Distil Regulatory News (DIS)

16 Feb 2005 07:01

Blavod Extreme Spirits PLC16 February 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LSE: BES16 February 2005Press Release Blavod Extreme Spirits to Distribute L'Illuminata Wines in the U.S. FRANKLIN, Tenn. - February 16, 2005 - Blavod Extreme Spirits announced todaythat it signed a long term agreement to distribute the wines of the L'Illuminataestate in the United States. This adds to BES' wine portfolio that alreadyincludes critically acclaimed producer Bruno Rocca and Italian powerhouseBaroncini. L'Illuminata, one of the properties of Guido Folonari... the others are SanGiorgio estate in Montalcino and Donna Olimpia 1898 estate in Bolgheri... islocated in La Morra - Piedmont, in the Langhe region of Italy. Guido Folonari is a member of the Folonari family that owns the Ruffino brand.He left that group to open an independent venture. "Growing up in my family gaveme a base education from great winemakers. When I opened my own winery, I wantedto make higher quality wines from Italy's most important winemaking region,"said Guido Folonari. Commenting on the agreement, BES' CEO Jeff Hopmayer expressed his excitement atthe prospect of working with Folonari. "Guido is one of the most talented andpassionate producers in the world. His wines are rich with long-lastingaftertastes. We are proud to add his wines to our portfolio." BES has developed a strong Italian wine portfolio including Baroncini, BrunoRocca, L'Illuminata, Davide Feresin, Campo Bargello, Franco Terpin, Carron,Germano Ettore, Corbera and Vinae Italiae. Further Details:Giulio Galli BES, Director of Wine ggalli@blavodextreme.comDonna Schwartze DSPR donnaschwartze@earthlink.net, 314-330-3488 Note to Editors:Blavod Extreme Spirits, plc (LSE:BES), established in 2003, is a London-basedand publicly traded company with U.S. subsidiary offices, Blavod Extreme SpiritsUSA, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tenn. The BES portfolio includes theaward-winning Players Extreme line featuring Five Times Distilled Vodka alongwith intensely infused Green Apple, Cherry, Lemon, Mandtango (mandarin/tangerine) and Caramel vodkas. Players Extreme also offers flavor-infused rums -Banana, Coconut and Mango. Blavod launched Blavod Black Vodka in 1998 and hasestablished a strong UK and U.S. sales network. BES also represents a wineportfolio including Italian estates, Baroncini and Bruno Rocca, among others.Bruno Rocca's 1999 Rabaja (Barbaresco) was named one of Wine Enthusiast's Top100 Wines of 2004. ### This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange