WHAT:
Stew Leonard's Wines of Clifton is holding two celebrity events to commemorate their grand opening:
Mario Batali Book Signing, Wine and Cheese Sampling: Thursday, June 12th
Award-winning chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Mario Batali will sign copies of his new cookbook ITALIAN GRILL (ECCO, April 22, 2008), which features 80 recipes for tasty, simple Italian food on the grill, and is a complete reference for grilling basics and techniques. The book normally retails for $29.99, but Stew Leonard's Wines is selling it for $21.99 with all proceeds going directly to the Boys and Girls Club of Clifton. The event also features a sampling of Bastianich wines (from Mario's business partner, Joe Bastianich) and gourmet cheeses.

Mario is chef/owner of seven successful restaurants in New York City, including Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, Lupa Osteria Romana, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamon, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria and Del Posto. Mario was named "Man of the Year" in the chef category by GQ Magazine in 1999. In 2002 he won the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: New York City" award, and in 2005 the James Beard Foundation awarded Mario "Outstanding Chef of the Year". His new PBS series, Spain…On the Road Again, which co-stars food critic Mark Bittman and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, airs next Fall and follows the threesome's adventures as they travel and eat their way through Spain.

Lorraine Bracco Bottle Signing and Sampling of Bracco Wines: Saturday, June 14th
While she is best known for her role as psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the HBO hit series The Sopranos, acclaimed actress and author Lorraine Bracco has a new role these days -- as the head of Bracco Wines, which she established in 2005. At the event, Lorraine will be signing bottles of her signature Italian wines, including: Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Rosé, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Primitivo, Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, Amarone Classico, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino. A sampling of the wines will also be available for tasting. For more information on Bracco Wines, please visit www.BraccoWines.com.

WHO:
Stew Leonard's Wines of Clifton, located at the new "Village at Clifton" lifestyle center next door to TGI Fridays, officially opens on May 23, 2008. The 11,162 square foot store features more than 2,000 varieties of wine from around the world, a fine wine room with highly-allocated, top-rated wines, as well as a gourmet cheese department. The store hosts weekly in-store wine samplings, as well as numerous special events and educational wine seminars featuring well-known wine makers and award-winning wines.

WHEN:
Mario Batali Book Signing, Wine and Cheese Sampling
Thursday, June 12th from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Stew Leonard's Wines of Clifton
345 Allwood Road Clifton, NJ 07013
Store phone for customer questions: 973.859.7700

MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Begun, 203.750.6107 rbegun@stewleonards.com or
Meghan Flynn, 203.667.0241 mflynn@stewleonards.com