Stone Mountain Vineyard's Wins Silver

Stone Mountain Vineyard's recently released 2004 Petit Verdot garnered a Silver medal in the prestigious Dallas Morning News wine competition. The competition, in its 22nd year, evaluated three thousand wines from around the world. The judging panel reads like a who’s who in wine, including fifty two of the best wine writers and buyers.

The 2004 Petit Verdot benefits from 13 months in French oak barrels deep inside Stone Mountain’s wine cave. This full bodied wine features a flavor profile highlighted by dark plum and raspberry undertones leading to a memorable velvety finish. In this its first vintage as a separate varietal, Stone Mountain produced just 75 cases of the 2004 Petit Verdot.

Chris Breiner, Winemaker and Managing Partner of Stone Mountain Vineyards said, “Petit Verdot has a rich history in Bordeaux as a blending grape. Working with Virginia pioneer, Gabriele Rausse, our goal is to grow wines that support Virginia as a leading wine region. The 2004 Petit Verdot, like Virginia, is great now but has the potential to be even greater”.

Stone Mountain Vineyards highly regarded 2005 “Unwooded” Chardonnay received a bronze medal in the Dallas competition.

Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced that the 150-room Courtyard by Marriott in Charlottesville, Virginia has recently completed a major renovation of its guest rooms, lobby and public spaces. The enhancements are based on feedback from hotel guests and are part of Courtyard’s nationwide hotel reinvention designed to meet the needs of today’s travelers.

“Courtyard was launched based on the needs and desires of business travelers and now we are reinventing the brand on the basis of new customer research and recent product testing. Our updated design concepts provide greater comfort and functionality to our guests,” said Mike Jannini, executive vice president, brand management, Marriott International.

The new guest rooms and public space have been upgraded with the addition of functional enhancements and new décor and furnishings. Practical additions such as The Market, a 24/7 food and beverage pantry and business library, featuring individual workstations with high-speed data ports and ergonomic chairs combine with aesthetic elements including the use of curved surfaces, rich woods, designer fabrics, granite counters and superior lighting.