Lindt Explores the Art of Chocolate and Wine Pairings with the Ultimate Premium Experience

STRATHAM, N.H., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, premium Swiss chocolatier Lindt, is launching the Excellence "Perfect Pairing" sweepstakes, offering chocolate lovers an opportunity to indulge in the experience of both premium chocolate and California's wine country.  Tasting fine chocolate, like wine, is truly something to be savored and appreciated, and pairing the two together can reinforce flavors, to intensify and deepen the tasting experience.

Now through July 31, 2011, consumers are invited to visit LindtExcellence.com for the chance to win one of more than 150 daily instant-win prizes or the luxurious grand prize, a trip for two to California's wine country.  The grand prize weekend package includes a private Excellence chocolate and wine pairing experience, complete with a stay at Vintner's Inn in Santa Rosa, Calif., a wine tasting tour at Ferrari Carano vineyards, and tickets to the exclusive Taste of Sonoma Festival, an ultimate weekend of pure tasting pleasure.  The daily instant-win prizes include a year's supply of Lindt Excellence bars, subscriptions to Wine Spectator Magazine, and other premium Lindt offerings.

"The tasting processes for both premium chocolate and wine are arts on their own.  Pairing these two luxuries together creates an entirely new experience," said Lindt Master Chocolatier Ann Czaja.  "Lindt's Excellence collection offers a wide range of cocoa percentage bars and the Perfect Pairing promotion is a great way for consumers to learn another way to experience the pleasure of Lindt's delicious, premium chocolate.

The Lindt Excellence collection is the world's most exceptionally-crafted premium chocolate, with cocoa percentage bars ranging from 50 percent to 99 percent cocoa, as well as innovative flavor combinations.  Made with the finest cocoa beans and highest quality ingredients, Excellence bars have a thin, refined profile to offer chocolate lovers a unique and sophisticated sensory experience as the chocolate melts evenly in their mouth, creating the ultimate chocolate pleasure experience.  The Lindt Master Chocolatiers have perfected the art of tasting fine chocolate, such as Lindt Excellence bars, through The Five Senses Chocolate Tasting process, which encourages the use of sight, touch, sound, smell and taste to fully experience all that premium chocolate has to offer.

For more information about the "Perfect Pairing" sweepstakes, suggested wine and chocolate pairings, and the Five Senses Chocolate Tasting process, visit www.LindtExcellence.com.

About Lindt & Sprungli

Founded in 1845, Lindt & Sprungli is a global leader in the premium chocolate category, offering high-quality products in more than 100 countries.  Lindt & Sprungli operates eight production facilities in Europe and the United States and employs 7,400 worldwide.  Lindt USA operates more than 40 retail stores in the U.S. and maintains wide distribution through extensive retail and wholesale channels.  For more information on Lindt, visit www.lindt.com.

SOURCE Lindt & Sprungli