Ansel Adams ``Story of a Winery'' Photo Essay To Exhibit at Atlanta's High Museum of Art.

News, Business and Arts Editors/Wine Writers

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NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2003

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia will exhibit 10 key images from The Story of a Winery, an Ansel Adams photo essay in collaboration with Pirkle Jones, now part of Sterling Vineyards Portfolio of Wine & Art History. The photographs will be exhibited in the museum from February 22 - April 27, 2003 as a prelude to the annual High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction, March 27-29. Sterling Vineyards will host an opening reception for museum members, wine auction supporters, and the media on February 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the High Museum of Art; 1280 Peachtree Street, NE.

The High has selected 10 of Adams' images to exhibit. The gelatin silver prints were executed between 1959-62 and printed in 1964, and collectively represent the wine process from the early budbreak on the vine to the final product in the glass; a unique document by one of the last century's greatest artists.

"We could not be more delighted to exhibit The Story of a Winery in conjunction with this year's wine auction theme," said Director of Marketing for Sterling Vineyards, Paula Connelly. "This year's New World-New Wine concept celebrates the trailblazers and mavericks of new world winemaking; it's so similar to the sense of adventure and innovation that inspired Adams work. He was carving out his reputation when many of the giants of the Californian wine industry were creating theirs, and in a sense, they were each creating a new, creative expression of their environment or terroir. His medium was photography and theirs was wine."

Well known for his photographs of the natural world, particularly the Yosemite Valley with which he is uniquely associated, Ansel also worked extensively as a commercial photographer from the early 1930's through the 1960's. The photographs from The Story of a Winery were the result of a close personal relationship between Adams and his neighbor, Otto Meyer, president of a wine company owned by Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, now Diageo Chateau & Estates Wines Company.

In 1959, Meyer and Adams arranged the commission of a photo essay to document the vineyard and winery activities and various processes necessary to produce a bottle of wine. With the Smithsonian Institution's interest in exhibiting the photographs and Chateau & Estate financing, the project went forward and was entitled The Story of a Winery. The complete essay includes 25 images and a self-portrait of Adams.

Other portions of the Sterling Portfolio of Wine & Art History are on permanent display at Sterling Vineyards in the Napa Valley. A collection of thematic prints and woodcuts from the portfolio, comprising 500 years of printmaking will begin a national tour in 2005. For more information about Sterling Vineyards and the Portfolio of Wine & Art History, visit www.sterlingvineyards.com or call [phone].

Sterling Vineyards is owned by Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company, the world's leading premium drinks corporation with a collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wine and beer categories. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit www.diageo.com.

Note to Editors: Certain images from The Story of a Winery are available for limited publication. Contact [e-mail] for more information.

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