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GEYSER PEAK WINERY NAMED “BEST U.S. WINE PRODUCER” AT WORLD’S PREMIER INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION
Acclaimed Winery Brings Home Special Award and Five Medals from London Competition

GEYSERVILLE, Calif., November 11 — Geyser Peak Winery, the award-winning Alexander Valley producer of super-premium wines, achieved one of the industry’s highest honors recently when it garnered the title of “Best U.S. Wine Producer” at The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), the premier competition of its kind in the world.

Announced on October 28 at the City of London’s majestic Guild Hall, the International Wine & Spirit Competition awards are among the most rigorously judged and prestigious in wine. The “Best U.S. Wine Producer” title is one of a series of honors that IWSC bestows each year to commend the achievements of those companies or individuals who “set the standards of excellence for the rest of the industry to follow and [who] influence the quality, variety, value, and educational information available to the wine and spirit consumer,” according to IWSC.

“The consistent and outstanding quality of its wines has made Geyser Peak Winery a regular winner at the competition and has proved it to be among the leaders of the U.S. wine industry,” commented Frances Horder, competition director. In the 2003 competition, Geyser Peak wines were awarded an exceptional five medals, including a Silver Medal for the acclaimed Geyser Peak 2000 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Master Palates Award Medals Sparingly

Renowned for its rigorous judging, IWSC includes forty Masters of Wine and prominent trade experts from around the world on its judging panel, and bestows wine awards sparingly, on Olympic principles: one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze medal winner are named in each category or flight, provided that the competing wines have earned a qualified number of points. This year, judges tasted about 5,000 wines from more than 50 countries to select the world’s best offerings.

Geyser Peak Winery is no stranger to international honors. One of only four U.S. wineries in the history of the IWSC to have been awarded the competition’s “Winemaker of the Year” trophy, Geyser Peak is also the only winery in the world to have garnered this trophy twice, in 1998 and again in 1999. Also at the 1998 competition, Geyser Peak Reserve Alexandre Meritage was awarded the IWSC trophy for “Best Blended Red Wine,” beating out competitors from Bordeaux to Barossa, and in 1999 Geyser Peak Zinfandel continued the winery’s winning streak by garnering the title of “Best Zinfandel.”

“We are thrilled by this award,” commented winemaker Daryl Groom, upon being informed of Geyser Peak Winery’s 2003 “Best U.S. Producer” award. “The IWSC goes to tremendous lengths – from selecting the most esteemed wine judges, to performing technical analysis of the wines to its attention to wine storage and blind tasting procedures - to make sure that its results are rigorous and a true reflection of the quality of the wines. We are gratified by this honor and extend our sincere thanks to the IWSC, its staff and judges.”

About Geyser Peak Winery
Founded in 1880, Geyser Peak winery consistently garners some of the most prestigious awards in winemaking, including numerous Winery of the Year and Winemaker of the Year honors. Its outstanding team of winemakers and viticulturalists are noted for fruit-forward, food-friendly wines from prime vineyard sources in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County, with Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as the centerpiece of its portfolio. For more information see www.geyserpeakwinery.com. Geyser Peak is the flagship winery of Peak Wines International, a division of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc., which is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), the consumer products company.

About The International Wine & Spirits Competition
The International Wine & Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs - achieved through professional blind tasting and detailed technical (chemical) analysis. The Competition is backed by a group of vice presidents made up of the most influential men and women in the trade. It has support from some of the world's top drinks producers and aims to communicate the value of its awards through retailers to consumers in every major market. For further information see www.iwsc.net.

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