Royal DeMaria Wines, 'Canada's Icewine Specialist', was at the podium again today receiving another Gold Medal for Canada. The Olympiades du Vin Gold was won as top honours for Royal DeMaria's 1999 Riesling Icewine. Winning a Gold medal at this years' Challenge International du Vin allowed the Riesling Icewine to move forward to the next level of the competition, namely, Olympiades du Vin, held at the coveted VinExpo in Bourdeaux, France.

Owner/Winemaker Joseph DeMaria flew to France earlier this week to receive the Challenge International du Vin awards he had won: 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze, but was unsure of the results for the Olympiades. It wasn't until early this morning that Mr. DeMaria phoned his family in Vineland, Ontario to share the news of the winning.

"We are absolutely ecstatic about winning such a prestigious award", Joseph DeMaria was quoted as saying from his hotel in Arcachon. "This is not only a business accomplishment for Canada's Wine Industry, but on a larger scale, it is a personal accomplishment for both myself and my family."

Since their first vintage in 1998, Royal DeMaria has won an impressive 31 awards internationally with only 1 wine in 1998 and only 4 wines in 1999.

New releases for the 2000 Vintage include: 2000 Vidal Icewine, 2000 Gewurztraminer Icewine, 2000 Pinot Gris Icewine, 2000 Gamay Icewine, 2000 Winter Harvest Merlot and an exciting Gamay-Merlot Blend. Plans for the 2001 Vintage include the release of Pinot Blanc Icewine, Sauvignon Blanc Icewine, Muscat Ottonel Icewine and Cabernet Franc Icewine.

For further information or interviews please contact owner/winemaker Joseph DeMaria at 905-562-6767, fax 905-562-6775 or by email at icewine@royaldemaria.com.