Marriott International Gold For Kim Crawford

Marriott International Gold For Kim Crawford

Marriott International Inc have selected Kim Crawford Wines for their Gold Standard Wine Portfolio. Kim Crawford Pinot Noir, Dry Riesling, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Pansy Rose are now available in three hundred and eight Marriott hotels and resort properties across North America.

Erica Crawford of Kim Crawford Wines said, "I'm thrilled, this is a very big win. Marriott International purchase over 400,000 cases of wine annually, and being selected is a huge boost for a small NZ wine maker like us. On the Marriott Gold Standard beverage programme, our wines will now be served, by the glass, in three hundred and eight Marriott properties. "

The four Kim Crawford wines were chosen from over 650 wines, all tasted blind over two weeks and Erica Crawford is particularly pleased with the wine styles chosen. She said “We’re used to international attention for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but Marriott’s selection of our Riesling and Marlborough Pinot Noir is a great vote of confidence in the wines that we, like a number of kiwi wineries have really pinned our future on. The NZ industry knows we need to grow and sell more than just savvy and this success is so encouraging, it proves that we can find a global market with New Zealand Pinot Noir and Riesling too.”

Brian Yost, Vice President Restaurants and Beverage sees a growing future for emerging NZ wine styles he said “We are seeing a rise in the popularity of aromatic and rose wines.” Singling out Pansy! As a perfect partner for popular, but hard to match meals. “New items like Kim Crawford Pansy Rose, beautifully complement highly seasoned foods well, such as Asian Cuisines.”

Marriott’s Senior Vice President, Food and Beverage Retail and Spas, Robin Uler also believes the wines are the best available saying “We feel our wine portfolio truly represents the best wines in their categories.”

Erica Crawford believes that the Marriott selection is a top class endorsement, she says "Marriott properties are a superb place to be served and will see our wines offered some of North America's finest food by top class hospitality professionals. It tops a off a tremendous year for us in North America.”

Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was this year the only New Zealand wine to be selected by influential US wine magazine, Wine Spectator, for it's Top 100 Wines of The World.

ENDS

Marriott International Inc Corporate Profile

Marriott International, Inc. is a leading worldwide hospitality company with more than 2,600 lodging properties, totaling over 480,000 rooms, including nearly 9,670 vacation ownership villas, in the USA and 65 other countries and territories. The company headquartered in Washington, D.C. has approx 133,000 associates. In fiscal year 2004, the company reported sales from continuing operations of $10 billion. Marriott is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work by FORTUNE®. For more information, please visit www.marriott.com

The company’s portfolio of brands includes: Marriott Hotels and Resorts (full-service, 490 hotels including 16 conference centers and 34 JW Marriott Hotels); Ritz-Carlton (luxury, 57 hotels); Bulgari Hotel and Resorts (luxury, 1 hotel) (Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites (quality, 133 hotels); Courtyard (upper-moderate, 656 hotels); Residence Inn (extended-stay, 463 inns); Fairfield Inn (lower-moderate, 523 inns); SpringHill Suites (upper-moderate all-suite, 125 hotels); TownePlace Suites (mid-price extended-stay, 115 hotels); Marriott Vacation Club International, The Ritz-Carlton Club, Horizons and Marriott Grand Residence Club (vacation ownership resorts, 51 resorts); and Marriott Executive Apartments (upscale serviced apartments, 14 properties). In addition, the Marriott ExecuStay brand provides furnished apartment units in 40 major markets, and Marriott Golf manages 49 golf courses at 39 facilities around the world.

Note: Statistics are as of Dec.31, 2004.

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