Robert Haas Honored as Paso Robles 2007 Wine Industry Person of the Year

A Lifetime Spent Mastering the Wine Business
PASO ROBLES, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance honored Robert Haas,
managing partner of Tablas Creek Vineyard as the 2007 Wine Industry
Person of the Year during the organization's 16th annual Wine Country
Gala held Friday night (Feb. 1) at the Park Ballroom in downtown Paso
Robles. Haas has played a leading role in the American wine industry
for over half a century. From working alongside his father in his
Manhattan retail business, to creating one of the nation's largest
wine importing companies, to entering the California wine community
with the creation of Tablas Creek Vineyard, Haas has experienced all
facets of the wine industry.

Throughout his lifetime of mastering the wine business and selling
some of the world's most famous brands, Haas forged lifelong business
relationships with premier wine producers. These partnerships, along
with family ties, and Haas' commitment to excellence serve as the
foundation for creating Tablas Creek Vineyard.

"When Robert along with his partners the Perrin Family chose Paso
Robles to create Tablas Creek, it made a statement about the
world-class potential of the Paso Robles American Viticulture Area
(AVA)," said Stephan Asseo, Board Director of the Wine Country
Alliance and owner of L'Aventure Winery. "Robert's global experience
from buying and selling wine to beginning a brand to understanding the
challenges of a developing wine region has been a true testament to
his leadership and dedication to the Paso Robles AVA. We are honored
that he chose to become part of the growing Paso Robles wine
community."

Paso Robles Mayor Frank Mecham honored Haas on behalf of the City
of Paso Robles. Paying tribute on behalf of the County of San Luis
Obispo was Supervisor, Harry Ovitt. Furthermore the offices of
Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee honored Haas.

Haas along with his son, Jason, Tablas Creek general manager, are
involved in many aspects of the Wine Alliance's promotional efforts.
He and Jason serve on the Paso Robles AVA Committee and marketing
committees. Haas has hosted numerous trade and media to Paso Robles,
shared his knowledge through several educational panels, participating
in the Paso Robles regional branding efforts and is a leader for the
region in the global wine community.

In addition to Haas' announcement, the evening program recognized
Wine Country Alliance outgoing board members. Each was presented with
an etched wine bottle thanking them for their leadership.

-- Justin Baldwin - Justin Vineyards & Wines

-- Ric Fuller - Continental Vineyards

-- Dana Merrill - Pomar Junction Vineyards and Past Vice Chairman

The 2008 Wine Alliance Board of Directors and executive team were
also announced.

-- Steve Lohr - J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery - Chairman

-- Cindy Newkirk - Steinbeck Vineyards - Vice Chairman

-- Jerry Reaugh - Sereno Vista Vineyards - Treasurer

-- Stephan Asseo - L'Aventure Winery

-- Don Brady - Robert Hall Winery

-- Tony Domingos - Brave Oak Vineyards

-- Gary Eberle - Eberle Winery

-- Paul Hoover - Still Waters Vineyards

-- Alex Villicana - Villicana Winery

ROBERT HAAS BACKGROUND:

With his Yale degree in hand, Brooklyn-born Haas joined his
father, Sidney, who owned M. Lehmann, Inc., one of New York's most
prestigious wine retailers. A trip to France in 1953 is where his
passion for the wine business began. While tasting through the cellars
of France, Haas saw local negociants selling wine not yet in the
bottle. Haas was intrigued by this concept and was the first to market
wine "futures" to Lehmann retail shop customers. This concept has now
become the standard practice for buying Bordeaux wines in the United
States. Lehmann Inc. later became Sherry-Lehmann when his father sold
the business.

In 1973, Haas and his wife Barbara moved to Vermont where he found
a new import firm, Vineyard Brands. During his tenure, Haas grew the
business into one of the nation's largest importers, with annual sales
of $65 million. His son Daniel remains Senior Vice President at
Vineyard Brands, which is the exclusive importer for Chateau de
Beaucastel among other leading European brands and represents one
California brand, Tablas Creek. Haas' longtime partnership with the
Perrins of Beaucastel set the stage for today's Tablas Creek.

In 1985, Haas partnered with the Perrins to begin their California
journey. Four years of searching for the ideal Chateauneuf replicate
landed the partners in Paso Robles on a pastureland of rolling hills
12 miles inland from the ocean. Haas became Managing Partner of Tablas
Creek in 1989, but it would be seven years before wine was made under
the Tablas Creek name. The next task of importing French vines began
with the first plant material arriving in 1993. Haas propagated the
vines in a nursery that would yield 200,000 vines per year. Demand
grew for the vine material of these highly sought after Rhone
varieties making Tablas Creek "the mother ship" for Rhone varieties
across the U.S. The first Tablas Creek wines were made in 1997 and
released in 1999, receiving positive reviews from U.S. wine critics.

Haas, alongside his son Jason, Tablas Creek's general manager,
promote Tablas Creek wines and educate wine enthusiasts about
Rhone-style blends and the Paso Robles AVA. Haas consistently speaks
in favor of organic viticulture, minimum-intervention winemaking and
wines of terroir and sophistication. His accomplishments have been
profiled in national publications, Wine Enthusiast, Saveur, Boston
Globe and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Haas is one of three American members of the Academie
Internationale du Vin. In recognition of his contributions to the
international wine community as an importer, a vintner, and an
advocate for quality, he was elected as the AIV president in 2000.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (Alliance), represents
wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country.
Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along
California's Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California's
fastest growing wine region. It encompasses more than 26,000 vineyard
acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo Available Upon Request

Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
Chris Taranto, 805-239-8463 ext.207
ctaranto@pasowine.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008