Think Pink: Ayala Rose Champagne For Valentine's Day

HWPR
Harriet Weintraub
hweintraub@hwpr.com
Stuart Cohen
scohen@hwpr.com
(212) 935-1558

THINK PINK FOR VALENTINE'S DAY:
HOT MANHATTAN MIXOLOGIST CREATES SIGNATURE COCKTAIL WITH
AYALA ROSE CHAMPAGNE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New York, NY (January 26, 2009) - Just in time for Valentine's Day, hot young mixologist Kevin Felker of New York's SoHo Grand Hotel has devised a new twist on the Kir Royale featuring AYALA Ros� Majeur, an elegant ros� champagne for those who love a classic dry champagne taste with a naturally low sugar content.
Felker's delicious concoction is called the "Majeur Crush" (English translation: major crush!) and features an unusual combination of strawberries macerated in Martinique rum for a modern take on the traditionally sweet Kir Royale. The subtly of strawberries soaked in rum enhances the flavor of AYALA Ros� Majeur champagne while maintaining its crisp dry integrity. Felker, an expert mixologist, is the Beverage Director for the SoHo Grand Hotel in New York City. The Majeur Crush will debut on Valentine's Day at the bar at the SoHo Grand Hotel.
To recreate the Majeur Crush:
� Warm Clemente VSOP rum from Martinique with an equal amount of sugar until it dissolves. Let cool.
� Macerate quartered strawberries in the rum solution for at least 48 hours.
� Add a few strawberries with one teaspoon syrup to a champagne flute and top with AYALA Ros� Majeur champagne.

AYALA Ros� Majeur, and the complete portfolio of AYALA champagnes are revered by connoisseurs for their elegance and well-balanced delicate bubbles. Among the marque's many accolades, esteemed champagne writer Ed McCarthy recently awarded AYALA as the Wine Producer of the Year 2008 and Brut Majeur Ros� Wine of the Year on Wine Review Online.com.

In addition to the SoHo Grand, champagnes AYALA are featured at such exceptional restaurants and hotels in New York City as The Four Seasons, La Grenouille, Daniel, Adour Alain Ducasse, Benoit, Aureole, Gordon Ramsay at the London, The Champagne Bar at The Plaza, and The Carlyle and The Bubble Lounge in San Francisco. Champagne Ayala can also be purchased in New York at retailers including Zachy's, Garnet Wines & Liquors, Columbus Circle Wine, The Chelsea Wine Vault, and Wines by Morrell in East Hampton with distribution expanding to retailers and restaurants in Massachusetts, Florida, and Virginia. AYALA can currently be ordered throughout the United States from www.bottlenotes.com.

ABOUT CHAMPAGNE AYALA
Champagne AYALA was founded in 1860 and is one of the oldest and most acclaimed champagne houses. Owned by Bollinger since 2005 and imported to the United States by Cognac One LLC, AYALA was introduced to the United States market in spring 2008. The House of Ayala, established by Edmond de Ayala, the son of a Colombian diplomat, was one of the elite founding members of the syndicate of the top French champagne houses, the Syndicat des Grandes Marques de Champagne.

For more information, visit www.thepurestchampagne.com