Napa Valley’s Just the Place for a Gourmet Getaway

Gourmands have the chance to indulge in their favorite pastime by entering the Cheeses of France Marketing Council’s 2009 Napa Valley Escape sweepstakes. The contest’s grand prize offers round-trip transportation for two; two nights at the Auberge du Soleil spa hotel overlooking the Napa Valley in California’s famed wine country; a private cooking class led by a chef instructor from The Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone, Calif., campus; a four-course Champagne dinner; and a choice of a balloon flight, winery tour or Auberge du Soleil massage for two.

“Our Napa Valley Escape contest will offer winners a truly unique, unforgettable experience in the heart of California wine country,” said Mike Collins of The Cheeses of France Marketing Council in Portland, Maine. “We believe that our sweepstakes offerings are so popular each year in large measure due to the types of trips we design. Rather than offering standard trips with generic sightseeing, we instead focus on the dynamic food and wine world, active cooking lessons and tastings, and, of course, learning about the history and appeal of premium fromage selections.”

The entry deadline for sweepstakes is Dec. 31, 2009. Contestants may register by visiting www.cheesesoffrance.com/napa_sweeps.php and taking part in a fun, four-question Parlez-vous Fromage? quiz testing their “Fromage IQ.” The sweepstakes winner will be revealed next month.

Consumers and retailers can find Fromage Plate suggestions; get tips on serving, storing and purchasing fromage; and sign up for the “Club Fromage Quarterly” newsletter at www.CheesesofFrance.com. To view videos and recipes from the “Cooking with Fromage: Comfort Cuisine” collection, developed by the Cheeses of France Marketing Council and The Culinary Institute of America, go to www.ciaprochef.com/COF/index.html or www.cheesesoffrance.com/recipe_collection.php.