Chopin Vodka Pledges to Donate $50,000 to The GRAMMY Foundation(R) with an Auction of the Largest Bottle of Vodka Ever Produced

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Frederic Chopin's birth, Chopin Vodka unveiled a hand-blown, seven-foot tall, 200-liter glass bottle on the red carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This is the largest bottle of vodka ever produced and is an exact replica of Chopin Vodka's signature bottle.

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Inspired by its namesake, Chopin Vodka will auction the bottle later this year to benefit the GRAMMY Foundation and its important work in music preservation and archiving, guaranteeing a minimum donation of $50,000.

Featuring autographs by several luminaries from the film world who attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival – including Sandra Bullock, Forest Whitaker, James Cameron, Emily Blunt, Kirk Douglas, Quentin Tarantino, Carey Mulligan and Jeff Bridges – the 200-liter bottle will embark on a national tour before the public auction later this year.

"Chopin Vodka has always been a serious sponsor of the arts, as illustrated through our relationship with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This new partnership with the GRAMMY Foundation is another example of how committed we are to supporting initiatives that align with our brand," states Guillaume Grillon, brand manager of Chopin Vodka.

"Protecting our cultural legacy is central to the GRAMMY Foundation's mission," says Kristen Madsen, senior vice president of the GRAMMY Foundation. "That work includes preserving endangered recordings of composers as iconic as Chopin to lesser known but equally influential artists, and we are grateful for the generous support of Chopin Vodka to our ongoing programs."

About Chopin Vodka

Chopin Vodka embodies purity, independence, authenticity and distinction, qualities which clearly inspired the striking bottle design and which are reinforced by the brand's uniquely creamy, full-bodied flavor from naturally grown potatoes. 2010 is the third consecutive year of Chopin Vodka's partnership with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It is also the 200th anniversary of Frederic Chopin's birth, and to celebrate, the brand debuted on the red carpet, a 200-liter bottle – the largest bottle of vodka ever produced. For recipes and more information about Chopin Vodka, please visit www.facebook.com/ChopinVodka and follow our Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/ChopinVodka.

About The GRAMMY Foundation®

The GRAMMY Foundation® was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.com.

About The Santa Barbara International Film Festival

For more information, please visit www.sbfilmfestival.org.

SOURCE Chopin Vodka