Jason Priestly + Black Hills Winery (Winemakers)

JASON PRIESTLY JOINS BLACK HILLS ESTATE WINERY OWNERSHIP GROUP
(Directly from the press release.)

Oliver, B.C. -- Vinequest Wine Partners, a limited partnership investment group that will be acquiring Black Hills Estate Winery, announced today the addition of BC-born Hollywood actor Jason Priestley to its board of directors. Priestley has made a significant investment into the ownership group and brings his extensive passion and knowledge of wine to the team.

As an actor, Jason Priestley has starred in numerous movies and television shows, and is best known playing the role of Brandon Walsh in the hit television series “Beverley Hills 90210�. As a producer and director Priestly has been involved in several film and television productions, including directing a video for Canadian pop stars The Barenaked Ladies. One of his favorite roles is as the current co-host on “Hollywood & Vines� along with fellow Canadian Terry David Mulligan. The show is broadcast on the Star TV network, and follows the hosts as they visit wineries and restaurants in different wine regions around the world. As a result of those travels, Priestly has developed a deep appreciation of wine, a personal wine collection of over 3,000 bottles in his own cellar – and a love of the wines coming from BC’s Okanagan Valley.

“I have traveled to many great wine regions around the world, and I am extremely impressed with the quality of wines emerging from the Okanagan Valley. Without a doubt my favorite wine from Canada is the Nota Bene from Black Hills Estate Winery. Now, with my involvement in the Black Hills ownership group, I am able to deepen my connections to this exceptional winery as well as keep my roots involved in my native province of BC.�

“We are thrilled to have Jason involved with our acquisition of Black Hills Estate Winery,� said Glenn Fawcett, president of Vinequest Wine Partners (www.vinequest.com). “Firstly, his extensive knowledge of wine and his connections in the wine industry are going to be a valuable resource to us. Secondly, his celebrity profile will create great exposure for both Black Hills Estate Winery and the entire Okanagan Valley. He will be the first celebrity to be financially backing a winery in the Okanagan.�

Fawcett says celebrities’ ownership of and collaboration with wineries is creating international buzz for those wineries and for those wine regions. “In Napa Valley, we have seen winery ownership with celebrities such as Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Vince Neil (Motley Crue) and race car driver Mario Andretti. In the Niagara Region we have Dan Ackroyd, Wayne Gretzky and Mike Weir behind winery operations. In Australia, Greg Norman and Olivia Newton-John own successful wineries. In Europe we have wineries owned by Sting in Tuscany, Sir Cliff Richard in Portugal and Gerard Depardieu in France. The Black Hills ownership group is proud to help bring further attention to the beautiful Okanagan Valley and its emerging wine scene through the involvement of Jason Priestley with Black Hills Estate Winery.�

About Black Hills Estate Winery:
Black Hills  has established itself as one of the most successful cult wineries in British Columbia with their flagship Nota Bene, Alibi and Sequentia brands. Their top-quality wines are crafted from grapes grown on their Black Sage Road vineyard, regarded as one of the finest in Canada. This premium terroir is ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot varieties, and Black Hills wines made from these grapes have consistently garnered critical acclaim from consumers, the restaurant trade and wine writers. Over the last six years each of the Black Hill wine releases has sold out within weeks.

About the Vinequest Wine Partners Limited Partnership
The Vinequest Wine Partners Limited Partnership Ltd. was established to acquire the assets and operating business of Black Hills Estate Winery (Black Hills). The current owners of Black Hills have entered into an agreement to sell the entire operation to the partnership. The partnership will be purchasing a turn-key operation with exceptional wine inventory and key operation team in place. The partnership feels that from this current operation base there is tremendous growth opportunity for the business, and that the value of the business can be increased significantly. The objective of the partnership is to give investors attractive returns from participating in this growth, while enjoying the excitement and perks of the wine industry.