Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
713.204.9798 (cell)
mrcannon@uh.edu

HOUSTON, March 31, 2005—The Grand Wine & Food Affair 2005 is serving up a Texas-sized helping of great food and superlative wine that will benefit the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management. Organizers of the annual five-day food and wine festival are creating an endowed scholarship fund for UH students pursuing studies in hospitality management.

“We appreciate the involvement of The Grand Wine & Food Affair and H. E. B Central Market, in choosing the University of Houston’s Hilton College for a permanent scholarship,” said John Bowen, dean of the Conrad N. Hilton College. “As the competition for highly motivated students increases, more and more scholarship support is needed to attract these young minds.”

In addition, the Hilton Foundation will match all proceeds applied to the scholarship fund.

Formerly known as the Fort Bend Wine & Food Affair, The Grand Wine & Food Affair 2005 is scheduled for April 27 through May 1, at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, 16090 City Walk, with supporting events around Greater Houston.

Participants will enjoy a variety of entertaining events from winemaker dinners, elegant grand tastings, a casual sip and stroll, cooking demonstrations, wine seminars conducted by the world's wine authorities, and an around-the-globe bistro brunch. Special guests include wine expert Michael Broadbent, Kevin Zraly, the country’s top wine educator, Karen MacNeil, author of “The Wine Bible,” and 11th-generation Riedel dynasty heir Maximilian Riedel.

“In addition to the commitment from The Grand Wine & Food Affair Director Keri Schmidt, I would like to thank Mr. Louis Garvin, Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce president, for his vision in creating this scholarship in order to cultivate high quality students for our world-class Hospitality Management program,” said Bowen.

For additional information, call Larry Leonard at 713-743-1684.

For more information on the UH College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, please visit www.hrm.uh.edu

For more information on The Grand Wine & Food Affair 2005, please visit www.thegrandwineandfoodaffair.com.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.