WineStyles Surpasses 100 Franchises In Under 18 Months

Establishes Company as Largest Franchisor of Wine Stores in the U.S.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (March 28, 2006) -- WineStyles, a national franchise demystifying the wine shopping experience, announced today it has sold its 102nd franchise, eclipsing the 100 franchise milestone less than 18 months since its inception in November 2004. WineStyles organizes its wine by color and style, instead of by varietals and region, simplifying the wine buying experience for consumers. Furthermore, most of its wines are priced at or below $25 per bottle. Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, WineStyles currently has 47 stores open in 16 states across the country.

Designed to transport customers into an old-world wine cellar, WineStyles is a unique concept that allows customers to choose wines based on their individual style preferences such as crisp, silky, rich and bubbly or fruity, mellow, bold and nectar. Picked by wine lovers, each WineStyles store features up to 150 world-class wines from unique labels, many exclusive to WineStyles, and hard-to-find wines from small and large vineyards around the world.

"Our growth and success is in response to consumers who are tired of being intimidated by the overwhelming selection of wine in typical liquor stores," said Brigitte Baker, founder, WineStyles, Inc. "We believe a great wine is defined by its taste, not its label, price point or region."

A former fashion model, Brigitte created the WineStyles concept after a backyard barbeque with friends one afternoon in California. Each guest brought a bottle of wine, but which wine to drink became the topic of conversation. Some thought the most expensive bottle would be the best, while others were convinced by the design of a label. After blind tasting all the wines, it became apparent the popular wines were not necessarily the most expensive or best marketed, but the ones that simply tasted the best. As a result, Brigitte woke up the next morning and wrote the business plan.

The business plan was for Bacchus, which eventually turned into WineStyles. She worked feverishly to create the first Bacchus store, which still exists today, in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Unfortunately, the day after the store opened, Brigitte was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. With help from her family, the store opened and was an incredible success. One store grew to two and within one year, a handful of Bacchus stores were in operation across the U.S.

However, Brigitte realized that if she was to truly make her concept grow she needed some help. So, in 2001 she attended an International Franchising Association Show, where she met members of her current management team and WineStyles was born. Today, Brigitte is cancer free and the mother of twin girls.

"It's hard to believe that we've sold 102 franchises in less than two years. It's a testament to everyone at WineStyles, especially our franchisees who believed in our concept and made it come to life," said Baker. "Thanks to them, we've successfully democratized wine. Now, selecting a bottle of wine is as simple as finding your style."

At WineStyles, each wine category is showcased in uniquely designed alcoves merchandised by style and accompanied by a description listing the wine's characteristics, flavors and suggested food pairings. Moreover, WineStyles employees are always available to answer any questions to customize each individual's wine shopping experience.

WineStyles also sells a variety of accessories including customizable gift baskets and many wine-related items, several exclusive to WineStyles. Customers can also take part in the Styles Rewards program, a frequent buyer program offering one point per dollar spent.

In addition, patrons can join the WineStyles Wine Club where each month WineStyles selects two bottles of wine, which are accompanied by tasting notes and suggested food pairings. The wines can be shipped directly to the customer or held in the store for pick up, depending on local state laws. Members also receive special discounts and invitations to private tastings and special events.

WineStyles is a national franchise demystifying the wine shopping experience by organizing its wine by color and style, instead of by varietals or regions. Each store features up to 150 unique, hard-to-find wines from around the world, with most priced at or below $25 per bottle. Based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, WineStyles has 47 locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. WineStyles was named to Entrepreneur magazine's "Top 50 New Franchises" in 2006. WineStyles encourages all customers to drink wine responsibly. For more information visit www.winestyles.net.