Austin, TX, March 11, 2010 -- Wente Vineyards continues its successful emerging artist program, ‘Discover the Wine, Discover the Music’ (DWDM) with their participation in South by Southwest (SXSW) for a third year.  SXSW is a hub for discovery and innovation in music and technology and Wente Vineyards’ significant presence at this year’s SXSW underscores the winery and winemaker Karl Wente’s commitment to bringing great music and wine to the appreciative audiences outside of traditional avenues.  It is only fitting that DWDM has a place at this convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Each year or vintage, Wente Vineyards seeks out the best new emerging artists and pairs them with different Wente Vineyard wines. Currently, fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente is scouting for his fourth “vintage,” as he likes to call his line up of artists. He will be spotlighting six wines from vintage three of emerging artists/wine pairings over the course of the conference starting Wednesday, March 17th through Sunday, March 21st.  Shurman, Jesse Dayton and Hopewell from DWDMs’ first two vintages will be spread across the eighty stages that take over Austin. A new paradigm will be established with respect to wine/music/technology/lifestyle converging when Wente Vineyards participates in ViewTopia: SXSW – a Whole Foods Market (WFM) livestream initiative and the first live event stream for any major food & beverage retailer.  The livestream will be broadcast across the digital universe with homepage positioning on Justin.tv, as well as Blip.fm, and on a large format plasma screen in front of WFM in Lincoln Park, Ill.  Not possible in any other medium, this precedent-setting platform will deliver real time event coverage of SXSW and enable users to actively participate from anywhere in the world.  The New Mastersounds, a band from DWDM’s current vintage, will be streaming through on Blip.fm during the livestream. BAMM, Viewtopia’s broadcast partner on Justin.tv/SXSW coverage, will broadcast from the Convention Center and will be pouring Wente Vineyard wines from 12:00-6:00 pm, Wednesday through Friday.  Expect to taste the RiverBank Riesling, Nth Degree Syrah, Small Lot Pinot Blanc, Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Southern Hills Cabernet and Crane Ridge Merlot. Karl Wente will drop in on Wednesday, March 17th from 2-3. Wente Vineyards wines will also be featured across the Rockstar Weekend @ Jimmy Thrill Quills Ranch at Red Horse Studios on March 20th and 21st.  To finish off the SXSW week, Wente Vineyards wines will be included in the cooking segments, Music on the Menu. Back by popular demand is the DWDM Wine Bus Thursday, March 18th and Friday March 19th from noon-3 pm. On Thursday, this party on wheels segues from the Convention Center to the Whole Foods Market Gateway (WFM) located at 9607 Research Blvd with live performances by The Ferocious Few, Glenn Yoder and Todd Thibaud at noon. At 3 pm the wine bus will stop midway at Cork & Co (308 Congress Ave) for live performances by Fierce Bad Rabbit, Family of the Year, Ian Hopkinson and an interview with Erin Davis/Vince Wilburn.  Friday at noon, the bus will feature live performances at WFM by Gemma Ray, The Orion Experience and Susan Hyatt’s Rockstar Workout.  The bus then moves to the Sweet Relief Benefit at Jovita’s (1619 S. 1st Ave) with live performances by Steve Poltz, Mumiy Troll, Bluebonnets, Victoria Williams and Michael Des Barres.  Wente Vineyards will highlight four wines for this portion of SXSW: The Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Riverbank Riesling, Southern Hills Cabernet and Crane Ridge Merlot. Enjoying recent success in a second year with Noise Pop indie music festival out of San Francisco, Discover the Wine, Discover the Music originated three years ago when fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente decided to blend his love for fine wines with good original music. The DWDM fourth vintage of emerging artists will go live in September 2010 to coincide with Day of Discovery at Wente Vineyards on Labor Day. On April 11 Karl Wente will be the featured winemaker on Viewtopia: In Vino, streaming live from In Vino in New York City, with buzz band The Antlers. An artist himself, Karl Wente and Wente Vineyards are committed to providing opportunities for these artists to be heard while representing the essence of Wente Vineyards with their exclusive pairings. About Wente Vineyards The country's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery; Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future, a system of sustainable viticulture practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. This philosophy extends to all aspects of winery operations, where energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and social responsibility are all integral to the culture. All of the wines within the Wente Vineyards portfolio are Estate Grown, crafted by 5th generation winemaker, Karl Wente from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.

Sonoma Wine Company Signs Contract with Winery Exchange and Adds New Services GRATON, CA, March 1, 2010--Sonoma Wine Company (SWC), a leader in contract wine production, today announced the signing of a long-term winery services contract with Winery Exchange and the addition of several new service offerings. Winery Exchange, a Novato-based firm, is a global supplier of private label wine, beer and spirits brands for retailers such as Costco, Tesco, Supervalu, Kroger and Sainsbury. Producing over 3 million cases worldwide in 2009, Winery Exchange has partnered with Sonoma Wine Company for the past 7 years. Dennis Carroll, President of Sonoma Wine Company commented, “We are pleased to continue our long relationship with Winery Exchange, and look forward to many more successful years for both Winery Exchange and Sonoma Wine Company.” In addition to the crush, storage and bottling services that Sonoma Wine Company offers at six facilities throughout Northern California, SWC recently expanded its offerings to include Bag in the Box and keg wines. "Our goal has always been to provide high-quality, cost-effective winemaking services for our partners -- which are even more critical in today's climate. Adding Bag in the Box and kegging demonstrates our commitment to servicing our customers’ requirements as well as keeping current with market demand," stated Carroll. About Sonoma Wine Company Sonoma Wine Company provides unparalleled grape-to-bottle winemaking capabilities in Northern California.  Custom winery services include, crush-to-bottle, tank and barrel storage and services, and case goods warehousing to existing wineries and virtual wineries. The facilities produce more than four million cases of wine annually for 30 clients. Over the past few years, Sonoma Wine Company's Graton facility has been recognized by the EPA and other organizations for its energy efficiency, water conservation and environmentally conscious winemaking operations. Sonoma Wine Company has been an EPA Climate Leader since 2005, establishing a greenhouse gas inventory baseline, and became an accredited Sonoma County Green Business in 2008.

A fresh lineup calls for fresh juice February 24, 2010, San Francisco, CA – WENTE Vineyards continues its mission to entice the senses for a second year of indie culture festival/Noise Pop partnership. As with the popularity of his handcrafted wines, fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente’s keenness for good original music proves contagious. Wente’s involvement evolved from his commitment to his ‘Discover the Wine, Discover the Music’ (DWDM) program, www.wentevineyards.com/discover. Each year, or vintage as he likes to call his new discovery series, Wente seeks out the best new emerging artists.  A great highlight to this year’s Noise Pop program will be the wine and music pairings, culled by Karl Wente and friends, at the Swedish American Hall, Friday and Saturday evenings. The first artist/wine pairings are set to drop at the Swedish American Music Hall with exclusives for John Vanderslice and THAO NGUYEN /MIRAH, Friday February 26th and Saturday February 27th, respectively. Wente Vineyard wines will host the Industry Noise Conference cocktail party and Pop n’ Shop at The Verdi Club on Saturday, February 27th. Festivities continue throughout the festival nightly with Wente Vineyard wines for Happy Hour at Bender’s, starting Tuesday, February 23rd. Additionally, Wente Vineyards will sponsor the Noise Pop Film Festival reception on Thursday, February 25th from 5:30-7:15pm at the Viz Cinema. Karl Wente was interviewed for one of the widely anticipated documentaries, Blood Into Wine, which airs following the reception. Wente Vineyards and ‘Discover the Wine, Discover the Music’ will take part in a cool new concept at South by Southwest (SXSW) when Karl Wente participates in the first livestream of ViewTopiaSXSW -- the live stream initiative for Whole Foods Markets, with home page positioning on Justin.tv.  Wente Vineyard’s ‘Discover the Wine, Discover the Music’ Wine Bus will be featured during ViewTopiaSXSW on Thursday, March 18th and Friday, March 19th. This party on wheels offers free rides, wine tastings and live music. The ties between Wente Vineyards and music appreciation at all levels have deep roots.  Celebrating over 20 years of its popular concert series with renowned established artists such as Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, on its estate in Livermore, California, events such as Noise Pop and SXSW represent an opportunity to tap in to the exciting emerging music scene. Noise Pop, like Wente, understands that the celebration of music and art is important in life. Starting in 1993, the festival will turn eighteen this year.  Noise Pop has become world-renowned but more importantly, given emerging artists a chance to be heard. Artists who have appeared and gone on to widespread acclaim include: The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, and many, many more. For more information on Noise Pop, please visit www.noisepop.com 2010 Noise Pop Artist/Wine Pairings are as follows: John Vanderslice/Crane Ridge Merlot Nurses/Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Honeycomb/Riva Ranch Chardonnay Conspiracy of Venus/ Riverbank Riesling THAO NGUYEN/Small Lot Pinot Blanc MIRAH/Crane Ridge Merlot House Feathers/ Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Dave Smallen/Small Lot Pinot Blanc Karleta Sue Kay/ Morning Fog Chardonnay About Wente Vineyards The country's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery; Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future, a system of sustainable viticulture practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. This philosophy extends to all aspects of winery operations, where energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and social responsibility are all integral to the culture. All of the wines within the Wente Vineyards portfolio are Estate Grown, crafted by 5th generation winemaker, Karl Wente from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.

Cupid to Make Last Minute Visit to the Bubble Lounge in NYC! Champagne Ayala and Perfectmatch team up to match singles in time for Valentine’s Day New York, NY  February 5, 2010— As Valentine's Day quickly approaches, singles still looking for love have something to get excited about next week. Experts in online romance and matchmaking from Perfectmatch.com have teamed up with premium Champagne house Ayala, and the ultimate destination for urban romance The Bubble Lounge to play Cupid in New York City to help singles find their perfect match so no one has to spend Valentine's Day alone. The event, next Thursday night, February 11th, 2010, from 6-8pm, will allow singles an opportunity to enjoy a glass of ultra-premium Ayala bubbly and complimentary hors d'oeuvres while cozying up on the plush couches at The Bubble Lounge, flirting with other singles or playing a round of Sexy Slang, a sexy and provocative charades-like board game that is sure to help get the conversation flowing. "Events like this create a fantastic opportunity for singles to get out of their element and be adventurous! If love is blind - how will it ever find you? You really need to put yourself into situations where you can meet quality singles in a romantic, fun environment," explains Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Chief Relationship Expert for Perfectmatch.com and author of Finding Your Perfect Match, a book based on Duet®, Perfectmatch's signature compatibility system that helps people define eight specific personality characteristics necessary to finding true compatibility. All attendees will receive a free one month membership to Perfectmatch.com ($50 value) and the first 100 people will receive a free copy of Finding Your Perfect Match ($13.95 value). Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010 Time: 6-8pm Location: The Bubble Lounge 228 West Broadway (at White Street) Tickets: Complimentary; RSVP requested though not required RSVP: 212.431.3433 or cornel@bubblelounge.com Contact: Cornel at 212.431.3433 with any questions 21+ only. Proper ID required. About the Bubble Lounge The Bubble Lounge New York specializes in Champagnes & sparkling wines, serving over 300 unique varieties, a full bar, and food menu six nights a week. The lounge offers a friendly, sensual, and romantic environment in which to enjoy Champagne and sparkling wine. Traditionally, sparkling wines have been reserved for special occasions; since 1996, the Bubble Lounge has provided New York City the opportunity to enjoy and learn about bubbly anytime. For more information, please visit www.bubblelounge.com or visit our Facebook page. About Ayala Champagne Champagne AYALA comes from Äy, France and is imported to the United States exclusively by Cognac One LLC.  Known as the purest Champagne with its low and zero sugar dosage champagnes, Ayala is the only French champagne house with Latin roots.  The House of AYALA was one of the elite founding members of the "Ivy League" of the top champagne houses, the Syndicat des Grandes Marques de Champagne.  AYALA was purchased by Bollinger in 2005.  For more information, please visit www.cognac-one.com or www.champagne-ayala.fr. About Perfectmatch.com Perfectmatch.com® (www.Perfectmatch.com), a leading online dating and relationship service, is the best approach for adults seeking successful, lasting relationships. It is the only online dating and relationship service to offer the Duet® Total Compatibility System (Duet®), co-developed by internationally renowned relationship expert, Dr. Pepper Schwartz (Dr. Schwartz). Based on over 30 years of research, Duet® analyzes the 'whole person', taking into account each member's Personality, Values and Ideals, Life and Lovestyle, Preferences and their Love & Money Assessment to identify and find the person right for them. This unique and proprietary system enables Perfectmatch to provide both the best online capabilities and member experience to those seeking a real love, a relationship or marriage. About Sexy Slang Launched in February 2008, Sexy Slang brings a naughty twist to traditional drawing games and charades. Sexy Slang is faced-paced and dynamic. All teams race to guess the same titillating term at the same time, creating an incredibly social atmosphere. When a team's artist acts out or tries to draw a "super kinky" expression, the results are predictably hilarious. Sexy Slang has enjoyed early success with its on-line business as well as with retailers across the nation. Sexy Slang can be found in over 1000 retail stores, including Barnes & Noble. For more information, please visit www.sexyslang.com.

The Course at Wente Vineyards Designated “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by Audubon International Program Livermore, CA, February 4, 2010 – The Course at Wente Vineyards, an 18-hole award-winning golf course designed by Greg Norman, has achieved designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.    “To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas,” explained Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs.     Those categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.   Sluiter also added,  “The Course at Wente Vineyards has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program.  They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property.”  Glenn Matthews, Superintendent at the Course at Wente Vineyards spearheaded the certification process. Christine Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower and Vice President of Hospitality for the family-owned winery, golf course, restaurant, and event center, stated "This certification by Audubon International of The Course at Wente Vineyards is a confirmation of a long held philosophy at our family winery where we have been implementing sustainable and environmentally sensitive practices since my great-great-grandfather founded our company in 1883.  We are excited and honored to have this certification, which will further enhance our guests' experience at our unique property where wine, golf, concerts and fine dining converge in the historic Livermore Valley." The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses is endorsed by the United States Golf Association.  It provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources.  Golf courses from all over the globe, numbering 797 total, with 52 in California have achieved this certification.    For more information on golf and the environment, please visit www.golfandenvironment.org.  For more information on Audubon International, please visit www. auduboninternational.org. About The Course at Wente Vineyards The Course at Wente Vineyards opened in July 1998.  Designed by golfing great Greg Norman, the 18-hole championship course is a picturesque 7,181-yard, par-72, upscale, daily-fee golf course tucked away in the scenic, rural Livermore Valley, 50 minutes east of San Francisco.  With three distinct topographies—native woodlands, mature vineyard and rolling hills of natural grasslands—The Course at Wente Vineyards offers extraordinary visual panoramas and a diversity of play unmatched in the Bay Area. For tee times call (925) 456-2425 or visit online at www.wentegolf.com. The Course is located at 5040 Arroyo Road in Livermore, CA. About Wente Vineyards The country's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery, Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future, a system of sustainable viticultural practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. This philosophy extends to all aspects of winery operations, where energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and social responsibility are all integral to the culture. All of the wines within the Wente Vineyards portfolio are Estate Grown, crafted by 5th generation winemaker, Karl Wente from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.

DeLoach Vineyards Estate and Garden Certified Biodynamic® by Demeter USA First estate harvest from the biodynamically farmed vineyards will be this fall Russian River Valley, California, February 3, 2010—Demeter USA, the only certification agent for Biodynamic® farms in the United States, has certified the 17-acre estate vineyard and garden at DeLoach Vineyards fully compliant with their standards for Demeter Biodynamic® status. As one of only 64 wineries or vineyards in the world with Demeter certified Biodynamic® estate vineyards, DeLoach is among an elite group of sustainable winegrape growers committed to farming in parallel with the Earth’s natural cycles and from within the context of the principles of a unique living organism. After the Boisset family purchased DeLoach Vineyards in 2003, one of their first initiatives was to give new life to the 17-acre estate vineyard surrounding the winery. “My sister and I were taught by our grandparents at a very young age to be stewards of the land in Burgundy where we were fortunate to be raised.  In honor of our parents and grandparents, in 1994 we converted the family’s premier cru and grand cru vineyards at Domaine de la Vougeraie to organic and biodynamic farming. While rare in Burgundy, we considered it essential to restoring the health of our land, enhancing the quality of our wines, and ensuring a vital ecology on our estates for many more centuries to come,” explains Jean-Charles Boisset, President of Boisset Family Estates. “When I first visited Sonoma County, I was inspired by the incredible potential of Russian River Valley terroir to grow great Pinot Noir. But I knew that in order to make wine that fully expressed the great Russian River Valley terroir, we would first need to restore the health of the land,” explains Jean-Charles Boisset, President of Boisset Family Estates. “Deciding to let the estate vineyards go fallow just after purchasing the winery was my family’s way of showing that we want to grow and produce wine worthy of this extraordinary region not only today, but for many generations to come.” The process of converting a farm from conventional to Biodynamic® agriculture requires a three-year transition process to become organically certified, followed by an additional year of biodynamic-specific practices. All work is done according to the Biodynamic® calendar, which is based on celestial and terrestrial movements. Biodynamic farming has minimal dependence on external inputs; its holistic approach instead relies upon creating natural biodiversity within the farm through cover crops and annual preparations such as the iconic #500 Horn Manure. As a result, biodynamic farming leaves one of the smallest carbon footprints of any agricultural method. Biodynamic farming was established by Rudolf Steiner through his series of lectures titled “Agriculture” in 1924. The vineyard and gardens at DeLoach Vineyards have been farmed in line with biodynamic principles for the past several years; certification was delayed to coincide with the inaugural winegrape crop in 2010. “We view certification not as the destination of our voyage, but as an affirmation along this voyage that we are moving in the right direction. With eagerness we anticipate the coming growing season and our first vintage of estate wines from certified organic and certified biodynamic vineyards,” said Eric Pooler, DeLoach Winegrower. Today, the estate at DeLoach is a rich ecosystem in which eight clones of Pinot Noir and two clones of Chardonnay are able to express the unique combination of soil, climate, air, water, nutrients and human attention that turn the concept of terroir into a tangible reality. Sheep graze and trim the vegetation beneath the vines; bees pollinate the half-acre CCOF and Demeter-certified garden and the cover crops planted between rows of vines. Fruits and vegetables from the garden are served to winery guests and donated to local food banks including Food for Thought and Redwood Empire Food Bank; herbs from the garden are used as the basis for certain Biodynamic® preparations. DeLoach’s commitment to environmentally-friendly practices extends to the winery: an innovative membrane bio-reactor purifies all water from the winemaking process for reuse in the vineyards and 100% of its energy is purchased from renewable sources, eliminating 314 metric tons of CO2 – the  equivalent of 57 passenger vehicles for 1 year. About DeLoach Vineyards As a pioneering producer and winegrower of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, DeLoach Vineyards has been experimenting with and perfecting the best combinations of soil, rootstock and clones for over three decades. In 2003, the Boisset family brought two generations of sustainable winemaking experience from Burgundy, France, to California’s Russian River Valley and pulled up the estate vineyards that had just produced Wine Enthusiast magazine’s 2004 wine of the year:  DeLoach Vineyards’ 30th Anniversary Cuvée Pinot Noir. The award-winning vineyards were replanted with cover crops in order to revitalize the soil and in the meantime, DeLoach partnered with winegrowers equally dedicated to and passionate about eco-friendly farming practices and the production of high-quality wines. Wine & Spirits magazine named DeLoach Vineyards a Top 100 Winery for the tenth time in the winery’s history in 2009. Located at 1791 Olivet Road in Santa Rosa, the DeLoach Vineyards tasting room and organic garden are open to the public daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.deloachvineyards.com. About Boisset Family Estates Boisset Family Estates is a family-owned producer and importer of fine wines based in Sausalito, California with roots in Burgundy, France, Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley.  One of the world’s leading producers of Pinot Noir, Boisset crafts fine wines with a strict terroir approach: each house in its family of wineries has a unique history, identity, and style, yet all are united in the pursuit of superior quality.  Boisset is an innovative leader in the wine world that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of wine packaging and production and protect the long-term sustainability of winegrowing from farming methods to winery practices and packaging.  To learn more about Boisset, please visit its website at www.boissetfamilyestates.com.

DIAM and G3 Partner to Serve U.S. Wineries for Alternative Closures Modesto, CA, January 28, 2010--Oeneo Bouchage, manufacturer of the patented technical cork closure DIAM, has signed a long-term distribution agreement with leading USA supply chain company G3 Enterprises. Effective January 2010, G3 Enterprises will be the exclusive distributor of the DIAM portfolio of technical closures to key markets throughout North America. As part of the agreement, G3 Enterprises will be printing and finishing DIAM closures in their Modesto plant. Based in Modesto, California, G3 Enterprises is a single source provider of quality packaging and supply chain services, encompassing labels, closures, mobile bottling, bottle decorating and logistics. G3 Enterprises employs over 340 people and supplies over 300 wines and spirits customers throughout North America. G3 Enterprises has a professional sales force covering the USA, Canada and Mexico and is a major supplier of closures and labels. Commenting on the development, Oeneo Bouchage CEO Dominique Tourneix said: “The distribution agreement with G3 is a huge step forward for DIAM - we look forward to a long and successful partnership with G3 and are firmly focused on continuing to grow market share and drive the closure industry forward.” “The addition of the DIAM closures to our portfolio of products and services is a testament to G3’s focus on providing our customers with the latest in technological advances in closures. We are very proud to be associated with Oeneo Bouchage and their patented technical closures’, says Robert Lubeck, President and CEO of G3 Enterprises. The announcement follows recent investment by DIAM to increase the profile of the technical closure in the USA. The ongoing program is focused on driving the closure debate within the trade and consumer wine media, with key industry influencers and amongst leading retailers. DIAM is committed to engaging with winemakers, retailers and distributors to drive awareness of current issues and ensure all key stakeholders start to ‘think’ about the benefits of the closure options available. DIAM is a technical cork, produced by the patented DIAMANT super-critical CO2 process, delivering a consistently neutral, TCA-free cork closure. Validated by several world-wide independent laboratories, the DIAMANT process uses super-critical CO2 to eradicate 2,4,6 – trichloroanisole (TCA) and 150 other compounds. For more information, please contact Kimberly Charles at press@charlescomm.com or 415-701-9463 www.charlescomm.com

Boisset Family Estates Donates More Than 6,500 Pounds of Food to The Greater Boston Food Bank through its “Fight Against Hunger” Campaign Sausalito, CA, January 21, 2010 – Boisset Family Estates, a family-owned producer and importer of fine wines with offices in Sausalito, CA, wineries in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley, and roots in Burgundy, France, will make a donation of 6,700 pounds of food, equivalent to 5,175 meals, to families in the Boston area this month through its Fight Against Hunger campaign via The Greater Boston Food Bank.  The donation of meals is made in partnership with Boisset’s partners in Boston, including Legal Sea Foods. Boisset’s Fight Against Hunger is a national campaign to combat hunger in local communities through the sale of its wines. Through its wineries DeLoach Vineyards, Lyeth Estate, Oceana Estates Riesling, and French rabbit, Boisset has donated more than 1 million meals to communities in Dallas, Indianapolis, the San Francisco Bay Area and Denver in 2009-2010. Fight Against Hunger is on track to reach its goal of donating 1.2 million meals to local food banks; from July through December 2009, every bottle of wine purchased from Boisset’s four wineries listed above helped supplement three meals for an American family in need when purchased through a participating retailer, restaurateur, or hotelier such as Legal Sea Foods. Given the current global economic situation, the issue of hunger is more keenly felt than ever and Jean-Charles Boisset, President of Boisset Family Estates, believes strongly that with the integral connection between wine and food, it is essential for his family’s company to contribute to a solution. “The wine world is deeply connected to the harvest, agriculture and food – great wines are complemented by great meals, and thus, as part of the world of food and wine, we find it troubling to tolerate the existence of hunger among our friends and neighbors,” says Boisset.  “We know that now, more than ever, even families that have never thought to seek help before need assistance.  That’s why Boisset Family Estates has committed to providing a minimum of 1.2 million meals to U.S. families in need through our Fight Against Hunger campaign.” Boisset’s donation will be announced January 24th at the Boston Wine Expo, inspiring the wine world to take part in its critical mission to alleviate hunger for American families in need in these challenging times. "We are grateful to Boisset Family Estates for developing this campaign that will help food banks across the country provide more meals to more families,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “We urge the community to take action and help us in the fight against hunger so that every person receives the nutritious meal they deserve.” The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes more than 30 million pounds of food and grocery products annually to nearly 600 member hunger-relief agencies in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. The Food Bank serves 83,000 people each week and is part of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. For more information about The Greater Boston Food Bank, visit www.gbfb.org or call (617) 427-5200. About Boisset Family Estates Boisset Family Estates is a family-owned producer and importer of fine wines based in Sausalito, California with roots in Burgundy, France, Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley.  One of the world’s leading producers of Pinot Noir, Boisset crafts fine wines with a strict terroir approach: each house in its family of wineries has a unique history, identity, and style, yet all are united in the pursuit of superior quality.  Boisset is an innovative leader in the wine world that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of wine packaging and production and protect the long-term sustainability of winegrowing from farming methods to winery practices and packaging.  To learn more about Boisset, please visit www.boissetfamilyestates.com. More about Boisset’s partners in its Fight Against Hunger can be found by visiting www.boissetfamilyestates.com/fightagainsthunger.

Domaine Carneros Joins Global Fundraising Efforts for Rescue and Relief Services in Haiti Carneros, CA - January 15, 2010 - In response to Haiti's devastating earthquake on Tuesday, Domaine Carneros Winery announced that it will donate 50% of all proceeds from Wine Samplers this Saturday, January 16th and Sunday, January 17th to rescue and relief efforts by the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. In announcing the initiative, CEO and founding winemaker Eileen Crane said, "Our hearts are with the people in Haiti who are suffering.  We want to say to them that if we can help to lighten the pain, all of us at Domaine Carneros want to. " About Domaine Carneros Domaine Carneros is a boutique, family-owned winery founded by Champagne Taittinger in 1987. The winery handcrafts sparkling and still wines of extraordinary quality: a super-premium vintage Brut, a luxury Blanc de Blancs called Le Rêve, a Brut Rosé called Cuvée de la Pompadour and the Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot Noir. Domaine Carneros is located in the picturesque Carneros AVA, the first American appellation to be defined according to microclimate rather than along political lines. Carneros shares a portion of both Sonoma and Napa Counties at their southern ends. The Carneros region is best known for its cool climate and maritime influences, making it the perfect terroir to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, two of the essential varietals in the award-winning sparkling wines from Domaine Carneros. Domaine Carneros is the first and only American sparkling wine producer with 100% certified organic estate vineyards. Domaine Carneros is open daily from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and is located at 1240 Duhig Road (off Highway 121), four miles southwest of Napa and six miles southeast of Sonoma. Visit www.domainecarneros.com for more information.

ENCORE! WINE COUNTRY WEEKEND MARCH GETAWAY PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE Sonoma  "Spa & Bubbly" Getaway II Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa Carneros, CA, January 14, 2010--Based upon the almost immediate sell-out of the November, 2009 Spa & Bubbly Getaway, an encore offering is now available March 26-28, 2010.  Indulge in the ultimate wine country getaway! Domaine Carneros by Taittinger, Kerstin Florian, Jo Malone, Lulu Powers and the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa along with other indulgent favorites present "Spa & Bubbly Weekend II" March 26-28. Sparkling wines, spa treatments, a special VIP winery visit, yoga, aromatic explorations, original cocktails and locally inspired cuisine promise to deliver what today's savvy and stylish trendsetters crave in a weekend getaway. March 26-28, 2010 Check in Friday, March 26th Check out Sunday, March 28th Bubbly Weekend Package Includes •    Two nights' classic accommodation at the unparalleled Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa •    Breakfast Daily •    Ground transportation to/from all scheduled events •    Friday evening Welcome Bubbly Reception and Winemaker Dinner hosted by Eileen Crane, CEO and Founding Winemaker of Domaine Carneros •    Saturday Morning Private Yoga Session •    VIP Visit to Domaine Carneros:  Wine Blending Session and Food & Wine Pairings •    Cooking Demonstration and Lunch with Celebrity Chef Lulu Powers •    (1) 60- minute Spa Experience per person •     "Saturday Night Sonoma Style" •     Sparkling Cocktails from master mixologist Maria Hunt and Jo Malone Scent Explorations Bubbly Blending: Learn Winemaker Eileen Crane's secrets to crafting Domaine Carneros' award winning and sought after Sparkling Rosé from organic vineyards at this hands-on component tasting and blending session. Radically Different, Unexpected & Out of the Box food & wine pairing tour: You've heard of high-low ensembles, now it's time to experience it directly.  Eileen will teach you the secrets of bubbly entertaining with a minute or month to spare and at every budget level, revealing some untraditional food pairings enjoyed with bubbly. She will guide you through the Sparkling Wine and Pinot Noir cellars giving you an insider's peek at the inner workings of a winery. Cooking Demonstration & Lunch: Celebrity Chef Lulu Powers will create a simple and sophisticated entrée featuring local organic ingredients followed by Lunch with Eileen Crane in the winery's Carriage House featuring the latest releases from the Domaine Carneros portfolio. "Saturday Night Sonoma Style" - Eileen Crane hosts Sparkling Cocktails & Jo Malone Scent Explorations featuring cocktail expert Maria Hunt who will share insights on today's cocktail culture and recipes. The evening also includes a Jo Malone scent exploration - fragrance flavor bar set up in the suite where participants can sample and combine personal fragrances as well as indulge in a bounty of Sonoma County artisanal favorites including succulent Hog Island oysters, Fatted Calf charcuterie, renowned cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery and local chocolates. Availability This (limited participation) package is available only the weekend of March 26-28, 2010 Rates start at $800.00 per person USD based on double occupancy; single, triple and quad rates also available. Suite upgrades available from $50 per night.  Package may be booked online. Reserve your space now *Itinerary subject to change *Transportation to/from the resort is not included in package price.  Assistance in securing ground transportation from Bay Area Airport's may be made through the Hotel Concierge, please phone 707 938 9000 for additional information. Renowned for natural mineral waters, unparalleled charm and gracious service, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is located 40 miles north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in the famed Sonoma Valley, the heart of Northern California's wine country.  A recipient of both the AAA-Four Diamond and Mobil-Four Star Award, the resort consistently provides the country's finest European spa experience.  For reservations please call 1-800-441-1414 or (707) 938-9000, or visit the Inn's website at www.fairmont.com/sonoma. Domaine Carneros is located in the picturesque Carneros AVA region known as its own appellation that shares a portion of both Sonoma and Napa Counties. The winery produces a super premium vintage Brut, a luxury Blanc de Blancs called Le Rêve, a Brut Rosé called Cuvée de la Pompadour and three Estate Pinot Noirs: Avant-Garde, Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir and The Famous Gate. Domaine Carneros was founded in 1987 by Champagne Taittinger Chairman Claude Taittinger, along with importer Kobrand Corporation, with a mission to produce some of the finest sparkling and still wines that reflect the Carneros terroir and the spirit of their French ownership. The winery is committed to environmentally friendly growing practices, and all of its estate vineyards are certified organic.  In addition, the winery was one of the first to install a photovoltaic solar collection system for its energy needs. Domaine Carneros is open daily from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and is located at 1240 Duhig Road (off Highway 121), six miles southwest of Napa. Visit www.domainecarneros.com for more information. For media inquiries, please contact Kimberly Charles or Kendall Johnson at press@charlescomm.com. For reservations please call (800) 441-1414 or (707) 938-9000, or visit www.fairmont.com/sonoma. ###

CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING ALLIANCE LAUNCHES THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM 2009 Sustainable Winegrowing Progress Report Also Released SAN FRANCISCO-The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), established by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, announced on January 13th the introduction of a statewide certification program that provides third-party verification of a winery or vineyard’s adherence to a "process of continuous improvement" in the adoption and implementation of sustainable winegrowing practices. The news was shared at a morning press conference at the Merchant’s Exchange Building in San Francisco. Open to all California wineries and vineyards as a voluntary option, CSWA’s new program, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, requires applicants to meet 58 prerequisite criteria to be eligible for the program, assess winery and/or vineyard operations, create and implement an annual action plan and show improvement over time. The goals of the new certification program are to enhance transparency, encourage statewide participation and advance the entire California wine industry toward best practices in environmental stewardship, conservation of natural resources and socially equitable business practices. Three years in the making, the certification program is the first statewide program available to both wineries and vineyards. In addition, CSWA released its 2009 Wine Community Sustainability Report measuring the California wine industry’s adoption over five years of 227 best management practices from the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Self-Assessment Workbook. “Third-party certification helps California’s wine community speed efforts to create a healthier environment, stronger communities and vibrant businesses,” said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, Wine Institute President and CEO. “The program reflects the California wine community’s commitment to continually produce the finest quality wine and grapes with practices that are environmentally and socially responsible.” “The scale on which California’s wine community is adopting and expanding sustainable practices is truly impressive, as the state is the fourth leading wine producer in the world,” said California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Board Chairman Kim Ledbetter Bronson of Vino Farms in Lodi. “CSWA’s mission is to bring recognition to the California wine industry as a change leader in the global marketplace and serve as a model for other industries.” To date, 1,566 vineyard and winery organizations representing 68.1 percent of California’s 526,000 wine acres and 62.5 percent of the state’s 240 million case shipments have evaluated their vineyards and wineries with CSWA’s Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Self-Assessment Workbook. Wine Institute and CAWG established the Sustainable Winegrowing Program in 2002 and incorporated CSWA a year later as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to continue implementing the program. “When you discuss sustainability within the California wine community, it is not just a statement of a program but an imbedded philosophy that we live by each and every day,” said CSWA Board Chairman Chris Savage, Senior Director of Environmental Affairs at E. & J. Gallo Winery. “It is the commitment to this philosophy and the very positive impact it has on our businesses that will ensure the continued growth of the California wine industry long into the future.” Certification Process To be eligible for the certification program, participants meet a set of 58 prerequisites that are among the 227 best management practices in the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Self-Assessment Workbook. The prerequisites were established to ensure the integrity of the certification program, while the “process of continuous improvement” enables broad participation of the California wine industry and ensures progress towards increasingly sustainable practices. The prerequisites include practices that protect air and water quality, conserve water, promote energy efficiency and reduced pesticide use, and preserve ecosystems and animal habitat, among many others. Applicants then self-assess their winery and/or vineyard operations against the best management practices in the Code workbook and develop annual action plans and implement improvements. CSWA offers educational workshops, resources and tools to assist wineries and growers through these various stages. The certification program then verifies a winery and/or vineyard’s assessment results through a third-party auditor. To retain their certification, participants undergo annual audits to verify that winery/vineyard self-assessments and action plans are updated annually, and that their operations show improvement. Onsite audits take place the first year and then every third year after that, and involve activities such as internal inspections and verification of corrective and preventative action processes. “With a majority of our industry already involved in CSWA’s Sustainable Winegrowing Program, the new certification option evolved as the appropriate next step,” said CSWA Executive Director Allison Jordan. “Every organization is at a different point in the sustainability journey so our program allows businesses to use their own baselines to determine a set of goals based on their region, operation and other factors, and then focus their resources on the practices that will make the most difference for their company, the environment and the community, continually improving year after year.” Industry-wide Performance Metrics Being Developed While process-based certification is the approach that will be used at the launch of the program, CSWA is initiating a project to develop industry-wide metrics to measure and track sustainability performance. CSWA will develop metrics for water and energy efficiency, greenhouse gas intensity, and several others to be determined in order to baseline the industry’s significant impacts and set targets for improvement. Once the metrics are in place, they will tie into the certification program and certified participants will need to consider industry-wide targets when creating action plans. The metrics will also focus on industry efforts around best management practice development and sustainability tool creation. Communicating Certification and Sustainability Certified participants will be able to use a logo and/or claims on company web sites, secondary marketing materials and in certified winery facilities or vineyards. CSWA will also list certified wineries and vineyards on the CSWA web site. Because of current eco-label protocols and discussions by both industry and government on this issue, use of logo and claims on wine bottles is not permitted at this time. Wineries and vineyards can still participate in CSWA’s Sustainable Winegrowing Program without applying for certification. They can complete self-assessments, attend workshops and communicate that they participate in the educational Sustainable Winegrowing Program. Relationship with Other Programs CSWA is also working with other certification programs to ensure that CSWA certification is complementary with existing winegrowing certification programs and that it is cost-effective to participate in multiple programs. Certified Pilot Program Vineyard and Winery Operations Seventeen companies have received certification for some or all of their vineyard and winery operations after participating in a pilot program to test the certification requirements and offer feedback. They are: Clos LaChance Wines; Concannon Vineyard/Concannon Winery; Constellation Wines U.S.; Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards; Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines; Fetzer Vineyards/Bonterra Vineyards; E. & J. Gallo Winery; Goldeneye Winery; The Hess Collection; Honig Vineyard & Winery; J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; Kunde Family Estate; Meridian Vineyards/Taz Vineyards; Monterey Pacific, Inc.; Roberts Vineyard Services; Rodney Strong Wine Estates; and Vino Farms. 2009 WINE COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance also presented its 2009 Wine Community Sustainability Report at the January 13 launch event in San Francisco, indicating that most of the 2004 goals have been achieved or significant progress has been made. For participants who have self-assessed their operations against the 227 best management practices in 14 areas from the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Self-Assessment Workbook, the 2009 report indicates that a majority of the 227 practices showed an improvement in average self-assessment scores since the 2004 report. The strengths of the state’s industry are practices for viticulture, soil management and ecosystem management. Areas identified as opportunities for improvement include energy efficiency, materials handling, waste reduction and environmentally preferred purchasing. Practices receiving scores in the middle ground are vineyard water management, pest management, winery water conservation and quality, human resources, neighbors and community, and air quality. CSWA has increased participation in its Sustainable Winegrowing Program. The 1,566 California vineyard and winery organizations in the Sustainable Winegrowing Program represent a 66 percent increase in the number of wine businesses participating since the 2004 Sustainability Report. Since the program’s launch in 2002, it has held 200 self-assessment workshops and 184 educational events with 9,239 workshop attendees. Vineyard Data Comparison 2004 2009 Number of Distinct Vineyard Organizations 813 1,237 Total Vineyard Acres Farmed by the 1,237 Organizations 223,971 358,121 (68.1% of 526,000 total statewide acres) Winery Data Comparison 2004 2009 Number of Distinct Winery Organizations 128 329 Total Winery Cases Produced by 329 Organizations 145.6M 150M (62.5% of 240 million total statewide cases) In addition to releasing a second edition and web-based version of the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Self-Assessment Workbook in 2006 and targeted education events, CSWA has developed new resources and tools to further disseminate useful information on sustainable winegrowing practices, including the following, all of which are available online at www.sustainablewinegrowing.org. o Sustainable Winegrowing Program Web Site o Sustainable Winegrowing Highlight Newsletters o International Wine Industry Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and Accounting Tool o Biodiversity Conservation Practices in California Vineyards: Learning from Experiences o Comprehensive Guide to Sustainable Management of Winery Water and Associated Energy o Reducing Risks through Sustainable Winegrowing: A Growers’ Guide o Vineyard Management Practices and Carbon Footprints o Understanding Adoption and Impacts of Sustainable Practices in California Vineyards The full 2009 Wine Community Sustainability Report is available online at www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/sustainabilityreports.php. In addition, a three-minute video providing overall background on California’s sustainable winegrowing practices can be viewed and downloaded in various formats at inr.mediaseed.tv/EcoWine_36816. Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers are the primary funders of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, and have received additional support from American Farmland Trust, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA’s Risk Management Agency, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The next Sustainability Report will be published in 2014.

Boisset Family Estates Donates More Than 200,000 Meals to Families in California’s Bay Area through its “Fight Against Hunger” Campaign in Partnership with the Fairmont San Francisco Donation will benefit the Redwood Empire Food Bank of Santa Rosa, CA and the San Francisco Food Bank Sausalito, CA, January 7, 2010 – Boisset Family Estates, a family-owned producer and importer of fine wines with offices in Sausalito, CA, wineries in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley, and roots in Burgundy, France, will make a donation of more than 200,000 meals to families in the San Francisco Bay Area this month through its Fight Against Hunger campaign.  The donation of meals is made in partnership with the Fairmont San Francisco, a leading supporter of Fight Against Hunger. Boisset’s local wholesaler, Young’s Market Company, has also been instrumental in Fight Against Hunger’s Bay Area successes. January’s donation will benefit the San Francisco Food Bank and the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa, CA. Boisset’s Fight Against Hunger is a national campaign to combat hunger in local communities through the sale of its wines. Through its wineries DeLoach Vineyards, Lyeth Estate, Oceana Estates Riesling, and French rabbit, Boisset has donated more than 1 million meals to communities in Dallas, Indianapolis, and Denver in 2009. Fight Against Hunger is on track to reach its goal of donating 1.2 million meals to local food banks; from July through December 2009, every bottle of wine purchased from Boisset’s four wineries listed above helped supplement three meals for an American family in need when purchased through a participating retailer, restaurateur, or hotelier such as the Fairmont San Francisco. Boisset partnered with Feed The Children to provide meals to the local food banks. Given the current global economic situation, the issue of hunger is more keenly felt than ever and Jean-Charles Boisset, President of Boisset Family Estates, believes strongly that with the integral connection between wine and food, it is essential for his family’s company to contribute to a solution. “The wine world is deeply connected to the harvest, agriculture and food – great wines are complemented by great meals, and thus, as part of the world of food and wine, we find it troubling to tolerate the existence of hunger among our friends and neighbors,” says Boisset.  “We know that now, more than ever, even families that have never thought to seek help before need assistance.  That’s why Boisset Family Estates has committed to providing a minimum of 1.2 million meals to U.S. families in need through our Fight Against Hunger campaign.” “We are delighted to partner with Boisset Family Estates to help feed the hungry in our local community,” explains Thomas A. Klein, Regional Vice President and General Manager of The Fairmont San Francisco.  “Since 1907, The Fairmont has been an integral part of the fabric of San Francisco.  Just as The Fairmont is San Francisco’s residence of U.S. presidents and world leaders, it is the place where generations of San Franciscans have come to celebrate special occasions for more than a century.   We feel it is our responsibility to give back to society and our partnership with Boisset’s Fight Against Hunger is one of the many programs we support to help ensure a healthy community.” In conjunction with the Redwood Empire Food Bank, a food drop event will take place on Friday January 8th in the parking lot of the Redwood Convenant Church, 3175 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 at 11:30 AM to benefit families in DeLoach Vineyards’ local community. More about Boisset’s partners and the Fight Against Hunger can be found by visiting www.boissetfamilyestates.com/fightagainsthunger. About Boisset Family Estates Boisset Family Estates is a family-owned producer and importer of fine wines based in Sausalito, California with roots in Burgundy, France, Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley.  One of the world’s leading producers of Pinot Noir, Boisset crafts fine wines with a strict terroir approach: each house in its family of wineries has a unique history, identity, and style, yet all are united in the pursuit of superior quality.  Boisset is an innovative leader in the wine world that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of wine packaging and production and protect the long-term sustainability of winegrowing from farming methods to winery practices and packaging.  To learn more about Boisset, please visit its website at www.boissetfamilyestates.com. About the Fairmont San Francisco Scheduled to open soon after April 18, 1906, The Fairmont survived The Great Earthquake that struck that day but was ravaged by the subsequent fire.  When the hotel opened exactly one year after the earthquake, it symbolized the rebirth of San Francisco.  The landmark hotel has played witness to many defining moments in history and pop culture, including the drafting of the United Nations Charter in the hotel’s Garden Room in 1945, and Tony Bennett’s first performance of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” in The Venetian Room in 1962. For more information about The Fairmont San Francisco, please visit www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco.

Wine Industry Experts Lay Foundation for Revolutionary Study to Examine Levels of Bottle Variation November meeting of industry stakeholders advises Diam to start with a preliminary trial San Francisco, CA, December 17, 2009 – A panel of fourteen leaders from across the wine industry offered their recommendations to Australia, UK, and US-based representatives of technical wine closure producer Diam on how to structure a major research study that will provide the first quantitative data on the level of bottle variation among the best-selling wines in the United States. At a meeting on November 18th, 2009 at the modern Intercontinental Hotel in downtown San Francisco, the blue ribbon industry panel agreed that the first step toward ensuring a scientifically meaningful study would be to conduct a pre-trial. Thus, a preliminary study of three cases (ie thirty-six bottles) of three different wines in 750mL glass bottles, purchased at local San Francisco Bay Area wine retailers, will be technically analyzed for variation in as many ways as is likely to produce valuable results. Test results will be reviewed by the panel to determine which analyses are the most indicative of bottle variation and should be repeated in the final study. This information will then be passed to an independent statistician in order to determine the necessary sample size of the final study that will ensure statistical significance. In attendance at the meeting were Bruce Cass, editor of the Oxford Companion to the Wines of North America; John Cunningham, Senior Manager of Research and Development and Process Improvement at G3 Enterprises; Karen Fletcher, Wine Buyer for Fresh & Easy; Tim Gaiser, MS, Education Chair for the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers; Jamie Goode, Wine Columnist for the UK’s The Sunday Express; Neal Hagiwara, Senior Manager, Corporate Quality at G3 Enterprises; Robert T. Hodgson, Professor Emeritus, Humboldt State University; Helen McGinn, Director of PR/Marketing at Copestick Murray, a UK-based global wine business; Curtis Philips, Technical Editor at Wine Business Monthly; David Stevens, Senior Consultant at Davon International; Wilfred Wong, Director of Ecommerce at Beverages & More, among others. Discussion on where to purchase the wines led to lively dialogue between retailers who felt the wine should be purchased from the winery and winemakers who advocated purchasing directly from retail. Other points of debate included the design of the organoleptic analysis for the major study; after much consideration, the panel agreed to assemble a sensory panel that would begin with odd-man out tests followed by a duo/trio analysis. In addition to gathering the necessary data to author a report on the cost to the American wine trade and its influence on the greater economy of bottle variation, a primary goal of this study is to create a bank of valuable “open source” data available to anyone, anytime for future research. In order to create transparency and ensure objectivity in the design of this study, the abovementioned panel of stakeholders from across the wine industry has been invited to both lead and design the study. November’s meeting was organized by San Francisco-based marketing communications firm Charles Communications Associates (CCA) in conjunction with UK-based CUBE Communications and Diam-USA. The Intercontinental Hotel was selected for its shared commitment with Diam and CCA to green initiatives; the hotel applied for and will receive LEED-EB status in 2010. About Diam Globally, DIAM is the leading technical cork closure with value sales of $82M in 2008, and enjoyed an 8.5 percent increase in US market share in 2008. Diam is committed to engaging with winemakers, retailers and distributors to drive awareness of current issues and to ensure all key stakeholders start to ‘think’ about the benefits of the closure options available. For more information about DIAM, please visit www.diam-cork.com or www.cubecom.co.uk.

Carneros, CA, December 3, 2009--Every year around this time in early December, people start realizing the gift giving season is (gasp!) already here. It sneaks up every year, despite being on the calendar for the past 12 months. I'm sure journalists hear this over and over and it likely drives the subject of every gift guide: "Last Minute Gifts," "Gifts Under $20," "Gifts for the Impossible" etc... Consumers look to their trusted sources to help with the stressful task of finding the ultimate gift (nevermind that they have procrastinated.) This year however, to supplement all the online gift guides for 2009, Domaine Carneros put together a list of recipes and tips to throw an easy holiday cocktail party. Throwing a great party can be far more satisfying than giving a mediocre gift (just because you felt you had to.) Tips from Eileen Crane, CEO and Founding Winemaker of Domaine Carneros: The holidays are a great excuse to host that fabulous cocktail party you’ve been envisioning all year long, but haven’t quite gotten around to yet. You know the one… with the perfect understated elegance, vintage glassware and stylish cocktails that all the guests will be talking about this season. The trouble is, there’s a lot of competition this time of year both for time and originality, so getting motivated can be difficult. I’ve found that best way to counteract holiday party over-saturation is to keep it fresh and timeless. Local, seasonal ingredients remind us that fall and winter don’t have to mean all fresh produce is in hibernation and inventive recipes mean your party doesn’t have to include mulled wine, spiced cider or egg nog. The best part of cocktail parties is that you get to play host without having to cook an elaborate sit-down meal. Cocktail parties are all about festive drinks, spirited toasts, great bites and creating an atmosphere that makes everyone feel sexy. Madame Pompadour once said “Champagne is the only wine a woman can drink and remain beautiful” and I agree, so sparkling wine is the base of every cocktail I serve. Bubbles create instant holiday spirit and are a cheerful way to celebrate, all season long. For instant sophistication and charm plan a variety of seasonal cocktails, offer a non-alcoholic option and serve in beautiful glasses with creative garnishes.  If needed, you can mix the base cocktail ahead of time, but never add the bubbly until your guests have arrived – this keeps your cocktails effervescent and guests always love the sound of a popping cork. Harvest Moon 4 1/2 oz chilled Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé 1/4 oz Sonoma Sparkler Raspberry 1/2 oz *St. George Framboise Liqueur 1/4 oz *St. George Framboise Eau de Vie 2 dashes Angostura Bitters Add all ingredients except the Brut Rosé to a mixing glass and give them a quick stir to mix.  Add enough ice to fill the mixing glass to the top, shake hard for 5 seconds, and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Carefully pour the DC Brut Rosé into the glass and then very gently stir to mix.  Drop a very thin slice of persimmon on top of the drink and sprinkle with allspice/nutmeg sugar to garnish. (Recipe courtesy of Scott Beattie, author of Artisanal Cocktails) * Where to find St. George spirits Golden Ginger 4 oz Domaine Carneros Vintage Brut One *crystallized ginger cube 2 drops Angostura Bitters Sprig of mint Soak crystallized ginger cube with bitters. Fill a tall flute with chilled Domaine Carneros Vintage Brut. Top glass with a spring of fresh mint. (Recipe courtesy of Duggan McDonnell, Cantina San Francisco) *You can find festive crystallized ginger cubes at most specialty food stores. For more seasonal recipes using Domaine Carneros from some of the top mixologists in California, including Scott Beattie, Duggan McDonnell and Maria Hunt, visit our cocktail recipe collection on the website. Great appetizers should look amazing on their own, but also taste equally good.  Choose recipes that allow you prepare ahead and don’t undermine the importance of pairing your food with the cocktails offered. For a collection of recipes to pair while entertaining please visit Domaine Carneros' Food & Wine section. The atmosphere of party matters almost as much as the cocktails (then again, if you have the perfect sparkling cocktail in hand, you may forget that the candles aren’t lit…) Add a warm glow to your party with thoughtful lighting. For table presentation, consider using natural found objects like pretty winter branches and berries or your favorite “guest” china. When else do you really get to use it? Be courteous and try to avoid last-minute holiday invitations. At no other time of the year are people more harried and stressed. Your invitation should offer your guests a welcome break from their crazy schedules, so give them time to cement it into their calendars. Happy entertaining! Eileen Crane, CEO & Founding Winemaker Domaine Carneros