Vincor Canada to Acquire the Agency Rights for Constellation Brands Products
from Churchill Cellars Limited

    
    Vincor Canada to Acquire Representation of Robert Mondavi, Hardys and
    Other Quality Wines and Spirits Brands
    

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 8 /CNW/ - Vincor International, Inc. ("Vincor"), the largest Canadian producer and marketer of wine and related products, and Churchill Cellars Ltd., ("Churchill Cellars"), a premier agency in Ontario and Atlantic Canada for wines, spirits and beers from around the world, today signed an agreement whereby Vincor will acquire the representation of the Constellation Brands portfolio currently represented by Churchill Cellars.

Churchill Cellars has represented some of Constellation's brands in eastern Canada since 1999.

"This transaction reinforces our leading market position in Canada , simplifies our route-to-market and strengthens both our domestic and import wine businesses," said Eric Morham, President, Vincor. "This is a strong strategic fit for Vincor and our portfolio of powerful brands."

This acquisition, which will be completed at the beginning of November 2009 , will represent an additional 400,000 cases annually of proprietary volume for Vincor. The Vincor sales team will now assume direct responsibility for the distribution and sale of such iconic wine brands as Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Ravenswood and Arbor Mist, all from the U.S.; Hardys and Banrock Station from Australia ; Monkey Bay from New Zealand , and a number of other well-known wines and spirits brands.

Churchill Cellars will continue to represent the remainder of its portfolio including products from Pol Roger, Groupe Patriarche, Cellier des Dauphins, Chateau de Gourgazaud, Peninsula Ridge, Group Freixenet, Robertson and d'Arenberg. "It has been a wonderful experience to work with the likes of Hardys, Banrock Station and the Mondavi range of products over the years," said Chris Churchill , President, Churchill Cellars. "Although we will miss them, we now have the opportunity to focus on the brands with which we built the company and which attracted the Hardy Wine Company and subsequently Constellation Brands to us in the first place."

Over the next few weeks, Vincor and Churchill will work together to effect a smooth transition of the business by cooperating in the transfer of market knowledge and to ensure clear customer communications. Vincor and Churchill Cellars will be reviewing staffing at both companies during this period.

About Vincor Canada

Vincor Canada has a history that dates back to 1874, and has grown to become Canada's largest producer and marketer of wines. Its founding vision has been to further the reputation and sales of Canadian wines in the premium, super-premium and ultra-premium categories, not simply at home but, as importantly, in the international marketplace.

With an emphasis on quality grapes, the company has worked consistently to develop vineyards with the most sophisticated viticultural technologies, not to mention research capabilities. Vincor Canada's land holdings in Canada's largest wine growing regions, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, are dedicated almost exclusively to the production of European vitis vinifera. Vincor Canada also works with a large group of talented high quality grape growers and viticultural experts to draw the best from their vines.

Well known brands from the Vincor Canada portfolio include Inniskillin Wines, Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, See Ya Later Ranch, Naked Grape, Sawmill Creek, President Sparkling , Nk'Mip Cellars and Osoyoos Larose, the latter two of which are joint ventures between Vincor Canada and the Osoyoos Indian Band in the Okanagan Valley and Groupe Taillan in Bordeaux, France , respectively. Vincor Canada is a subsidiary of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ, ASX: CBR), the world's leading wine company.

About Churchill Cellars Ltd.

Churchill Cellars Ltd. was originally incorporated in 1983 under the name Michel Reichart Agencies Inc. as a manufacturer's representative for such prestigious brands as Pol Roger Champagne , Noemie Vernaux (Pisse-Dru) and Grand Marnier. Over the years, the agency flourished as it added new products to its portfolio. The agency was purchased by Christopher Churchill and the name changed in 1997. When Australia's BRL Hardy Wine Company bought into the company in 1999, Churchill Cellars expanded into Atlantic Canada under the name Churchill Dauphinee.

In addition to Pol Roger and Noemie Vernaux, which remain with the company today, Churchill Cellars Ltd. represents other well-known brands such as Segura Viudas, Groupe Patriarche, Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery, d'Arenberg, Robertson Winery, Bodegas Julian Chivite, Alsace Willm, Dow's (Symington Family) and others. Churchill Dauphinee also represents Freixenet, Yvon Mau, Pump House Brewery, Familia Zuccardi, Antinori, Santa Rita , Jost Vineyards, Premier Brands (Holsten and Bavaria) and others.

Churchill Cellars Ltd. is a 10 time winner of various LCBO Elsie Awards including Agency of the Year in 2008.