Bella Carrara Vino

January 29, 2008 09:00 AM Eastern Time
Businesses select XM for Business to further enhance customer experience

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PlayNetwork, a leading provider of integrated media experiences for business, announced today Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, Washington as the company’s first official “XM for Business” customer. Managed by PlayNetwork, the new XM for Business service makes XM Satellite Radio’s more than 170 all-digital channels available to business customers across the country. The world-renowned winery chose the XM for Business service to further enhance the overall experience of its many visitors while complementing its beautiful setting and facilities.

With XM for Business, Chateau Ste. Michelle will now be able to take full advantage of XM’s menu of commercial-free music and premier sports, news, talk and other audio entertainment. The winery will be able to select appropriate audio entertainment by event, time of day, season and more, or simply help facilitate a desired mood or ambiance.

“XM for Business is an accessible and cost-efficient way to create brand identity, loyalty and customer experience for any business, from a landmark winery or couture clothing boutique in Los Angeles, to anything in-between,” said Dave Purdy, Senior Vice President, XM for Business, PlayNetwork. “Chateau Ste. Michelle is a wonderful example of how audio entertainment can be incorporated and used to add even a more personalized touch and level of enjoyment to an already beautiful environment.”

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington’s oldest and most acclaimed winery. Located in Woodinville, the winery offers daily tours, tastings, culinary events and hosts some 300,000 visitors annually. Today, Chateau Ste. Michelle is not only recognized for pioneering vinifera grape growing in the Columbia Valley, but is also a leader in modern day viticultural research. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. Known for its highly acclaimed Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot and Cabernet, Chateau Ste. Michelle has received some of the highest accolades in the industry, including “American Winery of the Year 2004” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and “2005 Winery of the Year” by Restaurant Wine Magazine.

“At Chateau Ste. Michelle, we work hard to create a scenic and enjoyable environment for visitors from around the world to learn about and enjoy fine wine from Washington state. XM for Business was the perfect solution in helping us achieve an even greater and more intimate experience for our guests,” said Josh St. Aubin, Culinary Events Senior Manager, Chateau Ste. Michelle. “We have already received positive comments on the variety of music from our visitors, and the customer service support and attention to detail from PlayNetwork have made the transition to XM for Business easy.”

To celebrate the move to the XM for Business service, Chateau Ste. Michelle will host a private reception in cooperation with PlayNetwork and XM Satellite Radio on January 30. The event will feature music by jazz musician LeRoy Bell. More information on the event is available by contacting Stacy Pelletier or Aidan Bradley at 978-474-1900 or playnetwork@pancomm.com.

Details on the service are available by calling 1-888-XM4-BUSI or visiting www.xm4biz.com.

About PlayNetwork

PlayNetwork Inc. is an integrated media services leader for worldwide business. PlayNetwork provides branded video (digital signage), audio (music and messaging), promotional media, quality audio/video systems, and professional services that deliver compelling experiences for retail, hospitality, health and fitness, retail banking and other businesses. Established in 1996, Redmond, Washington, based PlayNetwork services leading national brands such as: Abercrombie & Fitch, Brinker International, Chico's, Diesel, Hot Topic, Houlihan’s, Petco Animal Supplies, Starbucks Coffee Company, TGI Friday's, The Finish Line and Under Armour. The XM for Business service is now managed by PlayNetwork through a new strategic relationship with XM Satellite Radio. More information is available at www.playnetwork.com or www.xm4biz.com.

About Chateau Ste. Michelle

Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington State and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Chateau Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,400 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek, one of the state’s oldest and most acclaimed vineyards. As part of the winery’s ongoing pursuit to quality, Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners. Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen. For more information, please visit www.ste-michelle.com/.

Editorial Contact:
PAN Communications
Jeff Dillow or Stacy Pelletier, 978-474-1900
playnetwork@pancomm.com
or
Company Contact:
PlayNetwork, Inc.
Dave Purdy, 425-497-1800
dpurdy@xm4biz.com

Labels: ambiance, branding, tasting room, XM for business, XM radio