Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 15, 2004

Media contact:
Patricia Burns
Thompson Lloyd Communications
tel: 250 860 0907
E-mail

(KELOWNA, BC) - The recently-announced Canadian Wine Awards recognized Kelowna Land & Orchard's Raven Ridge Cidery with two medals in the Sweet Fruit Wines category. The 2003 Ambrosia Iced Apple Cider was awarded a silver medal and the 2002 Fuji Iced Apple Cider was awarded a bronze medal. Raven Ridge Cidery was the only tree fruit winery from BC to medal in this year’s competition

The awards program is open to all domestically produced wines that are certified 100 per cent Canadian grown, fermented and bottled. A record 716 table and fruit wines from 97 wineries in five different provinces were entered in this year's competition, representing a substantial increase from 2003 when 533 wines were entered from 82 wineries. "This was the largest, most important Canadian Wine Awards judging to date with a record number of wines entered," said David Lawrason, editor-in-chief, Wine Access Magazine.

"One of the judges was quite taken with all of the Raven Ridge products," says Lawrason. "The Ambrosia was particularly highly regarded on a consistent basis."

All of the wines were tasted blind in late August at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise by an eleven-member panel of independent Canadian wine journalists and educators, with a total of five judges in the Sweet Fruit Wines category. The Canadian Wine Awards introduced the Sweet Wine category in 2003, when Raven Ridge's Fuji Iced Apple Cider won the silver medal.

“We are thrilled with the awards,” says Nicole Bullock, Raven Ridge Cidery’s general manager. “We were sure that we had a good product, and the Canadian Wine Awards judges concur. We’ve been making cider for two years, and for two years have reached medal standing. What else could we hope for? We are particularly pleased that the Ambrosia Iced Cider garnered the silver medal, since it was brand new for us this year.”

Raven Ridge products join several Okanagan wineries at the Canadian Wine Awards, including Jackson Triggs Okanagan being named the Winery of the Year, with a very impressive second place going to Quails' Gate Winery. A complete list of winners is available online at www.wineaccess.ca, with a more detailed list, including tasting notes, in the December 2004 issue of Wine Access magazine.

Raven Ridge iced apple ciders, which are made in a similar manner to traditional ice wines, sell for $29.95 for a 375 ml or $19.95 for a 200 ml bottle. Also available is Raven Ridge True Sparkling Cider, made in the traditional methode champagnois, which retails for $19.95 for a 750 ml bottle. A tasting room is located at the orchard where guests are able to sample and purchase products, and they're also featured at and McCullough Station Cold Beer and Wine Shop in Kelowna. In the Lower Mainland, Raven Ridge Cidery products are available at The Broadway International Wine Shop in Vancouver and the John B Cold Beer & Wine Shop in Coquitlam. Raven Ridge Cider can also be ordered online.

For more information on Raven Ridge Cidery, or Kelowna Land & Orchard, please visit K-L-O.com or call 250 763 1091.

-- END --

Photo attachment (lo-res): Raven Ridge Cider received a silver medal for the Ambrosia Iced Apple Cider and a bronze for the 2002 Fuji Iced Apple Cider at the recent Canadian Wine Awards. High resolution image available upon request.

Archived Press Releases:
TRUE SPARKLING CIDER DEBUTS WITH A SPLASH

KLO celebrates 100 Years with a Weekend Celebration

RAVEN RIDGE TAKES A UNIQUE TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN TO VANCOUVER