In a recent press release, Bob Nichols, producer of the Missouri Wine Festival, announced that Branson.Com has joined with the Missouri Wine Festival in a marketing partnership promoting the celebrations of Missouri wines and artesian cheeses on April 25 and April 26. Nichols said Branson.Com is a popular site for folks planning a trip to Branson and hopes that the partnership will attract more than 10,000 visitors to Branson that weekend.
At a recent press conference Marlyce Stockinger, Director of Public Relations and Advertising, Branson.Com, announced the participation of the Missouri Wine Festival (Festival) in the first ever event designed to honor the men and women who have been awarded the “Purple Heart” as the result of wounds received in combat. Entitled “Hand-in-Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients,” the event will be held at various locations throughout the Branson Area on April 24 and April 25.
On the morning of April 25, a free bass tournament on Table Rock Lake will be held for 25 Purple Heart Recipients who will be selected through a drawing at the events opening ceremony. The take off for the tournament will be from Moonshine Beach located a short distance from the Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa and Convention Center where the Festival is being held. At the “Hand-in-Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients,” press conference Nichols invited the Purple Heart Recipients not in the bass tournament to join in the Missouri Wine Festival celebration while the fishing tournament is going on.
Nichols said that in addition to displays and tastings presented by Missouri wineries and cheese makers, the Festival will also have celebrity book signings, live music, seminars cooking-with-wine demonstrations, seminars and an art show and auction presented by the Branson Arts Council. Deana Martin will autograph “Memories Are Made of This,” her memoir of life with her father, Dean Martin and Jonathan Eccher will sign his book, “A Tour of Missouri Wineries.”
Another featured event will be a nightly five-course “Winemaker’s Dinner” prepared by Chef Doug Knopp, recipient of Wine Spectator magazine’s “Award of Excellence.” Missouri wines furnished by the Stone Hill and Mount Pleasant Wineries will be paired with each course of the gourmet dinner prepared by Chef Knopp.
For information and tickets, visit www.mowinefest.com or call 417-699-6199. Both the Missouri Wine Festival and “Hand-in-Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” are part of Branson’s “Ozark Mountain Spring,” a series of over 40 spring events launching Branson’s 2009 season.
