Vintners vie for best wine at Fairplex competition

As published in the Inland Valley Daily BulletinArticle Created: 05/31/2008 05:56:02 PM PDT by Gino L. Filippi
The Millard Sheets Gallery served as the perfect pouring place for the 69th Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition at Fairplex in Pomona. Seventy-two wine experts including 20 proficient winemakers, importers, distributors, educators, retailers and restaurateurs gathered to sniff, swirl, taste and evaluate more than 3,500 wines. There were 855 producers from throughout the winemaking world, entered in more than 900 categories including brandies, sparklers, reds, whites, organic and fruit wines.

A new era has begun for Inland Southern California as ground was broken this week for the area's first major-league caliber sports/entertainment arena. Located just west of Ontario Mills near the junction of I-10 and I-15, Citizens Business Bank Arena will arise on one of the last remaining parcels of the former Ontario Motor Speedway.

As the centerpiece for the planned Piemonte at Ontario Center, the arena -- with a capacity of 11,000, including 36 luxury suites -- will be owned by the city of Ontario and managed by Los Angeles-based AEG, whom also operate the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.