Durham, N.C., - The Taste of Durham Festival on Saturday, May 26 will celebrate the good life with an abundance of simple pleasures: good food, good music, good entertainment-and good things to drink. With vaious wines from international regions, grape stomping experience by Giorgios Hospitality Group along with Satisfaction, Down Under Pub, and the owners of "All About Beer" magazine serving up samples in the beer garden, festival-goers are assured of a sophisticated selection of fine beverages from close at hand and around the world.

Giorgios Bakatsias, founder of The Giorgios Hospitality Group's five distinct restaurants, emigrated to the U.S. as a young child, and he still remembers the joy of the grape harvest in his native Greece. As a young boy, he helped grow and harvest the grapes on the family vines and he danced among the grapes to extract the juice. Decades later, he reminds us that "fermentation reveals the soul of the grape."

At the festival, The Giorgios Hospitality Group will honor the soul of the grape in a dramatic and festive celebration, a Gathering of Gods and Goddesses worthy of Mount Olympus. The joyous crushing of the grape-known today as grape stomping-will be a part of the performance. Lucky observers will be invited to join in while other festival-goers will be treated to revelry and a celebration of wine and hospitality.

The international wine tasting pavilion will give folks a chance to sample quality wines in various price ranges, learn how to select the perfect wine to go with a particular dish, and taste some delicious wine and cheese combinations.

Meanwhile, in the beer garden, will showcase unique international bottled beer samples. There will be home brewing demonstrations, and samples from Edington craft brewers.

Julie and Daniel Bradford of "All About Beer" will give presentions on various beer styles, focusing on international, hard-to-find beers. They'll also make suggestions about what beers and foods go well together. An India Pale Ale, for example, goes nicely with spicy food because the bitterness of the hops contrasts well with the heat of the food. The Bradfords will also give away free copies of their magazine and of "The Beer Lover's Cookbook," which includes recipes from breweries around the world.

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Taste of Durham takes place Saturday, May 26, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides fine beverages, the festival offers local and international entertainment, area restaurant food sampling, arts and cultural experiences, and interactive activities for children. Other highlights include Triangle celebrity chef demonstrations, a Triangle Idol karaoke contest, and post-festival progressive parties.

The Taste of Durham Festival is the first event sponsored by The Community Chest, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The Community Chest's mission is to build a stronger, richer community through distinctive festivals and programs that celebrate the diverse cultures of the Triangle area. Its events showcase well-known and emerging talents, support economic revitalization, and contribute proceeds to local charities and civic, arts and cultural groups.