(Old Brookville, NY – August 2005) A new casual adult sparkling beverage called Ciao! will soon be arriving in the U.S. with succinct serving instructions: “Simply Chill and then. . . Chill!”

Packaged in sleek, stylized crown-capped 750ml bottles, Ciao! offers both a white and a rose wine fashioned for today’s lifestyle. The white Prosecco is crisp and dry with hints of citrus. The rose is coral pink with tart berry flavors.

Ciao! comes from the Veneto winemaker Maschio, one of Italy’s oldest producers of Prosecco, with a reputation for high quality and consistency. They show great respect for traditional winemaking methods but also exhibit a forward-looking flare. The wine will be imported into the US by leading wine importer Banfi Vintners.

Ciao! ’s highly interactive website, SayCiao.com, offers visitors a virtual “taste” of the beverage and reflects the wine’s casual and fun style. “Ciao! is for everyday celebrating and celebrating every day.” says Ciao! ’s marketing director Charles Dellavecchia. “The website tries to capture the wine’s unique personality and reflect its many moods.”

When Banfi Vintners first attempted to trademark the name, they found that it had already been registered decades ago by the owners of the now defunct Mediterranean Imports, Peter Tempesta Sr. and Aldo di Belardino. Ironically, di Belardino’s son Filippo is currently Banfi's Vice President of Fine Wines.

“My Dad and uncle trademarked the name ‘Ciao!’ in the late 1960s when America was just beginning its love affair with all things Italian,” said Mr. di Belardino. “He thought this simple greeting, used for saying both hello and goodbye in Italian, captured the convivial spirit of Italian hospitality and way of life. They would be very pleased to know that, after so many years, the name has found its perfect match.”

Ciao! will be launched in 5 US markets (Charlotte, Louisville/Newport, Atlanta, Buffalo, Corpus Christi/San Antonio) and branch out nationally by the end of 2006. Both Ciao! wines will retail for $10.99 to $12.99

Banfi Vintners is the leading wine importer in the US. Founded by John Mariani, Sr. in 1919 and run today by his children and grandchildren, the privately held company has earned a stellar reputation for developing its tight, closely run portfolio of wines into category leaders.