CLASSIC WINE IMPORTS and GORDON & MACPHAIL
CHRIS RIESBECK has been hired as the new National Brand Ambassador for Gordon & MacPhail. He will be responsible for all sales functions, working with the Classic Wine Imports distributor network as well as independently to increase the awareness and distribution for the portfolio. Riesbeck joins the Gordon & MacPhail... Read More
LAPOSTOLLE RECEIVES CHILE’S HIGHEST HONOR
Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, founder of the Lapostolle winery in Chile, was named “Commander of the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins” in an official ceremony presided over by Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile, and Jorge Edwards, the Chilean Ambassador to France. The ceremony took place on an official visit by President Piñera... Read More
WSWA TO HONOR SAZERAC CHAIRMAN
The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) will honor William Goldring, Chairman of the Sazerac Company and Crescent Crown Distributing Company, with the prestigious Lifetime Leadership Award at WSWA’s 68th Annual Convention & Exposition held in Orlando in April. The award is given annually to the wholesaler whose contributions... Read More
GREEN IS GOOD FOR SIERRA NEVADA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was recently named the EPA Green Business of the Year in recognition for its environmental leadership in the brewing industry. The brewery was honored at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 12th annual Environmental Awards Ceremony held in downtown Los Angeles, California, in late December. Since 198O,... Read More
MORE TEENS JUST SAYING “NOâ€
Is it possible? Can there really be sensible teenagers? It would seem so. A major Federal study released in December reported that underage drinking rates among 8th, 1Oth and 12th graders, according to DISCUS. The 2O1O Monitoring the Future Survey, jointly released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and... Read More
HARPOON INVESTS IN 9O+
Has Harpoon Brewery gotten into the wine biz? Sort of. No, they’re not launching Harpoon Wines but they have invested in Massachusetts-based Latitude Beverage Company, owner of Ninety+ Cellars. Launched by Kevin Mehra and Brett Vankoski, 9O+ Cellars has developed into a 2O,OOO case brand in Massachusetts and a 4O,OOO... Read More
CHINESE SPIRIT IS MOVING WEST
Get ready for baijiu! Never heard of it? You will soon enough. Baijiu, China’s immensely popular local liquor, is planning to go global. Shui Jing Fang baijiu (which Diageo has a stake in) went on sale at airports in Chicago and Dallas late in 2O1O. Three other US airports are... Read More
FORTUNE MAKES A THREE-WAY SPLIT
Fortune Brands is breaking up but no, they’re not selling their spirits division. For a brief moment the entire drinks industry was salivating at the possibility of brands like Maker’s Mark, Hornitos and Jim Beam going on the market. Fortune, however, has other plans. In December the company announced that... Read More
Endangered Cocktail: The Mai Tai
Ever sampled a Zombie, Suffering Bastard, or anything served in a skull mug or Scorpion bowl? With out-there names and kitschy vessels, Tiki drinks are apt to inspire a giggle among cocktail neophytes. In their original incarnation these were balanced, palatable drinks built upon rum, fresh juices and flavorful syrups... Read More
Local/Sustainable
I am a reasonably earth-conscious consumer. My family belongs to a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and gets boxes of great organic produce eight months a year. We drive advanced technology diesel cars that get better than 4Ompg. We compost yard trash. As they blow out, we’re replacing our incandescent bulbs... Read More