For Immediate Release

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.

Feb. 10, 2005 --- Southern Starz wine importers releases Reilly's "Barking Mad" wines just in time for tax filing deadlines. Wine and taxes may seem a peculiar pair, however, the hard work and worry of bringing a wine to harvest and anxiety over tax filing are one and the same. When it comes to the stressors of everyday life, a top contender is the preparation for the April 15 Internal Revenue Service deadline. Just in time, Reilly's Wines of Clare Valley, Australia, releases three new bottlings designed to ease anxiety and tension. Offerings include Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. All priced under $20, these wallet-friendly wines are perfect for immediate sipping. Adding to the convenience, the wines are also all bottled with a Stelvin closure, making a corkscrew unnecessary.

According to Reilly's owner, Justin Ardill, "Anyone in the winemaking game will tell you how frantic the vintage season is. We wait patiently for weeks for that precious crop to ripen, only to have it threatened by a freak storm or heat wave. Tempers flare when pumps break down close to midnight, with three truckloads of fruit still to be crushed. During these trying times, a nuzzle from our uncomplaining, canine friends helps to soothe frayed nerves. But after a long vintage, when the truck arrives with that last load of fruit, even the dogs are barking mad."

The 2004 vintage is the inaugural release of the Reilly's "Barking Mad" Riesling ($12.99), and it boasts the classic Clare Valley signature of crisp flavors of ripe citrus and floral notes. Marking another first for the winery, the 2003 bottling of Reilly's "Barking Mad" Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99) is their first red wine bottled under Stelvin(R) closure ($14.99). It features full-bodied, juicy berry fruits and a slight hint of mint. Reilly's "Barking Mad" Cabernet and "Barking Mad" Riesling will be released in mid-February 2005. Reilly's "Barking Mad" Shiraz will be available in July 2005.

Imported by Southern Starz, Reilly's Wines have been well received in the United States, notably their "Stolen Block" Shiraz, Riesling and red blends. The winery was established in 1993 in Australia's Clare Valley, known for the dry, hot summer days and cool, crisp nights that contribute to the intensity of the flavors in its grapes. The Reilly's Wines philosophy is to produce low volumes of premium, hand-made wines from this unique fruit. Their range of award-winning wines includes Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Tawny Port and Riesling, most recently their 2004 Watervale Riesling having won the Mick Knappstein Trophy at the Clare Valley Regional Wine Show, as the "best of the Clare."

Southern Starz specializes in boutique wineries that showcase quality, value and the best of what each region has to offer. From Australia's Limestone Coast to the heart of Marlborough, New Zealand and over to the South African vineyards of Helderberg, Southern Starz offers a wide range of world-class wines of the Southern Hemisphere. The company's main offices are located in Huntington Beach, Calif. with additional locations in Northern California, Texas, New York and Connecticut. A complete portfolio, distributors by state and winery information is available by visiting www.southernstarz.com.