Pelican Brands to Launch 90+ Rated Agoston Spanish Reds Throughout U.S.

CARMEL, Ind., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pelican Brands announced today that it will launch its Agoston wine brand across the U.S. in 2011. Bodegas Virgen del Aguila, the Spanish wine cooperative confirmed Pelican Brands has been named the exclusive U.S. importer of Agoston wines effectively immediately.

J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands, said, "When we first tasted Agoston, we could not believe the quality. Year after year Agoston has been receiving 90+ points in the Penin Wine Rating Guide (Spain's equivalent to Robert Parker ratings). We are excited to bring this amazing wine at an affordable price to every region of the United States."

Pelican Brands will launch both Agoston's Red Blends - a Garnacha & Syrah and a Tempranillo & Cabernet -beginning in March.

"Spain has long produced beautiful yet accessible wines. With these wines typically retailing for $5-$7.49 per bottle, we are delighted to bring such a combination of exceptional quality and amazing value to our customers," said Art Massolo, EVP Business Development at Pelican Brands.

"We were immediately impressed with the knowledge, drive and 'can do' approach of the entire Pelican team," said Jose Maria Andres, CEO of Bodegas Virgen del Aguila co-operative. "We are proud to have the opportunity to work with Pelican Brands for the important U.S. market."

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 safeguarding. The winery produces close to 10 million liters 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 Pelican Brands

Pelican Brands manages a portfolio of owned and agency premier import & craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Pelican Brands' team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. A Pelican Brands led investment group recently acquired Napa Smith Brewery & Winery. Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN, with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, CA and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets.

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SOURCE Pelican Brands