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San Anselmo firm launches $250M private-equity wine fund

SAN ANSELMO, April 30, 2008 – Private-equity fund manager Vinum Capital Management LLC is forming a $250 million fund devoted solely to acquiring and operating wine properties.

The fund, called Vinum Capital Partners I LP, will focus on high-end wine producers in California, Oregon and Washington making between 20,000 and 150,000 cases per year.

“The focus of this fund is to acquire wine properties efficiently, grow them effectively with expertise and necessary growth capital, and ultimately sell them to strategic and financial acquirers,” said Thomas Thornhill, managing partner for Vinum Capital Management and chairman of the Mendocino Wine Company.

Vinum’s investment partners include former chief operating officer for Ravenswood Justin Faggioli and Scott Setrakian, former director for Golden State Vineyards.

The portfolio management team for the new fund includes Bill Foster and Bob Steinhauer, formerly of Beringer Vineyards; Jonathan Pey, formerly of Robert Mondavi and Fosters Wine Estates; and Doug Rogers, formerly of Gallo, Southcorp and Brown-Forman Wines.

For more information, visit www.vinumcapital.com or call 415-295-4650.