OTTAWA, Canada, October 19, 2004.

Krimsekt Brut sparkling wine (vintage 1998), from Ukraine, has just won the Gold Medal in the International Wine Competition for the Ottawa Wine and Food Show. Krimsekt White Brut was judged to be the best sparkling wine by a panel of 30 experienced wine judges chaired by Michael Botner, a well-known wine writer and critic for Wine Access magazine. The sparkling wine category encompasses bubblies from all countries and regions of the world (apart from the Champagne region of France).

The competition took place on Saturday, October 9 in Ottawa, the national capital of Canada. The award-winning wines, including Krimsekt, will be available for tasting at the Ottawa Wine and Food Show (November 5, 6 and 7, 2004, at the Ottawa Congress Centre). The Ottawa Food and Wine show is considered within the industry to be among the most prestigious in Canada.

John Vellinga CEO of Multiculture Bevco (Krimsekt?s Canadian distributor), was extremely pleased, but not completely surprised with the result. ?It is our mission to bring the best of Ukraine to the rest of the world?, said Vellinga. ?Krimsekt is, by far, the best bubbly from the region, and one of the finest in the world. This award reinforces our own opinions and experience with this great product?.

Krimsekt sparkling wines are made in the champagne method. They are double fermented for three years to create natural carbonation, hand riddled and crafted with the same meticulous techniques as the great champagne houses of France.

The Krimsekt winery was founded 54 years ago and is one of the only wineries in the world located entirely underground: in a vast 25 hectare complex of deep caves and cellars which was once a gypsum mine. Just like the chalk caves of Champagne, these deep caverns keep temperature and humidity perfect for producing and cellaring champagne-method wines year-round.

?Ukrainian-Canadians should be proud that a product of such caliber hails from their homeland?, adds Victor Koszarny, National Sales Director for the company and a Ukrainian-Canadian himself. ?We have been assembling a suite of products from Ukraine in cooperation with the LCBO, which are among the very best in the world. Our beers have been extremely popular, our vodkas have received rave advance reviews and it is deeply satisfying that Krimsekt is now getting the recognition that it deserves?.

German-Canadians are another group of that are excited to have Krimsekt available. Germany is the number one export market for Krimsekt and millions of bottles are consumed by Germans every year. Many German-Canadians remember Krimsekt from their visits or when they lived in Germany.

?German-Canadians have been ringing our phones of the hook?, said Oliver Dawson, Marketing Consultant for the company and a Canadian of German descent. ?They are among the few North Americans that understand the superb quality of Krimsekt and call us up delighted to find that they can now get it in Canada. In fact, the wine?s popularity among Germans explains its name. ?Krim? meaning ?Crimean? and ?sekt? meaning ?sparkling wine?, in German?.

Krimsekt is available as a regular listing at select SLGA stores in Saskatchewan, at finer liquor stores in Alberta. ?We knew that we had a real winner on our hands when the SLGA listed the product and when such fine wine stores as Willow Park and Eau Claire (in Alberta) chose to sell Krimsekt?, boasts Vellinga.

Krimsekt is not yet on the shelf at the LCBO, but is available in Ontario through the private ordering program. ?We hope to get Krimsekt listed at the LCBO, but in the meantime, people can still get it by the case of 6 though special order. It makes a great Christmas or hostess gift, so getting six bottles at a time is a good idea?, said Koszarny. To make a private order, Ontario residents need to contact the company directly at (800) 867-5978 (ext 5). Customers can have Krimsekt delivered to an LCBO store near them. The whole process takes only two or three weeks, but is worth the wait. A web site also offers more information at www.krimsekt.ca.

Multiculture Bevco also imports other superb quality products from Ukraine including Slavutich and Lvivske beers, which are currently available at the LCBO. The company is also introducing two vodkas at the LCBO and across Canada and the US: Slava Ultra-Premium, a four-times distilled luxury vodka that is due on LCBO shelves in early December, and; Zirkova, a premium Ukrainian vodka which will be available in LCBO stores in March of 2005.

Vellinga concluded by saying, ?As with our other ?best of Ukraine? products, Krimsekt is a key part of our mission. We want everyone to experience the great things that Ukraine has to offer and Krimsekt is obviously one of them?.