ORLANDO, Fla., June 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Is your pooch your faithful companion? Is your kitty the cat's meow? Whether your pet is a champion couch potato or you simply think your feline is the cat's pajamas, the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando wants to hear your story as the search for the next 'My Best Friend' wine label spokespet gets underway. Submit a photo of your dog or cat at http://www.gogophotocontest.com/mybestfriendwine and tell us why your pet is your hero. Entering is free and submissions are open now until 9:00 pm CDT July 15, 2015. Entries and voting are not limited to Florida.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=33813
Florida's local, urban winery, Quantum Leap Winery and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits have joined forces with Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando in search of the spokesdog or spokescat who will appear on the label of the 2015 'My Best Friend' rescue red wine. The blend will be available this fall from Quantum Leap Winery and in Orlando-area ABC Fine Wine & Spirits retail stores. Proceeds from voting in the contest and the sale of the wine benefit the programs and services of Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to rescue pets in need.
"We know pets are heroes and we want to share their stories," said Sean Hawkins, Vice President of Marketing for the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. "The public will choose the five finalists through voting and our local celebrity judges will choose one winner to appear on the label of the next blend rescue red wine."
"ABC Fine Wine & Spirits has a long history of community involvement and supporting worthy causes. We could not pass up the opportunity to partner our passion for wine and pets with this pet rescue project. In addition to in-store sales this fall, the winning 'My Best Friend' blend will be available through our online store at http://www.abcfws.com ," according to Bob Gibson, Chief Marketing Officer for ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
"Our dog Kaley's rescue story was the inspiration for the partnership with Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. We have two wines already that benefit pet rescue projects at the Pet Alliance - Kaley's Rescue Red, named after my dog, and Panther's Tale, named after David Forrester's rescue cat. The popularity of these wines have been great," according to Jill Ramsier, Co-Owner of Quantum Leap Winery. "We are very excited of the potential of the 'My Best Friend' project," adds David Forrester, Quantum Leap's Co-Owner. "We love that creating a new wine allows others to tell their pet rescue story and with a great partner like ABC on board, we will raise even more funds to help animals in need."
Nominations are now open. Submit a photo of your pet and tell us why your dog or cat is your hero. Voting for your favorites begins July 16, 2015 and each vote cost is a $1 donation to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. The five nominees with the most votes will each receive a $50 gift certificate for pet products and services at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando and a $100 gift basket from ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. The five finalists will also receive tickets to the My Best Friend announcement event at Quantum Leap Winery. One grand prize winner will be selected by our judges to appear on the label of the 2015 My Best Friend wine plus a $500 "Ultimate Pet Gift Basket."
About Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando
Formerly the SPCA of Central Florida, the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Central Florida. Today, Pet Alliance is laser focused on saving the lives of dogs and cats. As the "go to " experts, the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando provides emergency shelter, affordable veterinary care, "meals on wheels" for dogs and cats, and community education, helping tens of thousands of animals each year across Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties. Funding for Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando programs comes from individual and corporate donors within the communities it serves. More information about Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is available at www.PetAllianceOrlando.org .
About ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Founded by Jack Holloway in 1936 in Orlando, Florida, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is America's largest family-owned wine and spirits retailer. With over 130 locations from Destin to Miami, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits offers thousands of spirits, wines, gourmet foods and craft beers in bottles, cans and growlers, as well as walk-in humidors home to hundreds of fine cigars. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits has the selection, lower prices and expertise you need to Always Be Celebrating. Find more information and start celebrating online at www.abcfws.com .
About Quantum Leap Winery
Quantum Leap Winery opened in October 2012 as Orlando's first winery, offering a wine tasting room and venue for events. It operates on a business philosophy of sustainable production. Jill Ramsier, a former food and beverage executive, and David Forrester, a successful CEO and environmental industry pioneer, work with small producers in premier wine-growing regions around the world to obtain sustainably grown wine. The wine is then transported to Quantum Leap where it is aged, finished, blended and packaged. The evolution of the winery will include packaging its wine in kegs, pouches or boxes, reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional wine production. Quantum Leap is located in the Mills 50 district at 1312 Wilfred Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. More information is available at www.quantumleapwinery.com or by calling 407-730-3082.
Sean Hawkins, 407.418.0904
