Gnarly Head Kicks Off Rippin' Ribs BBQ Tour 2011 in Search of Nation's Best Ribs

NAPA, Calif., March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Who's got the gnarliest pork rib recipe? Gnarly Head is on a cross-country mission to find out. 'Cue Masters from Seattle to Memphis are challenged to perfect their best pork rib recipe and showcase their smoking skills in the annual Gnarly Head Rippin' Ribs Recipe Contest. Contestants can choose to compete in the regional BBQ cook-off of their choice (Memphis in May -Memphis TN, Food Lion Speed Street - Charlotte NC, Ribfest - Chicago IL, Safeway BBQ Battle - Washington DC or Bite of Seattle - Seattle WA), for a chance to win the ultimate grand prize of $5,000 in cash and a spot on the grill-obsessed (and sometimes raucous) Gnarly BBQ Team at the Memphis in May World Championship of Barbecue in 2012.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110330/SF73810)

Here's how it works. Anyone who claims to have a ribs recipe worthy of praise—from home chef to self-proclaimed grill master—is encouraged to enter at www.rippinribs.com. From there, the list of recipes is chiseled down to Five (5) Semi-Finalists for Five (5) different cities along the Rippin' Ribs Tour, where one winner from each city will advance to the final round.

The Five (5) Finalists from each tour stop will win an all-expense paid trip to the legendary American Royal Barbecue Competition in Kansas City (9/30/11 – 10/1/11). From this bastion of BBQ, one ultimate winner will be chosen to join the Gnarly BBQ Team and strut his/her BBQ stuff in the world's most prestigious BBQ competition, Memphis in May, in 2012.

"This is not your father's BBQ," says Chris Indelicato, President and avid BBQ fan. "There's nothing wrong with rib eye steak and a cold beer, but the time has come to shake things up, to take a fresh, gnarly perspective on this iconic summer ritual. In the era of celebrity chefs and everyday gourmet, there really is no excuse. It's time to step up from being a backyard griller to a world champion smoker."

Contestants will be required to prepare their recipe in a live competition using a Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker, charcoal wood smoker. Each Semi-Finalist's prepared recipe will be judged by a panel of qualified independent judges selected by Gnarly Head based on the following criteria:

• ORIGINALITY (25%): Is the rib recipe one of a kind? Is there an artistic, creative or imaginative thought demonstrated in the recipe, cooking method and/or preparation?
• TASTE APPEAL (25%): Are the ribs delicious with interesting and special flavor combinations? Were the ribs cooked with precision and to perfection following the recipe? Did the plating and presentation add to the appeal of the recipe? Was the recipe prepared and the ribs cooked with precision?
• WINE PAIRING (25%): Does the wine complement the ribs? Does the wine enhance the ribs? Is the pairing creative or imaginative?
• SIMPLICITY (25%): Were the ribs completed in the allotted time? Was there an excessive amount of "secret", rare or hard to find ingredients? Could the ribs be easily replicated by following the recipe? Does it require complex techniques?

Complete contest information can be found at www.rippinribs.com, the Rippin' Ribs Recipe Contest website, which clearly defines contest rules and regulations and provides consumers with an easy-to-use online entry form. In addition, from 3/1/11 – 10/2/11, Gnarly Head will be actively promoting the contest and posting event updates on its Facebook site, www.facebook.com/gnarlyheadwines. Event updates to include blog postings from Gnarly Head road managers and photos from each stop on the tour.

The Rippin' Ribs Recipe Contest is not open to those under 21 years of age or any individual holding an alcoholic beverage license or affiliated with those holding licenses.  No alcoholic beverage purchase is required to enter, void where prohibited by law – all federal, state and local rules and regulations apply.  

ABOUT GNARLY HEAD

Gnarly Head is crafted by DFV Wines, a family-owned winery with 87 years of experience in California winemaking and winegrowing. Gnarly Head was launched in 2005 and takes its name from the free standing "head trained" vines found in older California vineyards that provide grapes for the flagship Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel. These 35 – 80 year old vines have twisted trunks and branches that spread out in all directions sprouting leaves like unruly umbrellas - truly gnarly heads. The Gnarly Head portfolio includes Old Vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir. For more information about Gnarly Head, visit www.gnarlyhead.com or find Gnarly Head on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gnarlyheadwines.

SOURCE Gnarly Head