Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Martin Bargetto

Phone: 831.475.2258

Web: www.bargetto.com

Date: October 3rd, 2003

BARGETTO WINERY WINS BEST-OF-REGION AWARD

BARGETTO WINERY recently announced its 2002 Viognier-Central Coast won a Gold Medal and a Best-of-Region award at the 2003 California State Fair. The Best-of-Region award is selected from gold medal winners from the North-Central Coast appellations of California .

The California State Fair is the oldest commercial wine competition in the United States , and arguably the most prestigious. The Fair began in San Francisco in 1854, and celebrated its 150 th anniversary this past summer in Sacramento , California . Since the 1950’s, all judges must demonstrate professional tasting experience and pass a comprehensive examination designed by the University of California at Davis .

Viognier is a lesser-known white grape variety traditionally grown in the Rhone region of France . As a white wine, it exhibits forward aromas and flavors reminiscent of apricots. According to the California Agricultural Statistics survey, there were 2001 acres of Viognier planted in California in 2002. This is just 0.4% of the 481,000 acres of wine grapes in the state.

AC Nielson/Winery Exchange, a wine sales reporting service, indicates U.S. total table wine volume increased in the last year by 3.5%. Most of this growth was generated by imports which saw a 17.5% increase. Domestic wines grew by 0.9%.

BARGETTO WINERY celebrates 70 years in business in 2003. For more information on upcoming events, please see www.bargetto.com or call

1. 800. 4. BARGETTO