Côtes du Rhône Announces Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône 2009

This year`s special program showcases the best of the Rhône Valley March 16-21,
including Rosés
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Côtes du Rhône, the second largest Appellation d`Origine Contrôlée (A.O.C.) wine
region in France, is excited to announce the fifth bi-annual festival,
Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône, hosted by Inter Rhône. The festival features
numerous wine tastings and presents an exclusive opportunity to tour the Rhône
Valley. The event is strictly reserved for the wine trade and media. This
spring, Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône is scheduled for March 16-21.
Participants have the opportunity to meet with 750 winemakers, taste more than
4,000 different wines and enjoy the charming qualities and delectable flavors of
the Rhône Valley over the six-day period. New to this year`s program will be a
thematic tasting of Rhône Valley rosés.

The tastings will travel along the Rhône river with many appellations organizing
special tastings or activities such as food and wine pairings, vertical
tastings, hiking in the vineyards and formal dinners. The festival path:

* starts in the South, around or in Avignon featuring Côtes du Rhône and Côtes
du Rhône Villages, Beaumes de Venise, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clairette de
Bellegarde, Costières de Nîmes, Coteaux du Tricastin, Côtes du Vivarais,
Gigondas, Lirac, Luberon, Tavel, Vacqueyras, Ventoux, and Vinsobres;
* heads up north, Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage and Saint-Péray will be
tasted in Tain l`Hermitage; and
* the final stop will be in Ampuis, with three appellations : Saint-Joseph,
Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu.

"We are especially looking forward to this year`s festival," explains Oriane
Beloud, Inter Rhône Export Marketing Manager for the United States. "The U.S.
market is our number one priority for Inter Rhône in 2009 and Découvertes en
Vallée du Rhône is a unique and efficient way for media and trade to see first
hand the treasures of the region."

For additional information about Côtes du Rhône, a complete itinerary on the
festival and to register, please visit www.rhone-wines.com and click on the
Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône banner.

About Côtes du Rhône

Côtes du Rhône is the second largest Appellation d`Origine Contrôlée (A.O.C.) in
France with over 6,000 wineries. Located along the Rhône River between Lyon and
Avignon, Côtes du Rhône wines are widely available in the U.S. and offer
diversity and value. A fruit forward and spicy taste profile that pairs well
with meals is indicative of Côtes du Rhône wines.

Inter-Rhône
Oriane Beloud, 00-334-9027-2400
obeloud@inter-rhone.com
or
HL Group, LLC
Samantha Spivack, 212-529-5533 x269
sspivack@hlgrp.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009