FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Becky Heflin
Telephone (501) 623-6671

MOUNTAIN VALLEY SPRING WATER TAKES THE GOLD
IN WATER TASTING CONTEST

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV - Mountain Valley Spring Water from Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, was recently voted Gold Medal Winner for the best noncarbonated water in the world. The award-winning Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomed more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe on Saturday, February 22, 2003 for this prestigious competition. Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest and longest running water tasting competition in the world.
Noted water expert and author, Arthur von Wiesenberger, of Santa Barbara, California directs the challenge of evaluating a product where tastelessness is the most sought after quality. The unique event, dubbed the "granddaddy of water tastings," by von Wiesenberger, celebrated its thirteenth year for honoring the best-tasting waters in their class. Water entries were submitted from Canada, England, Israel, Sweden, Bosnia, Italy and 23 states in the US. Judges were instructed to look, sniff and taste each water under guidelines like those in a wine tasting. The waters were rated for each attribute, including "appearance" (it should be clear), aroma (there should be none), taste and mouth feel (it should be clean and light), and aftertaste (it should leave you thirsty for more). Waters were tested in four separate flights over a two-day period.

The quality of water can affect the taste, consistency and general attributes of foods as diverse as tea, pasta and vegetables. Although much has changed in the water business since Mountain Valley sold its first bottle of spring water in 1871, one thing has remained constant - the quality and source protection of Mountain Valley Spring Water has never been left to chance. Each and every drop originates from the same spring source in Hot Springs, Arkansas, just as it has for over 130 years. Nestled within pristine forest lands and surrounded by the unique geological structure of the area, Mountain Valley Spring Water flows naturally to the surface. No substitutes, never tankered, just pure spring water - in each and every bottle. Mountain Valley Spring water is a long-standing member of the International Bottled Water Association, as well as the National Sanitation Foundation.

Judges for the 2003 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting included representatives from National Public Radio, the United Nations Correspondents Association, Rudy Maxa's Traveler, Spa Magazine, the Washington Post, Canadian House and Home Magazine, Superpower Charleston Gazette, Baltimore Sun, Washington Times, and Frederick News-Post. Mountain Valley is not a newcomer to this competition. Mountain Valley also won first place as the Gold Medal Winner in 1997 in the noncarbonated category.