Hamburg, 10 January 2005. The wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAWG.DE, HAW GR, DE0006042708) announced today that its subsidiary Wein Wolf has received rights for the exclusive distribution of the wines from Taylor's Port. The cooperation with the highly renowned Port-wine producer will begin from 1 February 2005. The yearly volume will encompass approximately 3,000 cases and represents sales of about one-half million euros.

 

Hawesko CEO Alexander Margaritoff: "Taylor's Port is considered by experts to be the unquestioned number 1 among premium Port wines. The marketing of these excellent wines requires a high degree of knowledge and understanding of the product. Wein Wolf has these - and demonstrates once again the value of the Hawesko Group's special expertise. We feel honoured that Taylor's Port has entrusted us with this task."

 

Since its founding in 1692, Taylor's Port has been an independent company. It is fully dedicated to the production of the finest Port wines. Their quality is reflected, among other ways, in the premiums paid for them again and again at wine auctions and in the praise of wine critics, for example from Robert Parker, who has given several vintages of these Port wines his highest rating of 100 points.

 

Hawesko Holding AG is the leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes in Germany. In fiscal year 2003 it achieved sales of € 279 million through its three distribution channels - mail order/e-commerce (particularly Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor), specialist wine-shop retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot) and wholesale (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner & Wein Distributionsgesellschaft) - and employed about 550 staff members.

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Further information about Taylor's Port can be called up under http://www.taylor.pt/.