Limited Edition 'Canvas Artist Series' Wines Debut at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

CHICAGO, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Folio Fine Wine Partners today announced the winners of the 2010 Canvas Artist Series Contest, which gave accredited art students with a passion for fine art the opportunity to create a signature wine label for Canvas, a wine brand created by Folio Fine Wine Partners exclusively for Hyatt. The limited edition Canvas wine bottles will be available at all participating Hyatt properties throughout the U.S. starting in February 2011.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110125/SF35765)

Students were asked to submit an original work depicting the characteristics of one of the three Canvas varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.  Three winners were selected by public online voting and a panel of judges comprised of Folio and Hyatt executives, as well as other wine industry professionals.

The winners of the 2010 Canvas Artist Series Contest are:

• Cabernet Sauvignon: Jesse Couturier-Herndon of Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA
• Merlot: Anna Membrino of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
• Chardonnay: Claire Ramirez of Trinity University, San Antonio, TX

In addition to having their artwork displayed on the Canvas bottle, each winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship from Hyatt.

Canvas was created for Hyatt in 2007 by Folio Fine Wine Partners, a Napa Valley wine company owned by the Michael Mondavi family.  Created with the discerning Hyatt customer in mind, Canvas is high quality, approachable California wine that is meant to be enjoyed with a variety of cuisines or enjoyed on its own. Recognized as a leading innovator in hotel food and beverage, Hyatt offers its guests four Canvas handcrafted, artisan varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio – bringing added variety and excellence to the Hyatt dining experience.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family in 45 countries strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt Summerfield Suites® brand names and have locations under development on five continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops and operates vacation ownership properties under the Hyatt Vacation Club® brand. As of September 30, 2010, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 447 properties. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com

About Folio Fine Wine Partners

Founded in 2004 by the Michael Mondavi family, Folio Fine Wine Partners is an importer, fine wine agency and producer of quality wines for the world's premiere and emerging wine regions.  Folio provides sales, marketing and public relations services to wine brands from California, Argentina, Italy, Austria and Spain.

SOURCE Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Folio Fine Wine Partners