Covey Run Unveils the Semillon Ice Wine Cocktail: a Cool Take on a Hot Drink

Covey Run announces the Grand Prize Winner of the Covey Run "Endless Possibilities” Semillon Ice Wine Recipe Contest. New York chef Jennifer Wayland won with her recipe combining Covey Run Reserve Semillon Ice Wine, club soda, and fresh ginger and vanilla bean syrup -- garnished with a slice of lotus root. "Wine cocktails are taking the world of hip wine aficionados by storm,” says Irene Castillero, brand manager for Covey Run. "Jennifer’s drink captures all of that excitement in a glass.” The contest was a national search for the top dessert or cocktail recipe with Covey Run Reserve Semillon Ice Wine as its key ingredient. Jennifer Wayland, sous chef and pastry chef at Roxiticus in New York, will receive a 5-day trip for two to the 11th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Orlando, Florida, taking place from September 29 – November 12, 2006. Five additional first-place winners will receive a $250 gift certificate to Riedel or Spiegelau Glass. "Wine cocktails are getting more and more popular,” says Wayland. "The floral flavor and sweetness of this drink combined with club soda showcases the flavor of the Ice Wine. It is a great way to introduce people who normally drink cocktails to the world of wine.” With the rise in popularity of the wine cocktail, the goal of this contest is to get wine trade involved in this new trend. "Covey Run is out in front of the wine cocktail trend,” says Castillero. "It’s all part of the launch of the Covey Run trademarked drink called the Ice-tini.” The "Endless Possibilities” ice wine recipe contest coincides with Covey Run’s introduction of the trademark drink called the Ice-tini. Made from equal parts Covey Run Reserve Semillon Ice Wine and top-shelf vodka, the Ice-tini combines the ingredients of the traditional martini with the sweetness of Covey Run Reserve Semillon Ice Wine. "The Ice-tini is a hit with the increasing number of consumers who seek an innovative bar drink,” says Castillero. "A new take on a storied cocktail, the Ice-tini adds a stylish new edge to the classic romance of the martini.” Covey Run’s Reserve wines are an expression of winemaker Kerry Norton’s passion for Washington State wines. Handcrafted from the best grapes from Washington’s famed Columbia and Yakima valleys, these limited production wines are rich and elegant with great intensity and flavor. Covey Run is made by Centerra Wine Company, the popular-priced and premium wine producer of Constellation Wines U.S., which is part of Constellation Wines, the world’s largest wine business, an operating division of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ and STZ.B) ("CBI"). Constellation Wines U.S. encompasses four of CBI's U.S. wine businesses: Icon Estates, Centerra Wine Company, Pacific Wine Partners, and North Lake Wines. Leading brands include Alice White, Arbor Mist, Cook’s, Inglenook, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Talus Collection, Turner, Road, Vendange, and Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi.