off on Friday, April 29 with the 2nd Annual Anne Bennett Memorial Golf Classic. Following the Golf Classic is the Grand Wine & Food Tasting featuring 22 award-winning restaurants and 40 wineries, and culminating with the wildly popular Wine & Giggles comedy show hosted this year by celebrity comedian, Robert Klein.

The Grand Wine & Food Tasting is a true sampling of the finest wines available and best foods from Miami’s hottest dining spots including: Ars Magirica, Blu, Blue Door at the Delano, Brasserie Las Olas, Brasserie Les Halles, Café Ibiza, Chef Allen’s, China Grill, Dragon, Grass Restaurant & Lounge, Joe’s Stone Crab, Fontana, La Porteña, Mendoza Restaurant, Metro Kitchen + Bar, Mundo, Ortanique on the Mile, Palme d’Or, Shula’s Steak House, Tantra, Trattoria Sole, and Tuscan Steak. Special musical entertainment this year will be provided by South Beach DJ Pierre Zonzon.

Saturday’s festivities will include a Monterey Wine County Interactive Seminar. That evening’s showcase event is the spectacular Winemaker Dinner with acclaimed superstar chefs, Julian Serrano of Picasso in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, chef and author Patricia Quintana of El Izote in Mexico City, Jorge Matas Comino of Carmen de San Miguel in Alhambra, Granada, Spain, and Philippe Ruiz of Palme d’Or at The Biltmore. Guests will sway to a Latin beat with a performance by popular singer Jessica Chirino, daughter of Salsa recording star Willie Chirino.

Sunday, May 1 expect an innovative Interactive Culinary Fest, featuring the celebrity chefs as they oversee the preparation of an interactive gourmet lunch. Tables will be hosted by some of the world’s most dignified wineries.

The weekend will also be of particular appeal to wine collectors and connoisseurs from around the world. Guests may even purchase wines at Friday’s Grand Tasting at special prices. The primary motivation of The Biltmore International Food & Wine Weekend will, as always, be philanthropic – with a secondary commitment to the celebration and showcasing of unparalleled gastronomic excellence. The Biltmore and Wine Spectator are proud to partner with event sponsors: Pharmed, South Florida Business Journal, Buchanan Ingersoll, and Levinson Jewelers to present this magnificent affair to benefit the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS:

Friday, April 29

Annual Anne Bennett Memorial Golf Classic, Scramble Format

8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start, Biltmore Golf Course - 144 players
$150 per player, $600 per foursome, $1,000 per corporate sponsor (foursome)

Grand Wine & Food Tasting & Musical Journey by South Beach DJ Pierre Zonzon

Featuring 40 wineries and specialty dishes from 22 of South Florida’s finest chefs.
Trade Tasting 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.; VIP & Press Access 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
General Audience 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Country Club Ballroom
VIP $125, Cellar Club Members $65, Non-members $75

Wine and Giggles with Celebrity Comedian Robert Klein

Stand-up Comedy Performance in a nightclub setting.
Show begins at 10:00 p.m., Granada Ballroom
Cellar Club Members $75, Non-members $95

Saturday, April 30

Monterey Wine County: Great Taste Comes with the Territory

Interactive seminar and an introduction to the evolution of wine production from the eight unique American Viticultural Areas of Monterey County.
Seminar begins at 3:00 p.m., Danielson Gallery
$40 per person

Winemaker Dinner & Musical Performance by singer Jessica Chirino. Pre-dinner music provided by Las Brisas

Five courses prepared by internationally acclaimed chefs;
each winery will host a table.
Reception begins at 7:00 p.m., Country Club Ballroom
Cellar Club Members $175, Non-members $195

Sunday, May 1

Interactive Culinary Luncheon and Silent Auction

Celebrity chefs direct guests (from ballroom stage) in the preparation of a gourmet lunch; each winery will host a table.
Reception begins at 11:30 a.m., Country Club Ballroom
Cellar Club Members $125, Non-members $150

WEEKEND PACKAGES & TICKET INFORMATION:

Hotel packages for the Biltmore International Food and Wine Weekend are available starting from $695 per person, per night. These weekend packages include deluxe accommodations and tickets to the signature events. For further information on hotel packages, please call 1-800-727-1926 or visit www.biltmorehotel.com.

For further information about the schedule of events and individual tickets, contact the Cellar Club at 305-445-8066, ext. 2095 or visit www.biltmorefestival.com

ABOUT UM/SYLVESTER:

UM/Sylvester was founded in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles more than 1,100 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,800 surgical procedures, and treats 2,900 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 150 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach recently opened to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

This 10,000 square-foot facility at I-95 and S.W. 10th Street offers appointments with physicians from six cancer specialties, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events. http://www.sylvester.org.

ABOUT THE CELLAR CLUB:

South Florida's premier private wine society, The Cellar Club at The Biltmore is dedicated to the appreciation of fine wine and food. To that end, its more than 1300 members are presented with exclusive monthly epicurean events and are accorded special privileges throughout the Biltmore. Originally founded in February 1995 as a club for oenophiles interested in the studious pursuit of greater wine knowledge, it has evolved into a more socially oriented organization devoted to the exploration and enjoyment of the world’s viniculture and food ways. As such, The Cellar Club has helped maintain the Biltmore’s historic role as an epicenter of local social life and has become an important attraction for hotel guests, who chose to upgrade and enjoy certain privileges during their stay. For further information, visit www.TheCellarClub.com.

ABOUT THE BILTMORE:

The Biltmore, Miami’s premier Spa and Golf resort, offers luxurious accommodations and exceptional facilities for social events and celebrations. Built in 1926, features of the hotel’s Mediterranean-revival design include decorative hand-painted ceilings, Italian marble floors, open-air courtyards, and luscious gardens and fountains. Guest facilities include the 18-hole, Donald Ross-designed championship golf course, 10-lighted tennis courts, brand-new resort Spa, fitness center, fine restaurants and bars including the award-winning Palme d’Or, The Cellar Club, and private cabanas surrounding the largest hotel pool in the continental United States. A wide variety of special cultural and culinary activities are offered, such as the annual Biltmore International Food & Wine Weekend, historic tours of the property conducted by the Dade Heritage Trust, fireside storytelling sessions, traditional afternoon tea, horse & carriage rides and the Biltmore’s renowned Sunday Champagne brunch. Host to kings and presidents, weddings and charity galas, public policy meetings and corporate conferences, the national historic landmark Biltmore is a signature symbol of South Florida warmth and hospitality. The Biltmore is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and National Trust Historic Hotels of America. Visit www.biltmorehotel.com for further information.