The BVI Tourist Board is a major sponsor together with Allivictus, OHMS.and Caribbean Cellars.

Mr. Ajit Mathew George, Founding Chairman of the BVI Charitable Fund stated that $100,810.26 in net proceeds from past Virgin Islands Winemakers Dinners have already been distributed to 9 beneficiaries in the "British Virgin Islands". An itemized list of who received these

net proceeds is available to review under BVI Charitable Fund on www.winemakersdinners.com.

All of this year's winemakers were selected in partnership with Caribbean Cellars. The five award winning international winemakers who will be in attendance and personally pour their wines include Michael De Loach of Hook and Ladder Winery, Russian River Valley, California, USA; Gonzalo Lainez of Bodegas Roda, Rioja, Spain; Philippe Marchal of Maison Louis Jadot, Burgundy, France; Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley Vineyards, Oregon, USA; and Regina Martinelli of Martinelli Winery, Russian River Valley, California, USA. All the winemakers are

volunteering their time without any compensation and donating their wines.

The wines, all of which have been personally selected by the above winemakers, will be carefully paired with five course gourmet dinners prepared by superb chefs from throughout the world under the leadership of Executive Chef Mathayom Vacharat from St. John's Catering. Each course will be matched with two different wines that will be poured by the winemakers themselves.

Mr. George said that the visiting chefs include Chef Stephen Stryjewski, this year’s James Beard Winner of the Best Chef South, Chef Jennifer Behm who won this year’s Fox TV MasterChef beating over 30,000 other contestants, Chef Roberto Trevino who has participated in the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and award winning Chef Julio Lazzarini.

The five Winemakers Dinners will held on five consecutive nights starting on Wednesday, November 16th at Brisani’s At The Reef, Tortola; Thursday, November 17th at Giorgio’s Wine Restaurant, Virgin Gorda; Friday, November 18th at Allamanda Estate, Beef Island; Saturday, November 19th Marika Breeze Villa, Tortola, Virgin Islands and Sunday, November 20th at Oceans Beach Club, Great Harbour, Peter Island.

The Winemakers Dinners have received extensive press around the world. Mr. George said that he is not aware of any other event in the world where award-winning, dedicated, passionate winemakers come together for the purpose of sharing their wines with such a small group of

fortunate guests over five course dinners with each course prepared by a different master chef. He added that one does not have to leave the VI to experience this culinary symphony.

The BVI Charitable Fund organized the 2008 Winemakers Dinners plus a VIP Reception, which was held over nine consecutive days at very special locations throughout the BVI and attended by 608 people who came from such diverse locations as France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, United Kingdom, and United States in addition to the BVI. During the course of the 2008 Winemakers Dinners, the twelve visiting chefs from around the world with the assistance of four local chefs prepared 2,420 dishes serving 55 unique courses of gourmet meals

that were paired with 888 bottles of fine wines poured by seven visiting winemakers from Germany and Italy.

In 2009, over 860 people in total attended the four dinners, seven luncheons and the VIP Reception between December 2nd and 6th which featured 74 separate courses of food, and 81 different wines that were paired with these courses. During the July series of the 2009 Winemakers Dinners, about 1,000 people in total attended the four dinners, seven luncheons and the VIP Reception, which featured 78 separate courses of food, and 87 different wines that were paired with these courses. All the dinners in 2008 and 2009 were sold out and there was a waiting list for each dinner.The 2010 Dinner Series garnished similar support from the local and international community,

with over 700 guests attending the 7 consecutive dinners and luncheon events.

Mr. George stated that space is very limited and that he expects all these dinners to be completely sold out.Seats for the five dinners in 2011 are available as part of a sponsorship package or for the first time can be purchase as individual tickets. Both the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Winemakers Dinners were sold out well in advance with a long waiting list. To purchase tickets, visit www.winemakersdinners.com.

The BVI Charitable Fun was established in March 2008 to help promote the British Virgin Islands to potential new visitors while at the same time creating new and innovative fund-raising events to benefit various charities in the VI by attracting support from both outside and within the BVI. The BVI Charitable Fund is part of the Community Foundation (BVI) Limited.