Mirassou® Winery Announces "Bright Ideas" National Grant Recipient

MODESTO, Calif., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mirassou Winery congratulates Jenna Berneck of Chicago, IL, the recipient of the Bright Ideas National Grant of $5,000.  The National Grant is in addition to the $3,000 that Jenna was awarded in November as a Bright Ideas grant program finalist.

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"It is such an honor to be selected as the National Grant recipient! This will allow us expand our network and provide more dog owners in additional cities this no-cost luxury," said Jenna Berneck.

Jenna's bright idea is the Rovernight Network, an online community of dog-owners who are willing to watch one another's dogs overnight in their homes while members of the network travel. The purpose of the network is to provide a safe and no-cost alternative to boarding and kenneling. Jenna plans to use the Bright Ideas grant award to expand the Rovernight Network to more dog-loving cities and to grow website traffic and the dog-owner database.

"Congratulations to Jenna for being voted as the National Grant recipient! My family has a long history of optimism and entrepreneurism, which is why we created the Bright Ideas grant program – to celebrate that spirit and pay it forward to others who have innovative ideas. Jenna's unique idea was a perfect fit," said David Mirassou, sixth generation of America's oldest winemaking family.

The Mirassou Bright Ideas grant program kicked off on April 20, 2011 and was inspired by the Mirassou family's more than 155 years of innovation as America's oldest winemaking family. Those with innovative ideas were invited to submit an entry on the Mirassou Winery Facebook page with a short description of their bright idea. In November, five finalists were each awarded $3,000 and their bright ideas were posted to the Mirassou Winery Facebook page where public voting for the Bright Ideas National Grant was open from November 16 through December 4.

Jenna's receipt of the $5,000 National Grant marks a total of $20,000 awarded by Mirassou Winery in 2011 to deserving entrepreneurs with bright ideas. Visit the Mirassou Winery Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mirassouwinery  to read all five finalists bright ideas, including Jenna's. Official terms and conditions can also be found on the Facebook page.

California Table Wine, ©2011 Mirassou Winery, Modesto, CA.  All rights reserved.

About Mirassou Winery:  The Mirassou family has been growing grapes and crafting superior wines in California since 1854, earning them the distinction of being America's oldest winemaking family. Today, the Mirassou wine style is refreshing and fruit-forward. Mirassou's premium wines – Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Moscato, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – retail for approximately $12 per bottle and are widely available in all 50 states. They can be located through Mirassou.com's "Where to Buy" section, on the Mirassou Winery Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MirassouWinery), or by ordering at www.thebarrelroom.com.

SOURCE Mirassou Winery