Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Renews Official Wine Sponsorship of Elton John Aids...

Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Renews Official Wine Sponsorship of Elton John
Aids Foundation(R)
Alliance Continues with Donation of Wine-themed Auction Lot and Unique 9L
Collectors Wines for 80th Academy Awards(R) Viewing Party to Benefit EJAF

NAPA, Calif., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines
Company, a leading producer of premium wines, and a sponsor of the Elton John
Aids Foundation, will provide wines by Sterling Vineyards for the EJAF gala
dinner and Academy Awards Viewing Party and a spectacular wine-themed lot for
the live auction. Following the telecast viewing, guests will participate in
an exclusive live auction to benefit the Foundation. DC&E has donated two
one-of-a-kind nine-liter bottles of Sterling Vineyards 2004 Red Carpet
Reserve(R) Cabernet Sauvignon and 2006 Gold Standard Reserve Chardonnay, the
custom wines created exclusively for the Academy Awards. These unique bottles
were commissioned for the EJAF auction and will be the cornerstones of a
deluxe auction lot including: a three temperature control wine cellar stocked
with 150 bottles of DC&E wines and an incredible wine country weekend for ten
people, complete with croquet tournament, wine blending sessions and gourmet
dinner with celebrity chef Joey Altman.
Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines will continue to provide wines for all EJAF
annual fundraising events in the US as well as financial donation to the
organization's global efforts to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service
programs. Through successful fundraising, special events and voluntary
contributions, the EJAF has raised over $125 million to provide grants to
worthy HIV/AIDS prevention programs in 55 countries. Diageo Chateau & Estate
Wine brands have shown consistent commitment to similar goals with support of
the Human Rights Campaign, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, Dining Out for
Life and regional AIDS support groups.
"We are very excited to continue and expand our longstanding support of
organizations that work to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS," said Neil
Tallantire, Senior Vice President of Marketing, for Diageo Chateau & Estate
Wines. "In the US alone, there are over one million people living with AIDS
and the Elton John AIDS Foundation is doing critical work in the fight against
this disease. We look forward to continue our continued alliance."
Established in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the world's
leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations. Focusing on the support of community
based prevention education programs, harm reduction programs, and direct
services to those living with HIV/AIDS, the organizations outreach efforts
include physical and mental health services, HIV testing and counseling, food
distribution, assisted living services, social services and volunteer
recruitment and support. For more information about EJAF, log onto to
www.ejaf.org.
Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines is part of Diageo, the world's leading
premium drinks business. DC&E produces and markets Sterling Vineyards,
Beaulieu Vineyard, Sterling Vintner's Collection, the Chalone Wine Group
brands, Solaris, and Blossom Hill, as well as the French wines of Barton &
Guestier.
DC&E is also a leading importer of classified Bordeaux in the U.S. and
F.E. Trimbach wines from Alsace. A collection of Burgundy estate-bottled wines
and several other fine European wines complement the selection. Diageo's
broader business includes Smirnoff Vodkas and flavored malt beverages,
Guinness, Bailey's Irish Cream, Crown Royal, and Captain Morgan Original
Spiced Rum, as well as many other of the world's leading premium drinks
brands. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and
the London Stock Exchange (DGE). Please enjoy our quality responsibly.
SOURCE Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company

Philippa Jones, Sterling Vineyards, +1-707-299-2618,
Philippa.Jones@Diageo.com; or in Los Angeles: Katy Sweet & Associates,
+1-323-852-0772, KatySweet1@aol.com