October 4, 2011 - Novato, CA – The new national brand division
of Winery Exchange announces the relaunch of Echelon Vineyards, a proven and trusted
brand with a legacy of strong trade equity and consumer pull; wine lovers have purchased
more than 18.5 million bottles of Echelon Vineyards wines since its original launch
in 1998. Winery Exchange is revitalizing the brand by introducing a new tier of
wines, the Collection Series, featuring some of California’s best sub-appellations,
and by presenting a more focused California Series featuring a narrower varietal
selection. In addition, the California Series will carry an updated, vivid new label
and medallion. The new label introduces a re-design of the familiar medallion and
typeface, including the iconic “E” recognized everywhere by fans of Echelon wines.
Colorful 12-bottle shippers for the California Series will add an eye-catching graphic
element to any case stack display, clearly differentiating varietals.
While grape sourcing for Echelon Vineyards changed under various ownership over
the years, today the wines return to their California roots. Bringing over 30 years
of experience from across the state’s wine growing regions, Winemaker Kurt Lorenzi
has significantly expanded grape sourcing, to include the renowned Napa Valley,
Russian River Valley, and Alexander Valley appellations. “Our long-term relationships
with trusted growers throughout the state provides an extraordinary opportunity
to “pick and choose” from select regional characteristics unique to each growing
site, allowing us to create contemporary wines of consistent taste, quality, and
value.” says Lorenzi.
Echelon Vineyards California Series Much like a painter uses a
palette full of colors to assemble a single image; Lorenzi taps a multitude of renowned
winegrowing regions within California to craft each of the Echelon Vineyards California
Series wines. Grapes from the cool, coastal valleys are selected for their concentration
and structure, while grapes from the warm, interior valleys lend richness and suppleness.
Sourcing grapes from an array of regions throughout California allows Echelon Vineyards
to deliver high-quality, fruit-intense wines with remarkable varietal flavor and
bright, lively expression vintage after vintage. The California Series wines feature
only the best-selling and fastest growing varietals, including a new red blend,
one of the hottest wine categories in the U.S. with over 40 percent sales growth.*
All have an appealing freshness that’s just right for any day and every occasion.
- Echelon Vineyards California Series Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio (SRP $12.99 btl.)
- Echelon Vineyards California Series Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon & Red Blend (SRP
$13.99 btl.)
Echelon Vineyards Collection Series The brand new, limited-production
tier of wines entering markets this month is the Echelon Vineyards Collection Series,
which celebrates California’s most prestigious winegrowing appellations. Each wine
in the series features grapes sourced from areas expressing a distinctive, regional
expression of specific varietal character: Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon,
Napa Valley Chardonnay, and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Sophisticated and elegant,
the Collection Series wines provide rich fruit flavor, perfect balance, and complexity—appreciated
at dinner parties and special gatherings, or as a well-deserved reward at the end
of a workday.
- Echelon Vineyards Collection Series Napa Valley Chardonnay (SRP $14.99 btl., 3,865
cases produced)
- Echelon Vineyards Collection Series Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $17.99
btl., 8,002 cases produced)
- Echelon Vineyards Collection Series Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (SRP $24.99
btl., 5,978 cases produced)
The Echelon Vineyards California Series and Collection Series are in national distribution,
including: Northern & Southern California, Florida, New York, Texas and Illinois.
About Echelon Vineyards
Purchased by Winery Exchange in February 2011, Echelon Vineyards produces high quality,
great tasting wines from grapes sourced throughout California’s broad array of winegrowing
regions. The wines are offered in both the premium and super-premium categories*
and are recognized and popular with consumers who love their great regional expression,
quality and value. For more information visit the website at
www.echelonvineyards.com, like them on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/EchelonVineyards or follow on Twitter at @EchelonVineyard.
About Winery Exchange
Winery Exchange launched their national brand division in February 2011 with the
purchase of Echelon Vineyards. They are the only full-service, value added, custom
beverage alcohol company that sources beer, wine and spirits from the finest regions
worldwide.
# # #
Media Contact:
Tia Butts, Benson Marketing Group, 707-254-0465,
tbutts@bensonmarketing.com
Images available upon request.
* Source: Nielsen Premium Wine Scan. All sizes. Total U.S. over $2MM – food. TTM
to 5/28/2011.