SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 30, 2007 – Darien Estate Vineyards (the "Company"), a premium estate vineyard located in Sonoma’s famed Russian River Valley appellation, has been purchased by the Far Niente Winery of Oakville. Darien Vineyards is a 25.5-acre premium vineyard planted mostly to Pinot Noir, but also grows Syrah and Chardonnay. Nickel & Nickel, Far Niente’s single-vineyard label, has used the Syrah for several years in their vineyard designated wine program and plans to use the Pinot Noir to expand its emerging Russian River Valley label. Demeter Group, a boutique investment bank specializing in the wine industry, advised the Company in the transaction.

The Company’s grapes have been used by several high-end wineries, including Paul Hobbs, Kosta Brown, Siduri and Nickel & Nickel, to produce award-winning vineyard designated wines under the Amber Ridge Vineyard and Darien Vineyard names. Grapes from the 2003 and 2004 vintages were used in nine different wines that each scored over 90 points in the Wine Spectator.

"Demeter Group was a perfect fit to leverage our vineyard’s established brand as a unique opportunity for a luxury winery given their intimate knowledge of luxury brands and extensive network and relationships with key individuals in the wine industry" remarked Frank Darien, vineyard proprietor.

"While advising Darien Vineyards, we were able to use our experience working with luxury brands and our own resources within the wine sector to successfully advise on a deal that called for capability in both," said Jeff Menashe, CEO of Demeter Group.

For Nickel & Nickel, the acquisition firmly secures a luxury Pinot Noir grape source to fuel growing demand for its Russian River Valley wine program. "This purchase reaffirms our commitment to investing in the highest quality vineyard properties to fulfil our goal of producing outstanding single-vineyard wines," stated Nickel & Nickel partner, Erik Nickel."