Robert Parker & American Express International to Host Inaugural Wine Advocate Grand World Tour in 2014

MONKTON, MD--(Marketwired - Jan 6, 2014) - Fine wine palates around the globe take note: Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, the most trusted authority on wine, is hosting its inaugural Wine Advocate Grand World Tour, a nine-city series of exceptional fine wine and dining events running February through June 2014. Teaming with American Express International, Inc. to take Asia, United States and Europe by storm, each city experience includes the opportunity to mingle with host and Wine Advocate founder, Robert M. Parker, Jr., the most influential wine critic worldwide. Tickets are limited and will first be available for the Asian events. Priority booking for American Express card members is available January 7-19 at www.grandworldtour.com. After January 19, tickets to the Asian events will be available to the public. Details for the United States and Europe will be announced soon.

"This is such an exciting time for us as a global wine journal," said Parker. "The Wine Advocate's Grand World Tour is a culmination of the wines we've deemed as most prominent and outstanding. With our expanded team now covering more top wine regions than ever before, we look forward to further sharing the experience and love of wine, which has brought an incredible community of people together on our site."

The Wine Advocate's Grand World Tour provides guests with the ultimate experience to engage with leading voices in the wine industry -- including Parker himself. Creator of the famous 100-point rating system, Parker's scores have solidified market prices and influenced buying habits of serious wine consumers, particularly in Bordeaux. Parker is the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries and whose opinion is sought by media outlets worldwide, including TIME, 60 Minutes, The New York Times, The Economist and more.

Guests will have the opportunity to hear from and mingle with Parker and his review team at two key events in each city: a Gala Hedonist's Dinner and a rotating Master Class. The memorable gala dinner will highlight eight or more iconic wines sourced from prestigious vineyards matched with a five- to eight-course feast specifically created for the wines. Guests will enjoy rich, intimate conversations with famed wine personalities, including the Wine Advocate's esteemed reviewers, prestigious winemakers and vineyard owners in attendance. A charity auction will take place at specified locations.

Parker and Wine Advocate Editor-in-Chief Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW will also co-host a special master class with designated members of the review team focusing on a specific region or origin. The session will be as entertaining as it is educational offering insights into the elements of wine quality, examining how greatness exists across a broad range of wine styles and providing a first-hand look at how the Wine Advocate team reviews.

Each city will cover a different wine theme, which will rotate on an annual basis among locations. 2014 dates and focused themes for Asia are detailed below. Timing and information for other cities will be announced at a later date.

ASIA TOUR

• Beijing - February 26-27
  Regions: Dinner Only - The Great Wines of Pomerol & St. Emilion
  Critics: Robert Parker, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

• Shanghai - March 1-2
  Regions: Dinner - The Great Wines of the Graves/Pessac-Leognan; Master Class - Medoc 2000 & 2009;
  Critics: Robert Parker, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

• Hong Kong - March 4-6
  Regions: Dinner - The Legends of Greatness; Master Class - Iconic French Wines and their World Counterparts
  Critics: Robert Parker, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Neal Martin

• Kuala Lumpur - March 8-9
  Regions: Dinner & Master Class - The Great Cabernet Sauvignons of the World
  Critics: Robert Parker, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Monica Larner

• Singapore - March 13-16
  Regions: Dinner - The Great Terroirs & Grapes of Italy; Master Class: Iconic Piedmonts
  Critics: Robert Parker, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Monica Larner

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
For more than 35 years, the Wine Advocate, and later eRobertParker.com, has been the global leader and independent consumer's guide to fine wine. The brand was established by world-famous Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries - France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 250,000 professional wine ratings and reviews plus articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more information, visit www.erobertparker.com.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com.hk and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpresshongkong, foursquare.com/americanexpress, www.linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

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