AeroMexico Adds Internationally Acclaimed Mexican Wine Monte Xanic to Inflight List.

Business/Travel Editors, Food & Wine Writers

MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2002

AeroMexico, Mexico's largest airline, announced that it is now serving Mexico's internationally acclaimed Monte Xanic wines (pronounced: Moan-tay Sha-neek), to Clase Premier passengers on board its international flights. Joining the selection of the wines in Aeromexico's Clase Premier service are Monte Xanic's Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines, both winners of top awards in such world-class competitions such as France's famous Challenge International du Vin and California's Pacific Rim International Wine Competition.

AeroMexico has become known for its award-winning Clase Premier in-flight wine selection, which outranked 37 of the world's leading airlines to place second for "Best Cellar in the Sky" in Business Traveler International's 2000 annual business class wine competition.

"Business travelers have become more discriminating when it comes to fine wine," said Alejandro Yberri, AeroMexico's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Customer Services. "Many consider a wonderful glass of wine to be an integral part of their meal. We remain dedicated to delivering what our customers want with the quality they have come to expect from AeroMexico. Monte Xanic wines, which were chosen for the inaugural dinner of Mexico President Vicente Fox, uphold our tradition of providing a world-class in-flight experience."

Monte Xanic joins AeroMexico's other Clase Premier wine selections from France, Chile and Spain: Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial; Calvet Sauvignon Blanc 2000; Chateau Castera Medoc-Cru Bourgeois 1997; Cotes du Rhone Chateau d'Ampuis 1998; Federico Paternina Gran Reserva 1994; Muga Rioja 1998; Caliterra Reserva 1998; La Huerta Reserva Especial 1998.

Located in northern Baja California's and Guadalupe Valley, the vineyards of Monte Xanic are situated nine miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, at some 1,300 feet above sea level. This valley's arid Mediterranean style climate of warm, sunny days, cool nights blanketed by fog from the nearby coast, combines with light, sandy soils to create nearly ideal conditions for cultivating the classic grape varieties, with the prerequisite low vigor and low grape yields required to create intensely flavored wines. Founded in 1987 by five friends who shared a common passion for wine, Monte Xanic today has over 200 acres of vineyards which annually produce more than 40,000 cases of exceptionally fine Mexican wines, distributed to select markets around the world under three brand names: Monte Xanic, Calixa and Gran Ricardo.

AeroMexico serves 43 cities in Mexico, more than any other airline, with 80 destinations in the United States and Canada -- including the gateway cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Ontario, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Diego -- and six countries in Europe and South America. AeroMexico is a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, which provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. The airline's corporate headquarters are in Mexico City and its U.S. operations are based in Houston.

Monte Xanic is imported to the U.S.A. by the Chalone Wine Group, of Napa, California.