News Release

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2001
Contact: Brooke Hilton, WineBid.com, bhilton@winebid.com, or (206) 320-1217 x263

Leading Internet Wine Auction Company Triples Business

Napa California: WINEBID.COM (www.winebid.com), the first Internet wine auction company to open offices in London and Sydney, tripled its auction sales volume and more than doubled the number of registered bidders last year.

"We've made tremendous advances in participation and volume and surpassed every milestone we've set for our company," said Jerry Zech, WINEBID.COM chief executive officer. "Opening offices in London and Sydney last spring has played a big part in our growth."

The London office serves clients in Europe. The Sydney office serves clients in Australia and the Far East. Home offices are located in Napa, California and Chicago, Illinois.

WINEBID.COM held 62 auctions in the year 2000, up from 17 in 1999. Sales were US$15 million, up from US$5million and registered bidders increased to 15,000 in 2000 from 7,000 in 1999. Sixteen of the auctions were held in Europe, 20 in Australia and 26 in the U.S.

Founded in 1996, WINEBID.COM is the largest on-line auction site for rare and fine wines. WINEBID.COM maintains worldwide inspection facilities where each bottle of wine auctioned on-line is appraised and inspected. For more information visit our website at www.winebid.com or a call 707-226-5893.