Busby, MT – The friends and family of Mary Beth Van Pattenson were shocked today when she announced that Brazin (B)Old Vine Zinfandel was the only Zinfandel she would ever drink again.

"We knew she'd like it when we served her a glass at our last family scavenger hunt," said her sister-in-law, Jennifer Van Pattenson. "But swearing off all other Zins seems a little extreme. Mary Beth has never made such a strong statement before."

Van Pattenson's reputation around town is one of total ambivalence. "She once loitered in my store for two hours trying to decide between salted or unsalted cashews," Mini-Rite Owner, Dale Cavanaugh said. "For her to make such a decision – or any decision for that matter -- is totally out of character."

Local gas station attendant Earl Byerly can attest to that. "She made me stand out here and explain at least five times the difference between Regular Unleaded and Supreme Unleaded," he said. "That was a hot day, too. And I don't remember her picking one. She just scribbled some notes on the back of an old receipt, jumped back in her Focus and drove away, saying she had to think about it."

When asked how she came to such an unexpectedly decisive action, Van Pattenson replied, "It's like when that incredible bold berry flavor hits your tongue, you're just ruined for all other Zinfandels," she said, wiping the purple stain from her lips with the back of her hand. "It seems brazen of me, I know. But when you try it you'll know what I mean. Brazin is the perfect Zin. Now hand me a corkscrew, I'm opening another bottle."

According to Van Pattenson's neighbors, her parties have never been better. "Oh, we used to sit in lawn chairs and watch her flutter around with bottles of Chardonnay or Merlot, never really able to tell us which one we should try," said Retired Rodeo Clown Joe Sherman. "But now she just marches over, fills up the glass and the party is on! Brazin has turned our formerly lame-o block parties into total rock parties."

Van Pattenson's bold new lifestyle has her feeling better than ever. "It's such a relief to just know which wine is the best," she said. "Now if I could just decide on diet versus regular, Jen versus Angie, wax on versus wax off..."