Finger Lakes International Wine Competition Sets New Record!

  A record number of wines have been entered from a record number of wineries for Camp Good Days and Special Times' Ninth Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Auction Dinner. The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, the world's largest charitable wine competition, is open to all commercial wineries from all wine-producing countries and 2553 Wines from 543 Wineries, representing 13 countries, 39 states, and 5 Canadian Provinces have been entered into the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

The Ninth Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, 2009 at the Rochester Plaza Hotel, 70 State Street. National and international judges, representing distributors, educators, enologists, sommeliers, restaurateurs, winemakers, and writers, from six countries and twelve states, will evaluate the entries and medals are awarded for those wines receiving scores for bronze, silver, gold, and the unanimous double gold.

Four special awards are also determined at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. The John Rose Award, named for John Rose, who worked at Heron Hill Winery, was a strong supporter of Camp Good Days and lost his battle to cancer, is awarded to the best in class Riesling. The Crystal Grape Award is awarded to the best in class Icewine. Awards are also given for the best in class Chardonnay and best in class Cabernet Sauvignon.

More Information about the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition is available by contacting Karl Rudolfs at Camp Good Days, 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135 or online at www.fliwc.com or www.campgooddays.org.

The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition culminates with the Camp Good Days' Wine Auction Dinner on Saturday, May 2, 2009. The lucky attendees at the Wine Auction Dinner will have the opportunity to sample the award-winning wines, and bid on unique and exciting silent and live auction items and packages, such as rare wines, trips, and one-of-a-kind experiences. The Wine Auction Dinner begins at 6:00 PM with a Wine Tasting and Auction Preview. The Dinner and Live Auction, with Auctioneer, Matthew Chung of Zachy's Auction House, begins at 7:00 PM. Live musical entertainment concludes the evening.

Tickets to the Wine Auction Dinner, which quickly sell out each year, are available for $150.00 per person by contacting Camp Good Days at 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.campgooddays.org.

A limited number of volunteers are still needed to help with the Wine Auction Dinner, in the role of Wine Ambassadors. Volunteers MUST complete a mandatory training session and those interested should contact Karl Rudolfs at Camp Good Days, 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135.

All of the proceeds from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Auction Dinner benefit the many programs and services provided by Camp Good Days to children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life threatening challenges.

Camp Good Days, celebrating their 30th Anniversary Year throughout 2009, was founded in 1979, in Rochester, New York, by Gary Mervis, following the diagnosis of his youngest daughter, Teddi, with a malignant brain tumor. What was started to provide a residential camping experience for Teddi and 62 other children dealing with cancer, has grown to become one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country and many of the programs and services started by Camp Good Days have been used as models by other cancer treatment centers and organizations all over the world. Since its inception, Camp Good Days has served more than 41,000 campers from 22 states and 25 foreign countries.

Camp Good Days and Special Times is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults, and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges. For more information about any of the programs or services, to learn about volunteer opportunities or to make a tax-deductible donation, please call 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135 or visit our website at www.campgooddays.org.