VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, December 5, 2013 - First Growth Holdings Ltd. ("First Growth" or the "Company") (TSX-V: FGH), is pleased to announce that Donald Ziraldo has joined the Company's Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will serve to provide strategic guidance and insight to assist the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary WineOnline Marketing Company Ltd. ("WineOnline").
"As First Growth launches WineOnline from an established Ontario and Alberta business to an international online brand, we are excited and honoured to welcome Donald Ziraldo to the Advisory Board," stated Paul Guedes, President of First Growth. "Mr. Ziraldo is a pioneer in the Canadian wine industry, and created an international luxury brand with Icewine. Our team and shareholders will benefit immensely from his experience. We look forward to working very closely with Mr. Ziraldo on changing the way wine can be purchased internationally."
About Donald Ziraldo
No one has done more to turn Icewine into Canada's signature wine around the world than the founding partners of Inniskillin: Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo.
Fuelled by a passion for this exceptional wine style and a pursuit of excellence, Mr. Ziraldo became a tireless global ambassador for Icewine. Partnering with top Sommeliers, wine writers, and restaurants, he helped transform Icewine into a world-renowned luxury brand.
Mr. Ziraldo continues his impact on the Canadian wine industry to this day. He is the Founding Chairman of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), and in 2006, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Canadian Horticultural Research and Innovation Center @ Vineland by the Ministry of Agriculture.
In 1998, Mr. Ziraldo received the Order of Canada, the highest tribute paid to a Canadian citizen, as well as an honorary Doctorate of Law from Brock University. In 1999, Mr. Ziraldo was selected by the National Post Magazine as one of the top twenty-five Canadian CEO's of the century. In 2008, Mr. Ziraldo was also awarded the Premio Masi by his peers in Verona, Italy, and the Folio D'oro in Friuli, Italy in 2010.
Mr. Ziraldo is the author of several books, including "Icewine: Extreme Winemaking."
In his role as managing director of Senhora Do Convento, Mr. Ziraldo uses his knowledge of the luxury wine industry to elevate brand awareness of port wines and bring this spectacular 12th century property located high in the Portuguese Douro Valley to the world stage.
With his Ziraldo label, Mr. Ziraldo continues in his role as a global ambassador for Canadian Icewine by creating another luxury Icewine brand.
WineOnline will carry both the 2012 Riesling Icewine and the 2012 Vidal Icewine by Ziraldo in time for the holiday season. For more information, please visit www.wineonline.ca.
About First Growth
First Growth identifies and develops strong brands in the Canadian and international markets. WineOnline represents the first of its brands that will launch across Canada. WineOnline offers interesting, rare, and otherwise unavailable wines for order by the case and ships directly to customers' homes or workplaces. WineOnline and its website, www.wineonline.ca, is expected to be expanded to several other provinces over the coming year, becoming Canada's first national online wine retail store.
ON BEHALF OF FIRST GROWTH HOLDINGS LTD.:
"J. Paul Guedes"
J. Paul Guedes
President
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Corporate Communications
Tel: 604.688.9588
Email: [email protected]
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Forward Looking Statements
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