Fairport, New York, February 10, 1999 – Canandaigua Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRNA and CBRNB), announced today that it intends to commence an offering of approximately $200 million of senior subordinated notes due 2009, at an interest rate to be determined. The net proceeds of the offering will be used to repay a portion of Canandaigua’s borrowings under its bank credit agreement.

Canandaigua Brands, Inc., headquartered in Fairport, New York, is a leading producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands. As the second largest supplier of wine, the second largest importer of beer and the fourth largest supplier of distilled spirits, Canandaigua Brands is the largest single-source supplier of these products in the United States. The Company is also a leading provider of wine and cider, as well as the premier independent wholesaler of beverage alcohol products, in the United Kingdom.

The Company's portfolio includes the following key brands:

Beer: Corona Extra and Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Negra Modelo, St. Pauli Girl, Tsingtao, Peroni, Double Diamond, Tetley's English Ale and Point in the United States

Wine: Almaden, Inglenook, Richards Wild Irish Rose, Cook's, Arbor Mist, Paul Masson, Taylor, J. Roget, Manischewitz, Marcus James, Estate Cellars, Dunnewood, Vina Santa Carolina and Mystic Cliffs in the United States, and Stowells of Chelsea, QC, Stones and Concord in the United Kingdom

Distilled Spirits: Barton, Fleischmann's, Paul Masson Grande Amber, Mr. Boston, Montezuma, Canadian LTD, Chi-Chi's, Ten High and Inver House in the United States

Cider: Blackthorn, Olde English and Diamond White in the United Kingdom

This press release does not constitute and shall not be deemed an offering of any securities. Any such offering will be made only by means of a prospectus.