NORWALK, Conn., February 10, 2009 – Stew Leonard's wine experts went globe trotting to find trendsetting wines at great values and came back with more than 60 gems that will be showcased at this year's annual food and wine tasting event to benefit the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, taking place on Thursday, March 12th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Stew Leonard's food store, located at 100 Westport Avenue in Norwalk. This is the sixth annual food and wine tasting hosted by Stew Leonard's Wines of Norwalk. The goal of the event is to raise $10,000 for the United Way's "Neighbor 2 Neighbor United" campaign, a first-time initiative to raise additional funds during these hard economic times.

"Our annual food and wine tasting to benefit the United Way is one of our most popular events and sells out every year," says Stew Leonard, Jr., President and CEO of Stew Leonard's Wines and Chair of The "Neighbor 2 Neighbor United' Campaign. "This year we are featuring an outstanding selection of wines from up and coming regions around the world, and because all of the money raised goes back into the community where we live and work through United Way funded programs, for $50.00, it also makes it the best value in town."

"We are in unprecedented economic times, seeing charitable organizations unable to keep up with Fairfield County residents' need for basic human services such as food, shelter and energy assistance," says Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq., President & CEO of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. "We initiated the "Neighbor 2 Neighbor United' campaign to help these organizations keep up with the demand and the proceeds from this year's food and wine tasting will be a huge help."

Stew Leonard's Wines specialists have hand-picked this year's selection of wines from trendsetting regions around the globe, including these best bang-for-your-buck selections:

Argentina/Chile:

• Viña Las Leñas Malbec ($6 or 3/$15) – Want a red wine with the structure of Cabernet and the juiciness of Merlot? Malbec is a medium-bodied red from Argentina that is hot right now. Stew Leonard's wine specialists adore this wine, naming it their favorite red wine value of the year.
• Cueca Carménère Reserva ($14) – This lovely Chilean red is smooth and supple with notes of exotic spices, cherries and nuts. It is quite food-friendly, pairing well with robust cheeses, pasta, spicy cuisine and barbecue.

• Analivia Verdejo ($10) – If you like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, this crisp, clean Spanish white is an excellent alternative. The hints of apple and lemon make it enjoyable from the first sip to the very last.
• Le Dauphin de Château Guiraud Sauternes ($20) – This moderately-sweet dessert wine has a dried apricot and lemon character and spicy finish. It is a fantastic value for a Sauternes with a 92-point rating from Wine Spectator.

Stew Leonard's team of chefs have prepared a menu of international foods to complement the variety of wines being served, including:

• international cheeses and artisan breads;
• spicy marinated grilled shrimp casino;
• Maryland crab cakes with chipotle sauce;
• heart of filet mignon churrasco style with chipotle sauce;
• an assortment of mini pastries, mini profiteroles with chocolate sauce and fresh fruit.

About United Way of Coastal Fairfield County
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County's mission is: "Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people's lives". Our vision is to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Working with many partners, United Way is focused on the building blocks that we all need for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, income that can support a family through retirement, and good health. Find out more by visiting www.unitedwaycfc.org.

About Stew Leonard's Wines of Norwalk Stew Leonard's Wines of Norwalk is known for the personal service it provides to customers and its knowledgeable staff, many of whom are certified wine professionals. The store carries 2,600 wines from around the world, including more than 200 bottles of hard-to-find, highly rated wines in the fine wine cellar. Sign up to be notified of future events via email by filling out a form at the store. Visit www.stewswines.com for more information.