Constellation Comments That GModelo Legal Action Has No Merit

VICTOR, N.Y., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ, ASX: CBR), the world's leading wine company, announced that it is aware of a lawsuit filed Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 in New York federal court by GModelo, an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Modelo. However, Constellation Brands has not been formally served with the lawsuit.

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Constellation and GModelo are partners in Crown Imports LLC, a 50/50 joint venture which commenced in January 2007. Crown's board of directors is comprised of four directors from each parent company. The initial term of the joint venture extends through the calendar year of 2016.

At issue is the funding by the partners for incremental Crown promotion and marketing spending for calendar year 2010. Previously, the incremental spending in question was provided by GModelo and was agreed upon once again for the 2010 business plan. The funding at issue is not material to Constellation's overall financial position. Constellation believes that the claims lack merit and will defend its position.

Crown is not a party to this lawsuit and Constellation believes that Crown remains fully engaged in executing against the plan for calendar year 2010 and growing its business through the entire initial term of the contract.

About Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands is the world's leading wine company that achieves success through an unmatched knowledge of wine consumers paired with storied brands that suit varied lives and tastes. With a broad portfolio of widely admired premium products across the wine, beer and spirits categories, Constellation's brand portfolio includes Robert Mondavi, Hardys, Clos du Bois, Blackstone, Arbor Mist, Estancia, Ravenswood, Jackson-Triggs, Kim Crawford, Corona Extra, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and SVEDKA Vodka.

Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B; ASX: CBR) is an S&P 500 Index and Fortune 1000® company with more than 100 total brands in our portfolio, sales in about 150 countries and operations in approximately 45 facilities. The company believes that industry leadership involves a commitment to our brands, to the trade, to the land, to investors and to different people around the world who turn to our products when celebrating big moments or enjoying quiet ones. We express this commitment through our vision: to elevate life with every glass raised. To learn more about Constellation Brands and its product portfolio visit the company's web site at www.cbrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "intend," and "expect," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements may relate to Constellation's business strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements.

Although Constellation believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Constellation can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Constellation undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to risks associated with ordinary business operations, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including other factors and uncertainties disclosed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Feb. 28, 2009, which could cause actual future performance to differ from current expectations.

SOURCE Constellation Brands, Inc.

Released December 16, 2009