VINELAND, Ontario, Canada: Royal DeMaria Wines 'Canada's Icewine Specialists' have begun the 2003 International Competition circuit with a prestigious win for Canada at Vinitaly 2003. With 31countries and 3,334 wines entering this elite wine competition, highly skilled judges ranked Royal DeMaria with high scores.

Royal Demaria 2000 Vidal Icewine has swept the Verona, Italy-based competition by being awarded with the Premio Speciale Vinitaly 2003 ("Great Golden Medal") by the jury of the 11th International Wine Competition for having the highest score for all Canadian wines entered. This same icewine also won what is known as the Gran Medaglia d'Oro Ex-Aequo (Grand Gold Ex-Aequo) for the best score in the category entered against all 31 countries that entered within the sweet wine category.

Winemaker/Owner Joseph DeMaria is thrilled by this personal achievement. "Although our icewines have placed at Vinitaly consistently since our first vintage in 1998, I consider these particular trophies to be a personal accomplishment. The icewine received not only the highest score within its category but it also had the highest score not just for Canadian icewines entered but for all Canadian wines entered."

In addition to the gold winnings Royal DeMaria received Honourable Mentions for both their 2000 Gewurztraminer Icewine and the 2000 Winter Harvest Merlot.

News of the winnings at Vinitaly came only days after the results at the American-based Finger Lakes International Wine Competition where Royal DeMaria earned a Double Gold Medal for their 2001 Vidal Icewine, 4 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals. This is the 3rd straight year that Royal DeMaria has won double gold medals from this competition.

Royal DeMaria Wines, which is internationally ranked as a producer of some of the world's greatest icewines, has made world wine history twice over within 3 years. Last year Royal DeMaria won 5 Citadelles du Vin gold trophies within the same category at VinExpo, France. These awards, previously known as the Civart Trophy and the Grand Prix d'Honneur, received international recognition including a request for 6 of Royal DeMaria's icewines by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth during her Jubilee Visit to Canada last Fall.

For interviews contact Charlene Stephenson at 1-888-793-8883, fax (905)562-6775 or by email at icewine@royaldemaria.com.