Delicato Shiraz Strikes Gold Again At California State Fair; Two-Time ``Best of California'' Win is Unprecedented.

Business Editors/Food & Wine Writers

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2002

Delicato Family Vineyards 2001 Shiraz and Delicato's new Clay Station 2001 Viognier have been awarded "Best of California" honors at the 2002 California State Fair Wine Competition, it was announced today. This marks the second consecutive year that Delicato Shiraz won the coveted "Best of California" award. Delicato Shiraz sells for about $7.99 a bottle. Clay Station 2001 Viognier ($14.99), the winery's newest brand, also took "Best of California" honors.

"In my sixteen years as California State Fair Wine Competition Chief Judge," said Pooch Pucliowski, "I cannot recall two consecutive vintages of the same wine winning a 'Best in California' award. Our competition is tough, and the 'win' speaks to the consistent quality of Delicato Shiraz."

Delicato Shiraz was judged blind by a panel of experts against a field of 159 other Shiraz or Syrah wines, according to State Fair officials.

The winery's Clay Station 2001 Viognier also won "Best of California" honors after being tasted blind against 57 other California Viogniers. Clay Station is Delicato's newest brand just being introduced. The wine is currently available exclusively at the winery's tasting room located on South Highway 99 in Manteca, California. The wine is created from grapes harvested from Delicato's Clay Station Vineyard located in the foothills just East of Lodi. Viognier is the first Clay Station Vineyard wine to be released. This is the first time the wine has been entered in domestic competition.

Delicato also earned five other medals including a silver medal "Best in Class -- North Central Coast" for Encore 2000 White Medley, Encore 2001 Dry Rose and Monterra 1999 Syrah. In addition, a silver medal went to Monterra 2000 Merlot, and a bronze to Delicato Family Vineyards 2000 Merlot.

The "Best In California" awards were made Tuesday afternoon during ceremonies at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. The latest honors come but a few weeks after the announcement in London, England that Delicato's Monterra Winery has been nominated for both "Winemaker of the Year" and "United States Wine Producer of the Year" trophies at the 2002 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). The winery won the "Best USA Producer" last year at that competition.

"This is becoming habit forming! We are extremely proud of our latest award," said Jay Indelicato, Senior Vice President of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations. "We are demonstrating that wine excellence does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Great wine is clearly within the consumer's reach."

According to Eric Morham, Delicato President and CEO, the winery is striving to be best in class in every area of its business. "We have invested millions in our vineyards in Monterey and Lodi," he said. "To win 'Best In California' against tough competition two years in a row speaks volumes about our quality. Our wine making is second to none. These awards validate our efforts."

According to State Fair officials, 2,533 wines from 467 California wineries were judged at the State Fair Wine Competition this year. All wines entered are judged blind by a panel of four experienced judges. The gold medalists are then evaluated again by an eight-judge panel. Only a select few of these wines are awarded special honors, such as "Best in California" won by the Delicato 2001 Shiraz and Clay Station 2001 Viognier.

Shiraz and Syrah are synonyms for the same wine grape. According to A.C. Nielsen data, Shiraz/Syrah is the fastest growing red wine in the United States with unit sales growth exceeding 62% for the 52 weeks ending June 8, 2002. Delicato Family Vineyards Shiraz leapt from seventh place last year to become the best selling American brand in 2002, according to AC Nielsen. Delicato Shiraz ranks third in total U.S. sales behind Rosemount and Lindemans, both imported Australian brands.

Delicato Vineyards is one of America's leading family winegrowers. For more than 75 years, the Indelicato family has been crafting fine wines while assembling a portfolio of world-class estate vineyards. Today, the Delicato Winery harvests more than 10,000 acres of vineyard estates across the top regions of California including the San Bernabe Vineyard in Monterey, California, the most diverse single vineyard in the world.