Canandaigua Wine Launches Monkey Bay

01 Dec 2004

Delicious, Affordable Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand Will Have Wine Lovers Swinging Through the Aisles Screeching in Delight Addressing the growing passion of American wine lovers for New Zealand's fresh, zesty sauvignon blancs -- as well as their thirst for good value - Canandaigua Wine Company is introducing Monkey Bay, an exciting new sauvignon blanc brand from New Zealand's renowned Marlborough region. Named for a small bay within the Marlborough coast's famed Cloudy Bay, Monkey Bay offers consumers a delicious, affordable sauvignon blanc from New Zealand's premier appellation. Although New Zealand is one of the world's coolest growing regions, sales of its zingy sauvignon blancs are red-hot. Over the past five years, exports to the United States have increased five-fold to over 800,000 cases, and, during the past year alone, U.S. retail sales have soared 64%. "The popularity of New Zealand sauvignon blanc in the U.S. continues to grow by leaps and bounds," says Gary Glass, Canandaigua Wine's Vice President of Marketing. "As a result of extensive investments we've made in vineyard development and production facilities in the Marlborough region, we can now offer consumers top-quality Marlborough sauvignon blanc at a very attractive price." The grapes for Monkey Bay are sourced predominantly from the heralded Rarangi vineyard in Marlborough's Wairau Valley, close to where the Wairau River flows into Cloudy Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Rarangi's cool maritime climate, long, sunny days, and well-drained pea gravel soils produce grapes with the rich tropical fruit, racy herbal tones and crisp acidity characteristic of the finest Marlborough sauvignon blancs. And the name? In the late 19th century, an Englishman visiting New Zealand reported seeing a monkey cavorting near a small bay on the Marlborough coast. Locals were skeptical because monkeys were not indigenous to New Zealand. The Brit, however, was adamant, so theories arose about the simian sighting. Could the little imp have escaped from an American whaler docked in Marlborough after stops in Africa and Indonesia? Or did the near-sighted Englishman simply mistake the native kiwi bird for a chimp? Whatever the truth, the Monkey Bay name now lends itself to a classic Marlborough sauvignon blanc. "Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc is an outstanding example of the Marlborough style," says Senior Winemaker Alistair McIntosh. "It captures the charming, zesty, food-friendly qualities that lovers of Marlborough sauvignon blanc prize." Monkey Bay's whimsical label -- designed by Harkness Walker Design, creator of Australia's Yellow Tail label -- features a leaping, bright green monkey sure to attract the attention of super-premium wine shoppers. The vibrant monkey icon -- at once charming and slightly impish -- resonated strongly with consumers in national focus groups. Monkey Bay launches nationally in January 2005. The suggested retail price is $9.99. Monkey Bay is distributed by Canandaigua Wine Company, the popular-priced and premium wine producer of Constellation Wines U.S., which is part of Constellation Wines, the world's largest wine business, an operating division of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)(NYSE:STZB) ("CBI"). Constellation Wines U.S. encompasses three of CBI's U.S. wine businesses: Canandaigua Wine Company, Pacific Wine Partners, and North Lake Wines. Leading brands include Alice White, Arbor Mist, Cook's, Covey Run, Inglenook, Talus Collection, Turner Road and Vendange. For Further Information, Please Contact: Lisa Farrell, Constellation Wines U.S. @ (585) 396-7184.