A Toast to Women in Wine

A Toast to Women in Wine

Borgata Partners With Wine Spectator to Host the Nation's Premier Celebration of Female Winemakers and Fine Cuisine

Sopranos star and winemaker Lorraine Bracco to showcase Bracco Wines

Flay v. Morimoto: two of America's Iron Chefs go tocque-to-tocque in an unprecedented culinary battle

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa (866-MYBORGATA), the East Coast's leading hotel-casino and dining destination, has partnered with Wine Spectator magazine, the foremost wine publication in North America, to host the second annual Women in Wine event at Borgata on Saturday, November 11, 2006 (doors open at 7:00 PM for regular admission; 6:00 PM for Premium Plus admission). The charity tasting event, celebrity chef cook-off and wine education forum celebrates female winemakers from around the country, offering attendees the special and rare opportunity to join some of America's most celebrated chefs and female vintners for an exclusive sampling of mouth-watering dishes and incredible wines, as well as the chance to learn techniques for tasting, selecting and storing wines. This exciting event will feature 22 winemakers and nine chefs, a celebrity chef cook-off between Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto hosted by Emmy-nominated ABC 7 news anchor Lauren Glassberg, and both live and silent auctions.

Special celebrity guest for the evening is female winemaker and actress Lorraine Bracco, whose film and television credits include The Sopranos, GoodFellas and The Graduate. At Women in Wine, Bracco will showcase her vineyard and new label, Bracco Wines. Hosts for the event are Anjoleena Griffin-Holst, Borgata Wine Director, and wine consultant Inez Rubistello, prominent female sommeliers who practice the philosophy that wine should be fun, not intimidating.

One of the highlights of the evening will be the first-ever cook-off between two of Food Network's celebrated Iron Chefs. Food Network star and Borgata chef Bobby Flay will battle Nobu-alumnus and fellow Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto in a "mystery bag cook-off" hosted by ABC anchor Lauren Glassberg and judged by Iron Palate Karine Bakhoum, one of the Food Network's most recognized judges on "Iron Chef America" and President of KB Network News, and "Iron Chef America" producer Bruce Seidel, among others.

"Borgata could not be more proud of the women honored at Women in Wine. We truly feel that these female winemakers are stars within their industry, and that their contributions are shaping the future of American wine," says Victor Tiffany, Vice President of Food & Beverage at Borgata. "Exceptional wines and unparalleled cuisine have become synonymous with Borgata since our opening. The featured chefs and vintners at this event are at the forefront of creating a better dining experience in Atlantic City and across the United States."

Only recently have women begun to make their mark in the world of wine. Women in Wine honors the trailblazing women who now run vineyards, hold the keys to major cellars and are shaping the future of wine. Female winemakers and vintners participating in Women in Wine include Jean Arnold (Hanzell Vineyards, Sonoma, CA), Judy Beardsall (Ananda di Toscana, New York, NY), Lorraine Bracco (Maison Jomere, Plaistow, NH), Gay Callan (Chatom Vineyards, Murphys, CA), Rhonda Carano (Ferrari-Carano, Healdsburg, CA), Morgan Clendenen (Cold Heaven, Los Olivos, CA), Jane Delaney (The Ravensvale Group, Australia), Elizabeth Grant Douglas (La Crema Winery, Windsor, CA), Patti Hoffman (Spellbound Wines, Napa, CA), Violet Grgich (Grgich Hills Cellar, Rutherford, CA), Merry Edwards (Meredith Vineyard Estate, Russian River Valley, Windsor, CA), Joan Flowers (Flowers Vineyard & Winery, Cazadero, CA), Gina Gallo (Gallo of Sonoma Winery, Healdsburg, CA), Jennifer Higgins (Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg, CA), Patricia Kluge (The Kluge Estate & Winery, Charlottesville, VA), Anne Moses (Patz and Hall, Napa, CA), Gabriela Negrete (Montes Winery, Woodland Hills, CA), Dr. Sua Newton (Newton Vineyards, St. Helena, CA), Claude de Nicolay (Domaine Chandon de Brailles, Burgundy, France), Susie Selby (Selby Winery, Healdsburg, CA), Joy Sterling (Iron Horse Vineyards, Sebastopol, CA) and Margi Wierenga (Brogan Cellars, Healdsburg, CA).

Borgata chefs Bobby Flay of Bobby Flay Steak, Michael Mina of SEABLUE, A Michael Mina Restaurant, Wolfgang Puck of Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Susanna Foo of Suilan by Susanna Foo, Luke Palladino of Specchio and Ombra, Romeo DiBona of Old Homestead Steakhouse, Borgata Executive Chef Ron Ross and Borgata Executive Pastry Chef Thaddeus DuBois will be preparing signature menu items and mingling with guests.

Women in Wine is a charity event, and proceeds from ticket sales, and live and silent auctions will be donated through the Borgata Heart and Soul Foundation to Living Beyond Breast Cancer and the Atlantic County Women's Center in New Jersey, two worthy charities focusing on the health and KB Network News well-being of women in Atlantic City and across the nation. Appraiser and popular culture historian Elyse Luray, a host of the popular PBS program "History Detectives," will conduct the live auction, which will feature several enticing culinary and travel items.

Tickets to attend the event cost $195 per person and are currently available for purchase. For those interested in "amplifying" their Women in Wine experience, Borgata is offering a Premium Plus ticket (priced at $295 per person) that includes early admission to the event and an exclusive food and wine tasting entitled Giro d'Italia. Prepared by Chef Luke Palladino and named after the Italian bike race, the interactive tasting will be held at Ombra on November 11th from 12:30 PM-2:00 PM, and will feature a variety of food and wine pairings that take guests on a culinary "journey of the senses" through Italy. A total of nine food and wine offerings will be presented by Chef Palladino and Wine Director Anjoleena Griffin-Holst, including: Cape May Salt Oysters and Picilot, Davide Moschioni 2000; Veal Tartara, Egg Sorpresa, Parmigiano and Tartufi and Bellavista, Franciacorta Brut N.V.; Valencay served with Voglar, Alto Adige 2002; Smoked Lonza Marinata with mostarda and pears and La Stoppa Ageno, Emiglia- Romagna; Pork Short Ribs 'al latte' and 'Buschet', Moccagatt Piemonte 2005; Halibut al forno Wild Mushrooms, Bechamel, Porcini Crumbs and 'Asij', Ceretto 200; Soppressata Crespelle and Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Monte Faustino 1999; Bittersweet 'do Mori' Chocolate and Sagrantino di Montefalco 'Uno', Tenuta Alzatura 2001; and Blue di Pecora with Madeira, Baul 1964.

Tickets can be purchased at www.theborgata.com or by calling 866-900-4TIX (4849). For room reservations, call 1.866.MYBORGATA.

About Borgata

Borgata is a joint venture of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD) and MGM MIRAGE (NYSE:MGM). Located at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, it features 2,000 guest rooms and suites, 161,000 square feet of gaming, 200 gaming tables, 4,100 slot machines, 14 destination restaurants, 11 retail boutiques, a 54,000 square foot spa, 70,000 square feet of event space, and parking for 7,100 cars.

For more information on Borgata or to obtain a copy of this press release, please visit www.theborgata.com or use AOL keyword: borgata. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com; additional information on MGM MIRAGE can be found at www.mgmmirage.com.

Source: Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

CONTACT: Jennifer Russo of KB Network News, +1-212-777-3455,
kbnn@kbnetworknews.com, or Noel Stevenson of Borgata, +1-609-317-7380,
noelstevenson@theborgata.com

Web site: http://www.theborgata.com/
http://www.boydgaming.com/
http://www.mgmmirage.com/

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