No.8671 2004. 2. 3

Suntory to release “ Montana ”, New Zealand wine

Suntory Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, President: Nobutada Saji) is to release 13 types of wine from “ Montana Winery ”, the No.1 winery in New Zealand, on the 24th of February 2004 across Japan nationwide*1.

New Zealand is one of the ideal countries for cultivating grapes that possesses fresh acidity with sufficient sugar content, due to its climate and fertile land. During the past several years, the export volume of New Zealand wine have steadily increased, especially white wine has expanded its popularity worldwide.

“ Montana Winery ” is the No.1 winery in New Zealand for its amount of production, owning in total about 3,100 ha of vineyards, which are located mainly around the three major wine-producing areas, Gisborne, Hawks Bay and Marlboro.

In 1973, Montana Winery built a large-scale vineyard in Marlboro region, where had been a sheep pasture, and started growing grapes for Sauvignon Blanc and other grapes that suited the climate and soil of the area. Later, white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc cultivated at the vineyards gained high remark around the world for its juicy and unique fruity taste. Also, the chief winemaker of Montana Winery, Mr. Jeff Clark, was awarded as the most outstanding white winemaker in the “ Japan Wine Challenge 2003 ”, a wine competition evaluated by the world’s top sommeliers based on strict blind test.

Suntory Ltd. newly releases 13 types of wine from 3 series; 3 types from Varietals Series offering fruity taste that emphases varietals’s characteristics, 5 types from Reserve Series with complex and smooth fruity taste that utilizes the character of the regions and varietals, and 5 types from Estate Series which is made from hand-picked grapes and only produced in good years.

About Montana Winery

The history of “ Montana Winery ” started in 1944 when Mr. Ivan Yukich, a Croatian immigrant, began making wine in a small vineyard. The vineyard was named “ Montana ”, which means mountain, and it is originated from the vineyard located on slope land at the foot of a mountain. Later the winery was established in 1972, and it was named after the vineyard as “ Montana ”. Currently, Montana Winery is affiliated with “ Allied Domecq Inc. ”, the second largest spirits company in the world.

*1 New Zealand Winegrowers Statistical Rpt. 2003 Aug., AC Nielson survey 2003 Sep.-Nov.; Wine a Global Strategic Rpt. Oct. 2002

• Name of product, Type/ Taste, Features, Volume/ Packaging, Suggested retail price

	Name of product	Type / Taste	Features	Volume / Packaging	Suggested retail price
< Varietals Series >	Montana Sauvignon Blanc 2003	White / Dry	Refreshing and vinegary white wine with peach and passion fruit aromas.	750ml ×12 bottles	Open price
	Montana Chardonnay 2002	White / Dry	Classic New Zealand Chardonnay with pineapple, peach and grapefruit taste and barrel aroma.	750ml ×12 bottles
	Montana Cabernet / Merlot 2002	Red / Medium Body	Blackcurrant and raspberry taste with subtle barrel aroma. Fruity and rich red wine.	750ml ×6 bottles
< Reserve Series >	Montana ReserveSauvignon Blanc 2003	White / Dry	Fresh and vinegary white wine with gooseberry and tropical fruit aromas.	750ml ×12 bottles	Open price
	Montana Reserve Chardonnay 2002	White / Dry	Soft and sensitive white wine through 100 % malolactic fermentation, with peach, melon, and citrus fruits aromas.
	Montana Reserve Riesling 2002	White / Semi-sweet	Delicate honey taste white wine with fresh citrus and tropical fruit aromas.
	Montana Reserve Merlot 2001	Red / Full Body	Smooth and rich red wine with berries, plum and cacao taste.
	Montana Reserve Pinot Noir 2001	Red / Full Body	Strawberry and cherry taste with rich aftertaste, soft and smooth tannin.
< Estate Series >	Montana Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2002	White / Dry	Smooth and vinegary white wine, made from handpicked grapes, with tropical fruits taste and light barrel aroma.	750ml ×6 bottles	Open price
	Montana Renwick Estate Chardonnay 2000	White / Dry	Elegant and fresh vinegary white wine with poires, new French-oak barrel, and butter-like aromas.
	Montana Ormond Estate Chardonnay 2002	White / Dry	Rich and vanilla taste white wine with tropical fruits and nutty barrel aroma.
	Montana Patutahi Estate Gewürtzraminer 2002	White / Semi- sweet	Fresh and rich white wine, containing botrytis-affected grapes, with rose, lychee and spices aromas.
	Montana Fairhall Estate Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot 1998	Red / Full Body	Soothing concentrated fruity taste with delicate barrique’s tannin. Finely balanced of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

• Release date and sales region
24th of February, 2004 Japan Nationwide

Enquiry of the information, please contact to:
Suntory Customer Center Toll free number: 0120-0139-310
(Osaka) Dojimahama 2-1-40, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-8203, Japan
(Tokyo) Moto-Akasaka 1-2-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8430, Japan
Wine website: http://www.suntory.co.jp/wine/