White Plains, NY – February 10, 2009 – W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd., (Deutsch), a leading wine importer and marketer of award-winning wines from around the world including [yellow tail], Georges Duboeuf, and Ascentia Wine Estates, announced today that they have partnered with leading Spanish drinks producer Diego Zamora to become the U.S. co-owner and exclusive importer of Diego Zamora’s award-winning fine wine portfolio of brands, including Mar De Frades (Rias Baixas), Cruz de Alba (Ribera del Duero), Ramón Bilbao Vinos Y Vinedos (Rioja), and Volteo (Castilla).

Renowned for identifying and capitalizing on consumer-led market opportunities, Deutsch sees untapped potential in the Spanish wine category. U.S. consumers are drinking more Spanish wine, which is consistently outperforming total wine market growth and domestic and imports categories, growing at 3% in case volume and 8.2% in dollar volume.  However, the leading Spanish brand only has a 10% market share. “We see a great opportunity to use our brand-building expertise to maximize the potential for Spanish wine sales in the U.S. market,” explains CEO Peter Deutsch, “and Diego Zamora is the perfect partner for this venture because Zamora offers a portfolio of premium quality, excellent value wines from all of the most prestigious Spanish  DO’s. Zamora also understands the value of a true partnership, in which we take an equity position in the Zamora brands distributed in the United States, providing Zamora, Deutsch and our distributor partners the assurance of brand stability and long term growth.” With four very different brands, ranging from the $9.99 contemporary Volteo range up to the exclusive $69.99 Mirto, Deutsch will now represent the ideal Spanish offering for each of their end-customers, from the volume-driven chain sector to the white table cloth restaurants and fine wine shops.

Emilio Restoy Cabrera, Managing Director of Diego Zamora, comments: “As a leading wine and spirit producer and distributor in Spain, and a company with 40 years of success selling in the global market, we knew what we were looking for in a U.S. business partner. W.J. Deutsch’s strong relationship with their distributor partners throughout the country, coupled with their unprecedented brand-building ability, made them the perfect choice. Together we are looking forward to building our brands to become the best-selling Spanish wines in the U.S.”

The Diego Zamora Range:

Ramon Bilbao Vinos Y Vinedos (Rioja): a range of traditional Rioja wines – Crianza ($12.99), Reserva ($19.99) and Gran Reserva ($29.99), as well as the Edición Limitada ($16.99) which takes a more modern approach to the Rioja style, and their flagship Mirto ($69.99). 

Volteo (Castilla): A contemporary, continuous “Best Buy” winning $9.99 range of Tempranillo, Tempranillo-Cabernet, Tempranillo-Shiraz, Viura-Sauvignon Blanc, and Garnacha Rose, available in 750ml and 1.5L.

Cruz de Alba (Ribera del Duero): A modern, estate-made $24.99 Crianza from Spain’s celebrated Ribera del Duero region.

Mar De Frades (Rias Baixas): One of the highest rated Albariños from Spain ($24.99), from the Salnes Valley where the D.O. originated.