FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
 
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The famed McMinnville Wine & Food Classic, now in its twelfth year, will be held on March 18, 19 and 20 this year at Linfield College's Ad Rutschman Fieldhouse on the corner of Linfield Ave and S. Davis St.  
 
Open to the general public, visitors enjoy a full course of demonstrations by guest chefs, gourmet food exhibitors, live music and fine art works, along with great wine tasting.  
 
With free parking near the fieldhouse and general admission charge of just $10 per person, the Classic continues to be among the most popular late winter events in Oregon.  
 
"The 2005 McMinnville Wine & Food Classic is presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, with additional sponsorship by Textile Graphics, Inc. of McMinnville, 1190 KEX Radio, and Comcast Cable," said event chairman, Andy Wolf.  
 
The all-new lineup of guest chefs includes Paul Bachand, McMinnville's newest chef at the city's newest restaurant, La Rambla; Rachel Long of Wild Oats Food in Lake Oswego; Robert Young from Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde; and Holly Kinne, owner and head chef at The French Bear in Newberg.  
 
Other McMinnville chefs are Brad Howard, of Willamette Valley Catering, and Jacques Rolland of 'A Tuscan Estate Bed and Breakfast.  
 
Musicians playing during the three-day weekend include Portland pianist and composer Michael Allen Harrison; the "Ad Lib" jazz trio, made up of three members of the Libonati family; singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Bowlin, who plays country, rock and the blues; and Dan Blunck's Jazz Nouveau, an Olympia, Wash. group that plays contemporary jazz and original compositions.  
 
 
 
Young piano players and their teachers, including Kathy Bernards, Kevin Post, Elwyn Behnke, Meredith Bailey, Tami Witt, Mark Sanderlin, Christie Gamble and Jonathan Herrick, will be playing at the ground-floor entrance to the fieldhouse throughout the event.  
 
The Classic will open Friday at 3 pm and continue until 9 pm; on Saturday events open at noon and continue until 9 pm; continuing on Sunday from 11 am until 5 pm.  
 
In more than 100 vendor booths, Willamette Valley artists will showcase their sculptures, pottery, woodwork, fine jewelry and paintings, while the food vendors offer ethnic food, seafood, cheeses, bread, pastries and beverages from two Oregon micro-breweries.  
 
The event is supported by members of the St. James Parish and St. James Catholic School, along with the greater McMinnville community. More than 300 experienced volunteers work in every area from cleanup to exhibitor services and parking to make the Classic a smooth operation.  
 
In the Classic's wine competition which was held in January, judges tasted 75 wines from Oregon wineries and handed out two gold, six silver medals and 23 bronze medals.  
 
See updates on the event and directions to Linfield College at www.macwfc.org  
 
For more information, call:  
The Wine Line - 503.472.4033