Primetime Emmy® Awards Governors Ball sponsor Beaulieu Vineyard® Creates Custom Etched 27L Bottle of Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon to Benefit The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Education Programs

NAPA, Calif., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Beaulieu Vineyard, the great American winery at the heart of the Napa Valley with 111 years of history in fine winemaking, and the Official Wine Sponsor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, has bottled up a very special way to benefit the Television Academy Foundation's education programs.  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110922/LA73589)

BV created a custom-etched and painted, 27-liter bottle of the winery's flagship Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The 27 liter is the largest bottle produced for the wine industry, holds the equivalent of 36 bottles of wine, stands 3.5 feet high and weighs over 110 pounds when full.

Serving as an unofficial "guest book" for the 63rd Primetime Emmy nominees and presenters, 68 stars and industry luminaries signed the bottle and converted this exceptional collector's item into something truly one of a kind. For auction information, please visit  http://www.charitybuzz.com/support/emmysfoundation or http://www.emmysfoundation.org/online-auction and bid online from September 21 through October 5, 2011.  

The autographs in gold and silver ink include Emmy winners Julie Bowen (Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Modern Family); Melissa McCarthy (Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Mike & Molly); Ty Burrell (Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Modern Family); Guy Pearce (Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series, Mildred Pierce); Loretta Devine (Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Grey's Anatomy); Margo Martindale (Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Justified); as well as Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer, Charlie Sheen, Matt LeBlanc, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, James Woods, John Slattery, Melissa Leo, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, Anna Pacquin, Lea Michele, Amy Poehler, Clare Danes, Hugh Laurie, Don Cheadle, David Spade, Emmy Producer Mark Burnett, the cast of Entourage:  Jeremy Piven, Adrien Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Scott Caan and many more!  

The majestic, signed bottle and a complementary Napa Valley wine-tasting getaway and deluxe accommodations at Meadowood Napa Valley resort in St. Helena, CA, is being auctioned online to benefit the educational programs of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the medium of television, and educating those who will impact its future.  .  

"BV has enjoyed a wonderful collaborative sponsor/partner relationship with the The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and its Foundation for the last seven years," said Jeffrey Stambor, Director of Winemaking for Beaulieu Vineyard. "We felt that a truly exceptional auction lot that featured a great vintage of 'George', our flagship wine, would be a great way to help more students take advantage of the Foundation's amazing education programs."

"We're delighted that BV has put together this magnificent package that will ultimately benefit our programs," said Norma Provencio Pichardo, Executive Director of the Television Academy Foundation.  "Plus, we're thankful to television's biggest stars who will be autographing the bottle for a good cause."

BV Georges de Latour was the first private reserve Cabernet produced in America and has been a benchmark in California winemaking since the first vintage in 1936. Named for the winery founder, it is the most eagerly anticipated wine produced by Beaulieu Vineyard. This year BV celebrates the 75th anniversary harvest of grapes for the iconic wine. The 2008 vintage released for sale nationally in September, has already received glowing reviews from noted wine industry publications the Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate, and is widely anticipated to be an outstanding vintage.

BV poured the 2007 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Carneros Chardonnay at the 63rd Primetime and the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Governors Balls, paired with the impressive menu designed by Patina Founder Joachim Splichal. In addition to the dinner wines, the Balls also featured lavish wine bars allowing guests to sample and enjoy a range of limited-edition Beaulieu Vineyard wines.

Beaulieu Vineyard, established in 1900, is a historic Napa Valley winery with a tradition of quality and innovation. Founded by French immigrant Georges de Latour, Beaulieu Vineyard set early standards for excellence in premium winemaking that subsequent generations of vintners continue to maintain. Beaulieu Vineyard holds a unique place in the history of California wineries and is one of the most collected American Cabernets.  For more information about Beaulieu Vineyard, visit www.bvwines.com.

Beaulieu Vineyard wines are produced by Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines (DC&E) is part of Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O), the world's leading premium drinks business. DC&E brands also include: BV Coastal Estates, Sterling Vineyards, Sterling Vintner's Collection, Chalone Vineyard, Acacia Vineyard, Provenance Vineyards and Rosenblum Cellars. DC&E is also a leading importer of estate-bottled wines from Burgundy.  Please enjoy our fine wines responsibly.

About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946, just one month after network television was born.  It is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry.  In addition to recognizing outstanding programming through its Primetime Emmy® Awards, the Television Academy publishes emmy Magazine and through its Foundation, is responsible for the Archive of American Television, College Television Awards, acclaimed student internships and other educational outreach programs.  For more information on the Television Academy and its many industry-related programs and services, please visit www.emmys.com.

About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation

Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of television, and educating those who will shape its future. Some of the Foundation's programs include the Archive of American Television, as well as its renowned student internship program and the College Television Awards. For more information on the Foundation, please visit EmmysFoundation.org.

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