Sterling Vineyards Offers 'Gold Standard' to Oscar Night(R) America Charity Events

Sterling Vineyards Offers 'Gold Standard' to Oscar Night(R) America Charity Events

ONA Galas to Auction Exclusive 3 Liter Wine Bottles Signed by Host Ellen DeGeneres

NAPA, Calif., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Vineyards, the landmark Napa winery, will make its fourth consecutive appearance as the featured wine of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Ball, the official party of the 79th Annual Academy Awards(R), to be held Sunday, February 25, 2007. This year, Sterling will also participate in Oscar Night(R) America fundraising events across the country with donations of unique large format bottles of the custom made Gold Standard Reserve Chardonnay, signed by the host of the 79th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, Ellen DeGeneres.

This is the 14th year that the Academy of Motion Pictures' Oscar Night America program will support important charities across the United States with officially-sanctioned Oscar(R) viewing parties and galas. Oscar Night America events allow movie fans to participate in the excitement of the Academy Awards and have raised nearly $17.5 million over the years for dozens of worthy organizations. Each ONA-sanctioned event across the country will be presented with one signed three-liter bottle of 2005 Sterling Vineyards Gold Standard Reserve Chardonnay to be auctioned for charity.

"We are extremely proud of the wines we create each year for the Oscar celebration," said Vice President of Winemaking for Sterling Vineyards, Mike Westrick. "To be able to create something exclusive for this special night and to also benefit charities across the country through Oscar Night America events is even more fulfilling. For the first time, Winemaker Chris Millard and I commissioned three-liter bottles of our Gold Standard Reserve Chardonnay exclusively for auction at Oscar Night America events. When Ellen DeGeneres agreed to sign our bottles, we knew we had an auction lot that wine and movie lovers around the country would be thrilled to support."

Westrick and his team at Sterling Vineyards created the 2005 Gold Standard Reserve Chardonnay, the second vintage of a very limited edition white wine, to complement the culinary creations of master chef Wolfgang Puck, who will orchestrate the multi-course gala dinner for the Academy's 1,500 guests at the Governors Ball. A crisp and richly aromatic Chardonnay, Gold Standard Reserve offers notes of apple, citrus, cinnamon, and nutmeg, with hints of vanilla in a lingering finish. Westrick and Millard also create Red Carpet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a limited edition red wine to be poured at the Governors Ball.

Each three-liter bottle is individually numbered to confirm its unique status and bears the winemakers' signatures. The bottles are etched and hand painted with the Gold Standard Reserve label design approved by the Academy and signed by Ellen DeGeneres in gold ink. The wines are created exclusively for the Academy Awards and for auction at ONA events. For more information about Oscar Night America and ONA events across the country, log on to www.Oscar.com and click on the Oscar Night America tab.

Founded in 1964, Sterling Vineyards crowns a 400-foot knoll, one mile south of the historic Napa town of Calistoga. The winery is accessible by aerial tram and offers stunning views of the surrounding wine country. Sterling enjoys a long-time affinity for the cinematic arts and is a sponsor of the National Film Preservation Foundation as well as various film festivals throughout the country. Each summer, Sterling Vineyards hosts a series of outdoor movie screenings at its Napa winery, all proceeds benefit a charitable fund with the community foundation of the Napa Valley. For more information on Sterling Vineyards, visit www.sterlingvineyards.com.

Sterling Vineyards wines are produced by Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, which is part of Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business.

Source: Sterling Vineyards

CONTACT: Philippa Jones, Sterling Vineyards, +1-707-299-2618; or in Los
Angeles, Katy Sweet & Associates, +1-323-852-0772

Web site: http://www.sterlingvineyards.com/
http://www.oscar.com/

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