Columbus Day Weekend Tasting At Prager Port Works

Celebrate Crush with the Pragers in Napa Valley

St. Helena, CA, September 2008- As the warm weather of summer wanes, the Prager family announces their first-ever fall tasting-celebration. On Columbus Day weekend, October 11-12, wine lovers will gather at Prager Winery & Port Works in St. Helena to raise a toast to the culmination of the 2008 harvest--and they'll do it with the fortified wine most associated with the cooler seasons--port.

"October in Napa Valley is marked by the rush to get all the grapes in, and it's also when the temperatures start to drop," says John Prager, one of the six Prager siblings and spouses behind Prager Port Works. "It's now that we really start looking forward to warming up with a glass of port in the evening."

The fall festivities will take place on the lawn and patio at Prager's vineyard-wrapped winery. In honor of Columbus Day and in a salute to the Old Country, there will be special pricing on Prager's Tomás Port made from Portuguese varietals. The Columbus weekend tasting will also celebrate the debut of two new fall releases, their oft-sold-out Noble Companion Tawny Port, and Alyssa Golden Dry Port.

Alyssa is the Port Works' first release made from Verdelho grapes, one of Portugal's noble varietals which the Pragers grow in the Napa Valley. Fruity with lively acidity, this fragrant port was aged three years in French oak barrels. It first seduces with flavors of baked apple, dried mango and peach pie, finishing with hints of hazelnut and butterscotch. Because it has just a touch of sweetness- only around 1% residual sugar-- Alyssa is versatile and compliments a variety of hors d'oeuvres, shellfish and other light fare.

For Noble Companion, Prager blends seven vintages of primarily Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon, the oldest from 1991, along with a small amount of the traditional Portuguese varietals Touriga, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Cao. This tawny port offers seductive nut and caramel flavors laced with candied orange zest and vanilla. "It has a wonderful soft finish, too," says Peter. "It's made in the classic tawny style and is one of our most popular ports."

The Pragers will also serve up sweet and savory nibbles for pairing with port, an assortment of fine cheeses, plus Ah, Nuts - the caramelized walnuts made by Imogene Prager herself (so delicious that gourmet retailer Dean and DeLuca always keeps them in stock in their St. Helena store) and, of course, chocolate.

Prager Port Works is located at 1281 Lewelling Lane in St. Helena, Napa Valley (online at www.pragerport.com), where the family also produces their Best of Class Royal Escort vintage-style port made from Petite Sirah grapes, and recent Best of Show winner Aria, made from Napa Valley Chardonnay. Like Tomás and Aria, Prager's late harvest Riesling wines, Madeline and Sweet Claire, are named after grandchildren.

There is a $10 charge for the Columbus weekend tasting which includes an elegant embossed logo glass; Prager Port Club members always taste for free. Tasting hours both days are 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.