IRI Reports for 2005 Cite Top Performing Brands in Company's Portfolio FAIRPORT, N.Y., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to recent reports from Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), Constellation's wine and beer brands are ranked among the top performers for 2005. Constellation Brands has five top performing brands in each of the "Table Wine Top 30 Brand Performers" and the "Table Wine Top 10 New Brands" rankings, plus six beer brands in the "Top 30 Beer Brand Performers." These reports highlight both new products introduced in 2005, and existing brands that are both trendsetters and sales leaders. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040119/STZLOGO ) Of the five brands that make up half of the Table Wine Top 10 New Brands, Twin Fin, Monkey Bay, and 3 Blind Moose, captured the top three spots, respectively, followed by Four Emus and Kellys Revenge in eighth and tenth place. Collectively, these five brands accounted for nearly one-third of all wine new product development growth in U.S. Food and Drug stores according to IRI. "These results are especially gratifying as they demonstrate Constellation's ability to continue growing strong established brands while capturing a greater share of new product revenue by introducing exciting new wines that clearly resonate with the tastes and lifestyles of today's discerning consumers," stated Rob Sands, Constellation Brands president and chief operating officer. In the "Top 30 Brand Performer" listing, all five of the company's top performers come from Constellation's California wineries. Robert Mondavi Private Selection and Ravenswood Vintners Blend, both part of Centerra Wine Company (formerly Canandaigua Wine Company), took ninth and twelfth place respectively, while Blackstone, Estancia, and Black Box Wines made the list at number 14, 15, and 23, respectively. The accolades for Constellation are not limited to wine. Another IRI report, "Top 30 Beer Brand Performers in 2005" places Corona Extra, brewed by Grupo Modelo in Mexico and marketed in 25 primarily western U.S. states by Constellation's beer and spirits company, Barton, Inc., at No. 1 in growth among beers. Other leading beer brands distributed by Barton that made the top thirty are Corona Light, Negro Modelo, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, and St. Pauli Girl, placing Constellation Brands amongst the strongest performers in the beer industry. In a highly competitive market where numerous domestic beer brands have seen a significant decline in sales, Constellation continues to see strong growth for all brands in its imported beer portfolio. By partnering with Grupo Modelo to develop and market successful promotions and packaging, such as the best-selling Corona 24-pack, Constellation Brands expands the brand's marketplace presence. "This is exciting news for Constellation Brands and the many employees around the world who produce, market, and sell a vast array of high quality, winning brands, and we are proud to have so many of these recognized as top sellers and examples of brand innovation," said Sands. "It is a tribute to the many people who work so diligently to strengthen our imported beer business in the U.S. market and build our wine brands worldwide." About Constellation Constellation Brands, Inc. is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands with a broad portfolio across the wine, spirits and imported beer categories. Well-known brands in Constellation's portfolio include: Almaden, Arbor Mist, Vendange, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Hardys, Nobilo, Alice White, Ruffino, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Blackstone, Ravenswood, Estancia, Franciscan Oakville Estate, Simi, Robert Mondavi Winery brands and Opus One, Stowells, Blackthorn, Black Velvet, Mr. Boston, Fleischmann's, Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy, Chi-Chi's, 99 Schnapps, Ridgemont Reserve 1792, Effen Vodka, Corona Extra, Corona Light, Pacifico, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, St. Pauli Girl, Tsingtao. For additional information about Constellation Brands, as well as its product portfolio, visit the company's Web site at http://www.cbrands.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040119/STZLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Constellation Brands, Inc. CONTACT: Media Relations - Mike Martin, +1-585-218-3669, or Kevin Harwood, +1-585-218-3666, or Investor Relations - Lisa Schnorr, +1-585-218-3677, or Bob Czudak, +1-585-218-3668, all for Constellation Brands, Inc. Web site: http://www.cbrands.com/

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