The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail, the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, and the Lake Erie Concord Grape Heritage Association announce the second celebration of America’s Grape Country Week, August 15-23, 2009.

As part of this celebration of the region’s agricultural bounty and heritage, the week will feature its first annual “Great Grape Race”, a scavenger hunt with questions/answers open to both adults and children.  The Race will highlight the area’s “regional flavors” found in its local wineries, restaurants, shops, and attractions.   Each participating business will be represented on the Race or Entry Forms by questions which will “teach, amuse, and instruct” the “racers” about the area and/or business in some way (see draft entry form attached).

Look for the Purple Pennants:  All participating wineries and local businesses will display purple pennants outside their establishments during the week of the Great Grape Race, August 15-21.  The August 15^th Official Starting Date will be celebrated at both Moore Park, Westfield, after the Blessing of the Grapes, and at the AGC Wine Festival in Dunkirk.  Race forms and bandanas for racers will be available at Moore Park, the Wine Festival, and throughout the week at the 21 Wine Trail wineries ($2/Adult and $1/Youth). 

How to Win:  Completed Adult and Youth Race Forms may be submitted any day during the week to any of the 21 wineries as long as they have been received by the end of the day on August 21^st.  Youth Race Forms may also be submitted to Jack’s Barcelona (Barcelona), Sugar Shack (Westfield), or Parkside Ice Cream Parlor (Westfield).   Winners must have correctly completed the minimum number of questions on their race forms to qualify for the prize drawings to be held at 12:00 Noon at Moore Park, Westfield, NY on Saturday, August 22^nd during the Farmer’s Market.

The Prizes:  Participating local businesses have contributed impressive prizes, valued at over $1500, including ski passes and lodging at Peek n’ Peak, a limo for an afternoon, lunches and dinners at local restaurants, local art, and gift baskets of local specialties of wine and jam/syrups.  Prizes that permit the winner and his/her family to “visit behind the scenes” include a tour of Grower’s Grape Processing facility, a tour of Webb’s fudge making plant, and a vineyard tour at Johnson Estate Winery.  Youth racers could also qualify for prizes that include an Ice Cream Sundae Party or passes for eight to Panama Rocks.