Rosemount Estate Releases New Vintage of Its Popular Diamond Shiraz; 2002 Shiraz Now Available in the Americas.

Dining Editors/Wine Writers

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2003

Rosemount Estate, the Prestige Wine of Australia, announces the release of the 2002 vintage of its best selling wine -- Diamond Shiraz. The fruit for Rosemount Estate's Diamond Shiraz wine is sourced from premium viticultural regions throughout South Eastern Australia, with a majority of the grapes coming from McLaren Vale in South Australia and Mudgee in New South Wales. The Rosemount Estate winemakers choose to blend fruit from several premium viticultural areas to minimize vintage variation, thereby achieving a consistent style and quality year after year.

Rosemount Estate's Diamond Shiraz is credited with starting the Shiraz category in the Americas in the mid-1980's. The Syrah/Shiraz category is currently the fastest growing varietal category in the United States, growing at over 50% per AC Nielsen. The first person to be employed by Rosemount Estate in the United States and to introduce Australian Shiraz to North America was John W. Gay, now Chairman of Southcorp Wines, the Americas. Gay was confident in the appeal and marketability for this style of wine, particularly its desirable character, drinkability, flavor and balance. For those interested in the timeline and history of Australian Shiraz in the United States, please contact Lara Abbott on 707/256-2663 or [e-mail].

Rosemount Estate's Diamond Shiraz (suggested retail price of $11.99) is regularly named a Best Buy and awarded Gold Medals in wine competitions internationally. The 2002 vintage is consistent with the Rosemount Estate winemaking style. Winemaker Andrew Koerner says that "2002 was a warm vintage in Southeastern Australia and this is one of the best Diamond Shiraz wines in the past decade." The nose is vibrant and displays varietal characters of pepper, dark plum and red cherry supported by sweet, charry oak. The palate is fruit driven and approachable displaying a balance of vibrant fruit richness, soft tannins and well-integrated oak. Flavors of ripe blackberry and licorice merge with soft spice before the trademark Rosemount long, richly textured finish.

Rosemount Estate Diamond Shiraz is widely available throughout the United States and Canada, along with other six other varietal wines from Rosemount Estate bearing the distinctive Diamond label including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. The suggested retail price for these reds is $10.99 and $9.99 for the white wines.

Editor's Note 

Rosemount Estate, the prestige wine of Australia, was founded in 1969 in the Hunter Valley by Robert Oatley and is one of Australia's most prominent wineries. The winery regularly receives awards and accolades for its distinctive, full flavored wines and was named "New World Winery of the Year for 2001" by the prominent industry magazine, Wine Enthusiast. Although best known for its distinctively packaged, diamond label Shiraz and Chardonnay, Rosemount Estate also produces several tiers of premium wines. These include the much awarded Show Reserve wines, the Hill of Gold line from Mudgee in New South Wales, single vineyard wines from Orange and the three flagship wines; Roxburgh Chardonnay, Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet and Balmoral Syrah. In 2000, Rosemount Estate partnered with Robert Mondavi winery to create distinctive Australian and Californian wines of unparalleled quality and style. Rosemount remained family owned and operated until it merged with Southcorp in February 2001 to form Australia's largest wine company and one of the largest premium wine companies in the world.

For further information on Rosemount Estate, visit www.rosemountestate.com or contact Southcorp Wines -- The Americas. If you would like a press sample of the 2002 Rosemount Estate Diamond Shiraz, please contact Lara Abbott on 707/256-2663 or [e-mail].