Gardner Technologies Unveils a Revolutionary New Wine Opener MetaCork.

Business Editors/Food and Wine Writers

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 2003

Gardner Technologies, a Napa, California-based wine technology company dedicated to improving wine closure quality and the overall wine experience, announced today that MetaCork(TM), its long awaited twist-to-uncork wine opener, is now available on three Super Premium brands: Amusant Wines' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and a limited volume of Clos du Bois 2002 Sonoma County Chardonnay and Fetzer 2001 Barrel Select Sonoma County Merlot. MetaCork(TM) sealed wines will be available beginning August 4th, at the wineries and at 150 retailers and restaurants in California and Texas. MetaCork(TM) will be available to wineries worldwide beginning September 1st. A complete list of participating retailers and restaurants can be found online at www.gardnertechnologies.com.

"MetaCork(TM) not only preserves the traditional look of cork and foil finished wine, but also functions as a common sense wine opener for all consumers who dislike the hassle of traditional corkscrews", said VP of Sales & Marketing, Kerry Manahan-Ehlow. "MetaCork(TM) is an innovative technology that retains the best parts of tradition. It encompasses a unique bottle design with a built-in cork anchor that enables the consumer to remove a cork or synthetic stopper with nothing more than a few twists of the capsule. We affectionately refer to MetaCork(TM) as a twist-capsule since it clearly is not a screw cap! In fact, MetaCork(TM) has created an entirely new category for wine packaging. Additionally, MetaCork(TM) is 100% recyclable and provides a convenient reseal cap and drip-resistant pouring feature - all with the same form and function as the traditional foil capsule."

One reason Gardner Technologies is so confident in its go-to-market strategy is its validation process. "Since we have focused from the outset on improving the wine experience, we knew that we had to fully understand all the dynamics facing a consumer at the moment of purchase and the moment of use. We studied this carefully and directed our efforts toward areas that gave consumers more, but didn't detract from the image and quality connotations of traditional fine wine packaging," said CEO William Borghetti. "To confirm our assumptions on consumer acceptance and provide objective third-party validation, which is important to the wineries, we contracted with TRD Frameworks, a Seattle-based market research firm, to conduct a national survey of our product. The results strongly support our premise that MetaCork(TM) will have a high rate of acceptance - 73% of the survey group said that they would purchase MetaCork(TM) sealed wines over traditional packaging. They love the fact that it is easy to open, is resealable, and does not require a corkscrew. Better yet, 83% described their image of wineries using MetaCork(TM) as innovative, more progressive, and more in tune with consumers' needs."

A critical factor in Gardner's success to date is its supportive partnerships with wine producers and equipment and material suppliers. "We have the good fortune of being able to share our vision with some of the top names in the wine industry," said Borghetti. "Take Vitro Packaging for instance. Vitro is one of the world's leading glass manufacturers that is on the forefront of new bottle design for the wine industry. Since no glass manufacturer had ever produced a bottle that met our unique specifications, we needed a partner who could take on such a technical challenge and work with us to ensure that quality was top notch. We also owe a lot to Allied Domecq's Clos Du Bois brand, Brown-Forman's Fetzer Vineyards brand, and Amusant Wines for being the first to market with MetaCork(TM). Being first has its risks, especially in the wine business, but it also can be very rewarding.

Doug Gillespie, global brand director for Fetzer Vineyards, agrees that MetaCork(TM) enhances Fetzer's goal of creating innovative ways to improve the consumer's wine experience. "MetaCork(TM) should have great consumer appeal since it allows consumers to concentrate on enjoying the wine, rather than worrying about how to open it properly," he said. "Our restaurant partners have been very enthusiastic and eager to try it."

Chris Lynch, senior vice president of marketing and public relations for Clos du Bois believes MetaCork(TM) will initially help distinguish the Clos du Bois brand in the marketplace. "MetaCork's(TM) proprietary packaging design combines ease of opening with a wonderful presentation for the marketplace and table; it is that combination that intrigues me for Clos du Bois."

Winemaker Chris Demetre at Amusant Wines views MetaCork(TM) as a far better solution than the metal screw-cap. "I believe in the value and tradition of cork sealed wines as well as the convenience of twist-to-open packaging. What MetaCork(TM) offers is the best of both worlds - a closure that looks high in quality, can use cork, and is easy for the consumer and the wine server to use."

Cost Plus World Market, a leading specialty retailer of casual home furnishings, food and wine, headquartered in Oakland, California, will also carry wines with MetaCork(TM). "We are excited to be part of the initial release," said Mark Albrecht, national wine buyer. "Our customers expect us to keep them informed on new wine trends and products like MetaCork(TM)."

Cef Zambrano, sommelier at Del Frisco's Steak House in Ft. Worth, Texas, sees MetaCork(TM) sealed wines fitting nicely into his wine education program. "Our wine list is very important to us and we spend of a lot of time training our staff on wine selection and serving techniques. What I like most about MetaCork(TM) is the fact that it removes the intimidation many servers have with corkscrews, while maintaining the tradition of cork sealed wines."

MetaCork(TM) is the invention of Dr. William Gardner, founder and chief technology officer of Gardner Technologies. Gardner, professor emeritus from the College of Engineering at the University of California at Davis, began his quest to solve the problems of traditional wine closures in 1996. "I was convinced there was a better solution than the corkscrew and the less-than-perfect screw-caps currently used on wines," said Gardner. "After observing so many people struggling to open a bottle of wine and having to cope with broken corks stuck in the bottle, cork crumbs in the wine, and corks pushed into the wine, as well as negative image problems with screw-caps and their defective or easily damaged seals, I knew this was a problem waiting for a solution and was a challenge I wanted to take on. The solution I arrived at, MetaCork(TM), is the perfect marriage of tradition and technology."

After several years of successful product research and development, Gardner was ready to formalize a business around his inventions. This led, in 2001, to the formation of Gardner Technologies. Gardner started with a hand-picked management team made up of William Borghetti, president and CEO, a seasoned veteran of building technology-based businesses; Kerry Manahan-Ehlow, vice president of sales and marketing, a well-established Napa Valley wine marketer and sales strategist; Paul Novak, vice president of product development and former vice president of marketing at The Chalone Wine Group, and Patrick Whelan, director of engineering, an engineer with 20 years of technical product development experience.

In addition to the core management team, Gardner established a board of directors and advisors made up of leading figures in the wine industry. The Board includes Dr. William Gardner, founder; William Borghetti, president and CEO; Paul Ginsburg, former executive vice president of Kendall-Jackson Estates and National Public Radio board member; and Dr. Fran Harvey, retired COO of Westinghouse and vice-chairman of Duratek, Inc. Advisors include Andrea Immer, author and Master of Wine; Bob Hendrickson, president, Republic Beverage Wholesale Co.; Peter Granoff, Master of Wine, founder of Wine.com and owner of Ferry Plaza Wine Merchants; Dr. Robert Smiley, professor and dean emeritus of the Graduate School of Management, UC Davis; Paul Wagner, wine educator and president of Balzac Communications & Marketing; Peter Marks, Master of Wine, and a TV host; Prasad Naik, associate professor of marketing, Graduate School of Management, UC Davis; Mike Schaefer, co-chairman of Demptos Glass; and Francois Sabate, president, Sabate USA.

Gardner Technologies is a Napa, California-based wine technology company dedicated to improving the wine experience. For more information about the company and its products, visit their Website at www.gardnertechnologies.com or call 707.226.2400.