FROGTOWN, Georgia (August 18, 2006) — The first annual All-American Wine Celebration, an event honoring Cynthiana, the great native grape of the Cherokee Nation, will be held at Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery beginning October 6 and going through the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Doug Paul, co-owner with his wife Sharon, of Three Sisters, made the announcement of the historic gathering, a multi-state festival. “This is a grand moment for the State of Georgia and one of our state’s most renowned native fruits, the Cynthiana grape,” Paul said. “Wineries from different states like Missouri’s Stone Hill Winery producing wine from Cynthiana will participate in this three-day event, along with folk art galleries from six states, a chocolatier from Texas and musicians and celebrities.”

According to Mr. Paul, the celebration will combine academics and education with fun and wine and food over the long weekend. Friday’s events include a free seminar led by a panel of Cynthiana experts at North Georgia University, followed by a ticketed dinner dance under the great tent at Three Sisters Vineyards. Paul revealed that the keynote speaker for the Friday gala will be nationally respected wine and food writer and broadcaster, Atlanta resident Doc Lawrence. “Doc is a legend in the world of wine and great eating, and is the only public personality who writes and broadcasts coast to coast about Southern cuisine and food preferences and how they pair with wines of the world.”

Paul described the Cynthiana grape as “emblematic of the vision of Thomas Jefferson” who learned about the Southern grape and its cultivation by the Cherokee and, Paul maintains, “likely believed that this grape would become the basis for a New World wine industry in America.” Paul said that shortly after Jefferson’s death, a biologist refined Cynthia farming and the grape and wine has since become known as Norton in some states in honor of this achievement.

The weekend is a public and very family-friendly festival, Paul said. “We’ll have bluegrass, blues and country bands and Friday night will feature the legendary dance band, The League of Decency.” The folk art galleries, Paul stated, will cover the hills with works from such masters as Reverend Howard Finster, Hall County’s R.A. Miller, local folk artist Cornbread, Rabun County’s Eric and Joe Legee and Florida’s Missionary Mary Proctor. Participating art galleries so far are David Leonardis Gallery, Chicago, Kim Clayton Gallery, Myrtle Beach, Matilda's Gallery, Alpharetta, Eileen West Gallery, Seaside, Florida, The Primitve Eye Gallery, Decatur, and Shelton Gallery, Nashville.

Fabled Texas chocolatier Lecia Duke will be on hand to share her organic chocolates filled with Cynthiana and “there will be hayrides and barbeque from beginning to end.” Tickets will be available at the gate. A keepsake wine glass is included with admission. BBQ food inside the event is extra.

The All-American Wine Celebration will be an annual affair, Paul said, and will grow each year into an event that “will enlighten and educate Americans to the fact that the grape and wine industry actually began in the South, not Napa or the West Coast. Prior to Prohibition, Cynthiana was a highly regarded crop and wines made from this grape won against even French wines in international competition. The story of Cynthiana and its resurgence is really about the agriculture of Georgia and other Southern state. And, this is what we are celebrating. This is the mission of this festival.”

The All-American Wine Celebration has been memorialized in a painting by Decatur folk artist Olivia Thomason. Posters and prints have been produced from the painting, titled “The World Comes to Frogtown,” and proceeds from the sale of the paintings will be donated to the Faust Project, a recognized charity to promote literacy. A silent auction of additional folk art and special items will be conducted during the weekend for Georgia Charities, including the Lumpkin Literacy Project.

Please visit www.ThreeSistersVineyards.com for more information.

Stone Hill Winery, Chaumette Winery and Crown Valley Winery from Missouri will participate in the 3-day Norton festival