Columbia Crest Grand Estates and Bobby Flay Team Up

Woodinville, Wash.

Columbia Crest Winery today announced that it has partnered with renowned chef and Food Network star Bobby Flay to show wine and food lovers how simple it is to have a really great food and wine experience, everyday. The new campaign highlights the unexpected rewards of dining with Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates wines.

Flay, whose versatility and curiosity about discovering the best of American regional cuisine have led to his success as an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality, is the ideal spokesperson for Columbia Crest’s highly acclaimed, exceptionally priced Grand Estates wines from Washington state, said Columbia Crest marketing director Brett Scallan.

“Bobby Flay shares Columbia Crest’s enthusiasm for challenging expectations and turning ordinary gatherings into extraordinary occasions by pairing good food, the right wine, and great company,” said Scallan. “We are thrilled that this world-class chef, who could drink any wine he wants, enjoys Columbia Crest Grand Estates. It will help people understand that a great wine experience doesn’t have to be over-complicated or overpriced. It can be found in unexpected ways – like a simple grilled meal and a bottle Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot.”

To kick off the “Unexpected Rewards” campaign, Flay will star in Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates holiday print advertising campaign and appear in point-of-sale materials. Flay will also develop holiday menus and wine pairing suggestions which will be featured on the winery’s website and at the point-of-sale beginning this fall.

“I believe you need to keep things simple to let your meal shine. Pairing bold, fresh ingredients with Columbia Crest Grand Estates wines is a recipe for a great meal, no matter what the menu,” said Flay. “I look forward to sharing the story of these remarkable wines with my friends and with home cooks everywhere.”

About Columbia Crest Located in Washington state’s Columbia Valley, Columbia Crest has grown from a small winery in a relatively unknown wine region to one of the most significant wineries in America during its 23-year history. A major force behind Washington state’s emergence as a world class wine region, Columbia Crest was also one of the first American wineries to begin producing Merlot in 1988 and has been a trailblazer in establishing Merlot as the country’s most popular red wine. Three of the last four vintages of Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates Merlot earned 90-point ratings by Wine Spectator, a rare occurrence for a wine that sells for less than $15. In 2004, Grand Estates Merlot was selected as one of the Top 100 Wines of the World by Wine Spectator from a field of 11,000 90+ rated wines. More information on the winery can be found at www.columbia-crest.com.

About Bobby Flay Chef Bobby Flay’s critically acclaimed restaurants include New York’s Bolo and Bar Americain; Bobby Flay Steak in the Borgata Hotel Casino& Spa in Atlantic City; and three outposts of his famed Mesa Grill in New York, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and The Cove Atlantis in the Bahamas. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, Flay also shares his enthusiasm for food through his cookbooks, most recently “Bobby Flay’s Grilling for Life,” and a variety of national programs on the Food Network including the Emmy-winning “Boy Meets Grill.” Flay regularly informs audiences about seasonal, fresh dishes and ingredients as Food Correspondent for “The Early Show on CBS.”

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For further information:
Grace Doyle
425-415-3359
grace.doyle@ste-michelle.com