NAPA, Calif. / Dec. 17, 1999-- Universal Studios Hollywood, in partnership with Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines Company, is building the world's largest champagne bottle, to be delivered on December 28 in grand style via helicopter to kick-off Los Angeles' premiere millennium party at the studios.

The four-and-a-half ton champagne bottle will be a replica of Champagne Perrier-Jouet's famous Fleur de Champagne "flower bottle". The design for this "flower bottle" began during the last turn of a century when Emile Galle, one of Art Nouveau's most famous artists, created the arabesque of anemones that make up the image. The ornately decorated, sparkling green bottle will measure a towering 20 feet tall with a girth of over five feet... and it will hold one of the world's finest champagnes.

The glass colossus will arrive in spectacular fashion by helicopter across the San Fernando Valley to the heart of Universal Studios Hollywood. On hand at the landing will be Agnes Laplanche, Champagne Perrier-Jouet's International Brand Ambassador to North America. In glorious style she will open bottles by striking off the tops of Fleur de Champagne with a Champagne saber. The gigantic bottle of Fleur de Champagne will stand prominently during Universal Studios Hollywood's Millennium Dance Party on Dec. 31, where it will be opened at the beginning of the new century.

Universal Studios Hollywood's millennium event will be the West Coast's largest dance party featuring top recording artists Chaka Khan, Berlin, Missing Persons and Yari More. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., guest will go footloose in the park with four dance areas that will transport them to a sizzling, high-energy Rio Carnival festival, a magnificent masquerade ball, a red carpet Hollywood movie premiere party or a romantic escape. The evening will also include a dazzling display of specially choreographed fireworks and a special interactive chat event hosted by America On Line (AOL).

Featuring such unique and ground-breaking highlights as "Terminator 2: 3D," "Jurassic Park – The Ride," "Back To The Future – The Ride," "Backdraft," "The E.T. Adventure" and "Waterworld – A Sea War Spectacular," Universal Studios Hollywood is located in the heart of the world's biggest and busiest motion picture and television studio.

Universal Studios Inc. (www.universalstudios.com) is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global entertainment and beverage company.

The Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines Company, a division of Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., with principal offices in San Mateo and Napa Valley, California and New York City, produces and markets the wines of Sterling Vineyards, Tessera, The Monterey Vineyard and the sparkling wines of Mumm Cuvee Napa. The company is the exclusive U.S. importer of G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouet Champagnes, Barton & Guestier wines, Brancott Vineyards from New Zealand and Sandeman Ports and Sherries; and is the largest importer of classified Bordeaux in the United States. The portfolio is completed by Dominus in the Napa Valley, a collection of Burgundy estate-bottled wines, F.E. Trimbach wines from Alsace, Castello d'Albola in Chianti, and several other European wines and spirits.

Adrienne Asher-Gepford, 800/709-7667
Universal Studios