FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Amber Jo Gilman 917-703-1741 Chacewater takes Best of the Reds in the 2011 Lake County Awards Competition Every winery has a story. This one begins with a hard-working construction worker and a devastating forest fire. Paul Manuel worked for his family’s construction company in Nevada City, CA when the great 49er fire swept through the Sierra Foothills on September 11, 1988. In six days, the blaze had scorched over 33,000 acres and almost destroyed Paul’s home and the land around it. The now barren land inspired Paul and his wife Kellye to re-invent it, and they went about turning the ashen land into verdant vineyards. Paul and his family worked tirelessly planting grapes to create one of the first commercial vineyards in Nevada County, becoming pioneers in the area that is now recognized as the Sierra Foothills American Viticulture Area. After ten years of successfully growing organic grapes and selling them to Fetzer, Paul decided to expanded his business and make wine himself. In 2008, Paul created Chacewater, a winery and 10-acre olive mill and orchard in Lake County. This summer, the Manuel family celebrated its first release of seven new wines bottled under the Chacewater label. Chacewater’s consulting winemaker, Mark Burch, who brings 30 years of winemaking experience and has an expertise in the grapes of Lake County, is crucial to the company’s success. Paul claims that he has never seen such “energy and passion for high quality from any other winemaker” and he is extremely proud to work with Mark whose products are of exceptional quality and reflect the unique terroir of the Lake County district, one of the hottest new California wine regions. Chacewater wines have already made an enormous impact by winning five awards at the Third Annual Lake County Wine Awards Competition in which over 180 Lake County wines participated. The most prestigious of these awards was for the Chacewater 2009 Syrah, Red Hills which was the overall Sweepstakes winner for the reds. Chacewater also received Gold for its 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Silver for its 2010 Chardonnay, a bronze for its 2009 Malbec and the 2008 0-Eight Headache Blend, Red Hills won Best of Class recognition over other notable blends. Mark isn’t surprised at all of the overall success of this first release. “We are very familiar with the quality level of the wines we were competing against and knew our wines were up to the challenge. The Syrah however, did surprise us, not because it won a "Gold and Best of Class," but because it won "Best Red Wine of the Show". Syrahs are still struggling to get the respect and market share that other California varietals have been enjoying, so the fact that our 2009 Syrah won best overall is both thrilling and encouraging.” Today, on the once charred land in Nevada City, the original Manuel vineyards still produce organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul and Mark look forward to producing and bottling these grapes for the 2010 vintage, crafting what they hope will be another award-winning effort. Thus, fulfilling the dream that began with a great fire and the vision of man who saw opportunity beyond the ashes. ### Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill is family-owned and operated located in Kelseyville, California, a tucked away little town in Lake County. We take pride in producing wines, extra virgin olive oils and olive oil soaps of the highest quality, sourced from select vineyards and estate-grown olive trees. By producing only small QUANTITIES and using the finest natural ingredients Chacewater produces artisanal products of distinction. .