PRESS RELEASE

Wine Retailers and Their Customers Can Now Be Winemakers

Crushpad's Retail | Direct Levels the Direct-To-Consumer Playing Field

SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2006 -- Crushpad today announced the launch of Retail | Direct, a ground-breaking program that enables wine retailers and their customers to make their own world class wine – from grape to bottle. Wine retailers, wine bars and restaurants across the country can now offer their best customers a membership to their Winemakers Club and participate in every step of the winemaking process. All wines are made at Crushpad,

San Francisco's do-it-yourself winery, and customers can participate physically or virtually over the internet.

The retail wine industry is undergoing its biggest transformation ever. "Big box" retailers have driven down margins; wine publications and the internet are the go-to source of objective information; and now direct-to-consumer shipping bypasses retailers altogether. To combat this trend, many wine retailers are looking for unique experiences to offer their customers. Retail | Direct provides the ultimate wine enthusiast experience and tightens the long term retailer-customer relationship with a one of a kind, fun offering that that provides excellent value for both consumers and retailers.

Retail | Direct is the latest in Crushpad's line of consumer-centric wine products. With 15,000 cases made in the first two years, Crushpad is the fastest growing ultra-premium winery in the today and the only winery exclusively focused on single-barrel (25 case) winemaking. Retail | Direct extends this offering to the individual case level by partnering with wine retailers who use their knowledge of their local customer base to create targeted wines and experiences.

One of first Retail | Direct projects is with VinoVenue, the innovative San Francisco wine tasting bar and retailer. "VinoVenue is about providing an overall wine experience," said Mary Lynn Slattery, VinoVenue CEO. "Our unique self-dispensing tasting system allows customers to discover, taste and compare wines from around the world. Working with Crushpad will further enhance our customers' experience by offering them an affordable opportunity to be winemakers. We can now bring the vineyards of the world to customers in wines they can taste and wines they can make."

How Retail | Direct Works

Retailers sign up to make wine from any of Crushpad's 25 vineyards
Retailer sells custom wine futures to Winemakers Club members
Retailer and/or any customer can be involved during harvest
Retailer and customers receive periodic "barrel samples" and blending kits
Retailer can cross-sell similar wines and host related events
Retailer designs packaging with Crushpad designers
Retailer receives and distributes wine to Winemakers Club members

About Crushpad