Gates sees melding of wine, tech

Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 | 10:59 a.m.

A Las Vegas restaurant that has blended wine and technology with its revamped "eWinebook" received a visit Sunday from one of the men who made it possible -- Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

After speaking to a crowd of more than 12,000 at the MGM Grand Garden arena, Gates stopped in at Charlie Palmer's Aureole Las Vegas, which launched the electronic hand-held touch-screen device that enables guests to ask questions about the perfect wine to accompany a meal from among 50,000 selections.

The restaurant, located at the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino, introduced the technology a year ago, but revamped it in time for the kickoff of the Comdex computer exposition that is bringing 125,000 people to Las Vegas.

Gates mingled and didn't make any presentations at the event.

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