FERRARI-CARANO and SCHARFFEN BERGER CHOCOLATE MAKER Share Wine, Chocolate and Music on the Healdsburg Plaza

HEALDSBURG, Calif., July 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery® is delighted to introduce Scharffen Berger® Chocolate artisan chocolate into its Seasons of the Vineyard™ Tasting Bar & Boutique. Beginning July 2, the shop will become the flagship store for Scharffen Berger chocolates in Healdsburg Plaza. It will offer a range of gourmet chocolate for sale, wine and chocolate pairing events and a fun educational experience about bean-to-bar chocolate making.

Throughout the years, guests to Seasons of the Vineyard have enjoyed one-of-a-kind shopping experiences, signature wine tastings from Ferrari-Carano and Lazy Creek Vineyards, and live performances by local jazz musicians. Now, Scharffen Berger chocolate's gourmet assortment of products, including gifts and baking chocolates, will be available for purchase in the boutique. The Seasons of the Vineyard tasting bar will also feature the Scharffen Berger chocolate in new, expertly coordinated wine and chocolate pairing events.

"The Ferrari-Carano team is very excited about the collaboration with Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker," said Rhonda Carano, co-founder of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery. "I have always had a fondness for delicious chocolate, as my grandmother was a chocolatier. Some of my happiest memories are of watching her dipping chocolates on a marble slab. Those are the one-of-a-kind tasting experiences that I am thrilled to offer at Seasons with Scharffen Berger chocolate and Ferrari-Carano wines.  It seems like a match made in heaven for the discerning palates of Healdsburg residents and visitors alike to experience."

In addition to its presence at Ferrari-Carano's Seasons of the Vineyards store, Scharffen Berger Chocolate will be sponsoring several concerts during the Healdsburg "Tuesdays in the Plaza" summer concert series. This community favorite for live entertainment features talented artists, and it will allow concert-goers an opportunity to try a sample of Scharffen Berger chocolate.

"I am really pleased with Scharffen Berger chocolate's new partnership with Ferrari-Carano. I think that the complex layers in Scharffen Berger chocolate complement the well developed flavors of Ferrari-Carano's wine," said John Scharffenberger, Co-founder of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker. "Scharffen Berger chocolate continues to make superior chocolate by sourcing the best quality cacao beans, just as Robert Steinberg and I did when founding the company. Our use of traditional chocolate making equipment, together with premium cacao, ensures the great flavor and great tasting chocolate we are known for."

For additional information about Seasons of the Vineyard, visit: www.seasonsofthevineyard.com or call 707-431-2222. Also, visit www.ferrari-carano.com for more information about Ferrari-Carano wines.

For more information about Scharffen Berger chocolates, visit: www.scharffenberger.com.  
For details about the Tuesdays in the Plaza concert series, visit: www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us.

About Ferrari-Carano
Since 1985, Ferrari-Carano has been a leading producer of world class, nationally acclaimed wines. Vintage after vintage, the wines exhibit a remarkable consistency of style and elegance. Unlike their corporate competitors, Don and Rhonda Carano's uncompromising commitment to quality and excellence is a reflection of their desire to produce memorable wines that enhance the pleasures of gracious entertaining and not focus on short-term financial goals.

About Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker was established in 1997 in San Francisco, California, and first earned national recognition for its artisan-quality chocolate in 1998.  Producing bean-to-bar premium chocolate, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker is one of the world's finest chocolate makers.  All Scharffen Berger chocolate is composed of proprietary bean blends from up to nine different cacao-growing regions throughout the world.  Scharffen Berger chocolate has received recognition throughout the U.S. for its high quality chocolate.

SOURCE Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery; Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker