Mirassou Winery Announces 'I Do with Mirassou' National Contest Winner

Mirassou Winery Announces 'I Do with Mirassou' National Contest Winner

Date:8/20/2009 10:30:00 PM

HEALDSBURG, Calif., Aug. 20 // -- Mirassou Winery is pleased to announce the winner of its 5th annual "I Do with Mirassou" national contest: Julie Coker of Midland, TX. Julie and her fiance, John Mark Barnard, have won $10,000 toward the cost of their wedding, a trip to New York City for a dream wedding planning session with a Brides.com senior editor, plus Reed & Barton crystal, tableware and flatware. The couple will be honored at a special bridal event co-hosted by Mirassou and Brides.com in NYC in October.

"I'm speechless. When we first heard, all I could do was jump up and down and say, 'Can you believe this? Can you really believe this?' It truly is a blessing," Julie said.

Of the thousands of entries received, five finalists were chosen. Then, thousands logged on to Mirassou.com during July and August to read about the "Mirassou Moment" of each of the five finalists and to vote for their favorite couple. Julie's entry won with the highest number of votes - forty-five percent of the total votes. You can read Julie's winning entry at www.mirassou.com.

The 2009 "I Do with Mirassou" contest kicked off on Valentine's Day when brides- and grooms-to-be were asked to submit an essay describing their Mirassou Moment - a special moment of joy and optimism that led to their engagement. In addition, contestants answered questions about their own bridal planning.

• Wedding Colors: Of those contestants who answered this question, most told us they were "going green," featuring colors like clover, olive and apple green. White/ivory/cream, as well as blues and purples, also topped the list.


• Wedding Whereabouts: Of those who responded, the most popular wedding destination was an island or beach wedding, such as the Caribbean or Hawaii. At a winery or vineyard was a close second.


• Wedding Gifts: The top attendant gift choices for respondents were jewelry, goodie bags and wine.
  

Mirassou.com - a great online wedding source. By going to Mirassou.com, you can access Mirassou's online food and wine pairing tool, view videos of Brides.com senior editor discussing the latest wedding trends, plus find other great wedding tips, including bridal dessert and wine pairings. Mirassou will announce the details of its 2010 "I Do with Mirassou" contest in February 2010.

About Mirassou Winery: The Mirassou family has been growing grapes and crafting superior wines in California since 1854, earning them the distinction of being America's oldest winemaking family. Today, the Mirassou wine style is light, refreshing and fruit-forward. Mirassou's premium wines - Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon - retail for approximately $12 per bottle and are widely available in all 50 states. They can be located through Mirassou.com's "Where to Buy" section or by ordering at www.thebarrelroom.com.