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Tucson, Ariz (March 13, 2008) – Bringing together fine art and rare wine with fun, excitement, and a little education, the Tucson Museum of Art is launching Southern Arizona’s largest outdoor wine festival on April 4 – 5, 2008. The CRUSH Wine Festival is a two-day event that will take place in the lush courtyards of the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, and will benefit the Museum and its educational programs that connect art to life.

Friday, April 4 at 6:00 pm starts A Global Wine Adventure with more than 100 wines from around the world available for tasting. Some of Tucson’s best restaurants will have tasty hors d’oeuvres and there will be a silent auction of art, wine, travel and more to bid on in the main lobby. Also in the lobby there will be a special CRUSH Wine Store with art and accessories celebrating the grape, a special Riedel Crystal wine glass store, and a Wine Shop where participants can order bottles of their favorite wine sampled that evening.

Saturday, April 5 also starts at 6:00 pm with a champagne reception welcoming guests in the courtyard where there will be “quick draw” artists creating original works of art. A gourmet, wine-paired dinner follows featuring the wines of special guest winemaker Oscar Renteria. As dessert is served the live auction of fine art and rare wine begins. Approximately 25 lots will be up for bidding with auctioneer Christine Sullivan guiding the bids. Master Sommelier Laura Williamson of VinTabla will be giving information and background on wines such as a 1961 and 1966 Mouton Rothschild, a 1984 First Growth Chateau Latour, a 1.5 liter 1979 Chateau Lafite Rothchild, and a 1973 Mouton Rothschild with a Picasso label. The art up for bidding includes a six panel oil painting by Michael Haykin, a sculpture by David Adix, a mixed media piece from Barbara Rogers, and a photogravure by Edward S. Curtis from 1921. There are several other items that will bring in the high bids including a special dinner with wine pairings at Janos with Nobel Laureate Roy Glauber – the father of Quantum Optics; a fabulous trip to Spain featuring tours of the Guggenheim and Chilliad Museums, the Marques de Riscal Winery and a stay in a Frank Gehry-designed luxury hotel; an exclusive evening at Biosphere 2 featuring a behind the scenes tour with the director that includes dinner and a stay in the historic Ed Bass Ranch House – and so much more!

Tickets for Friday night are $60 in advance; $75 at the door with Saturday night’s black tie optional ticket set at $200 per person. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Tucson Museum of Art at 520-624-2333 ext. 111.

Presenting the traditional with the inventive, the Tucson Museum of Art shows original and traveling exhibitions with a focus on Art of the American West, Latin American Art, and Modern and Contemporary Art, and boasts a permanent collection of more than 7,000 works. The Historic Block features five distinctive houses built between1850 and 1907 that provides a unique look into Tucson’s past. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. The first Sunday of each month is free. It is located at 140 North Main Avenue in historic downtown Tucson.

Media contact:
Meredith Hayes
Director of PR and Marketing
MHayes@TucsonMuseumofArt.org
520-616-2687