Paddington Brands Launches 90+ Rated Agoston Spanish Red Wines Nationally Through Walgreens

INDIANAPOLIS, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Paddington Brands announced today that it has launched its Agoston wine brand through Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain. Bodegas Virgen del Aguila, the Spanish wine cooperative, confirmed Paddington Brands as the exclusive U.S. importer of Agoston wines.

"When we first tasted Agoston, we knew this was a wine that would appeal to American consumers," said J. Smoke Wallin, chairman and CEO of Paddington Brands. "Year after year Agoston has been receiving 90+ points in the Penin Wine Rating Guide, which is Spain's equivalent to Robert Parker ratings. We have worked with Walgreens in order to bring this savory wine to the United States at an affordable price."

In April Paddington launched both a syrah garnacha and a tempranillo cabernet blend in more than 4,000 Walgreens stores. The wines, priced at $5.99 a bottle in most states, have become one of the drugstore chain's top selling imported wine brands.

"Agoston is a great addition to Walgreens wine selection as our first Spanish wine," said Dex McCreary, Walgreens divisional merchandise manager. "We look forward to working with Paddington Brands to promote this brand and make this quality import a success."

"We were immediately impressed with the knowledge, drive and 'can do' approach of the entire Paddington team," said Jose Maria Andres, CEO of Bodegas Virgen del Aguila co-operative. "We are proud to work with Paddington to launch this wine with such an important retailer like Walgreens, a company that will advance the development of the Agoston brand."

About Agoston

Agoston is named after the wild Spanish boar and is made by the Bodegas Virgen del Aguila co-operative. Located in the great wine-producing area of northern Spain we're lucky to have a climate and terroir ideal for making quality wines full of character. Here we have 2,200 hectares of vines, planted with a good range of grape varieties, including the native Tempranillos and Garnachas, as well as international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Our oldest vines date from the year 1906 and help create wines of superb intensity, such as our Agoston range.

Our vineyards are located in the scenic foothills of the Iberico mountain range and we have a wide variety of landscapes and eco-systems within our demarcated area. Under half of our land is taken up by vines, the rest being undisturbed areas of rocky outcrops and forested mountain slopes, dry river beds, wild-flower margins and old almond groves. This makes it and its surrounding area a zone of high biodiversity and an ideal wildlife haven, something that we're committed to safe-guarding. The winery produces close to 10 million litres of wine a year, with a full range of styles, including young fresh whites and roses, intense aromatic reds and complex oak-aged "Crianzas" and "Reservas". The winery is modern and fully equipped and the underground maturation cellars have 13,000 oak barrels.

About Paddington Brands

Paddington Brands (www.Paddingtonbrands.com) manages a portfolio of owned and agency premiere import & craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Paddington's team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. Paddington owns the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery and 3 Amigos Tequila. Paddington is headquartered in Metro-Indianapolis, IN, with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, CA and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets. Join us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paddington-Brands/220043258012149) and Follow us on Twitter @Paddingtonbrands.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67 billion. The company operates 7,733 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

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SOURCE Paddington Brands