Crushpad and TasteTV Team Up to Create Ultimate Chocolate Lovers Wine

Crushpad, the urban winery that is democratizing winemaking, today announced that it has partnered with TasteTV to host a first-of-its-kind event in which renowned winemakers, chocolatiers, food and wine journalists and event attendees will come together to create a wine designed to pair perfectly with dark chocolate.

Hosted at Crushpad's San Francisco winery on Thursday, September 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the event will feature opportunities to sample artisanal chocolate from some of the West Coast's foremost producers, sip exclusive wine blends created by the chocolatiers and Crushpad's winemakers especially for the occasion, and for consumers to vote for their favorite blend. A bottle of the winning blend, dubbed "Chocolate Seizure 2008," will be included as part of the $40 admission.

Event participants will also get to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the 2008 California grape harvest, which will be at its peak, as grapes arrive from top vineyards from across the state to be processed by Crushpad and many of its 5,000 citizen winemakers.

"Everything we do at Crushpad is designed to demystify winemaking and make the world of wine more accessible," said Crushpad Chief Winemaker, Michael Zitzlaff. "Chocolate Seizure 2008 is a perfect fit and is the first wine to be created by such a sizable and knowledgeable community of wine and chocolate lovers."

Adds TasteTV CEO, A.K. Crump, "The chocolatiers and chocolate lovers that we reach with our video programs and events are very excited about this new wine, and about being able to be a part of its creation."

Participating chocolate companies include:

-- Amano Artisan Chocolate              -- Saratoga Chocolates
-- Coco Delice                          -- Schoggi
-- Cosmic Chocolates              -- TCHO
-- Jade Chocolates                -- The TeaRoom Chocolates
-- Newtree America

Tickets may be purchased at www.crushpadwine.com/chocolate

About Crushpad

Crushpad is a San Francisco-based custom winemaking facility whose over 5,000 clients include wine enthusiasts, professional winemakers, wine bars, retailers and restaurateurs. Crushpad specializes in small-lot, luxury wine production from California, Oregon and Washington's most notable vineyards. The company was founded in 2004 by wine industry veterans and technology industry refugees determined to liberate winemaking from its traditional stereotypes of impossible wealth, expansive chateaus and Golden Retrievers. For information about Crushpad, call 877-265-2030 or visit http://www.crushpadwine.com.