Hawesko: Exclusive distribution for Beringer Vineyards

(March 14, 2006)

Hamburg, 14 March 2006. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) announced today that its subsidiary Wein Wolf Import GmbH & Co. Vertriebs KG  has been granted the distribution rights for the wines of Beringer Vineyards in Germany. The collaboration with the renowned producer, who is based in Napa Valley, California, will commence on 1 April 2006. The agreement covers a current volume of approximately 70,000 bottles.
 
Hawesko CEO Alexander Margaritoff stated, "Beringer Vineyards produces some of the best wine Napa Valley has to offer. Their wines are a welcome addition to our range of foreign products. We are very proud to have the exclusive distribution rights, and look forward to the collaboration."
 
Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating vineyard in Napa Valley, and produces a broad range of premium wines. Under the direction of Ed Sbragia, one of the most renowned Californian winemakers, the Beringer label is a guarantee of outstanding quality. The vineyard is famous for its chardonnays, cabernet sauvignons and merlots. Its products have twice been granted the accolade "Wine of the Year" by the trade journal Wine Spectator.
 
Hawesko Holding AG is the leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2005 the Group achieved sales of Euro 287 million through their three sales channels - specialist wine retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot), wholesale (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein Distributionsgesellschaft) and mail order (in particular Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor). The Group employs 565 people.
 
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More information about Beringer Wines is available at http://www.beringerwineestates.com/wineries/beringer.html;
about Wein Wolf Import GmbH & Co. Vertriebs KG at http://www.weinwolf.de.

Publisher: 
Hawesko Holding AG
Postfach 20 15 52    
20205 Hamburg, Germany
Internet: 
http://www.hawesko.com
(Company information)
http://www.hawesko.de   
(Online shop)
http://www.jacques-wein-depot.de
(Information about Jacques' Wein-Depot)
 
Press/Media:     
Vera Maria Bau, VMB Consulting   
Phone:  +49 (0)228 4496 240    
Fax     +49 (0)228 4496 298     
E-mail: vmb.pr@t-online.de 
 
Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson, Hawesko Holding AG
Phone:  +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax     +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko.com