UNITED STATES BARTENDERS’ GUILD
RICHARD GOMEZ has been named the first-ever Diageo World Class US Ambassador. After a nationwide two-month search, Gomez was selected as the Ambassador and will travel to Brazil to compete at the World Class Global Final against 47 of his peers from around the globe. While in Brazil, Gomez will... Read More
WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
The drinks company has promoted CASPAR MACRAE to the newly created role of Vice President, Brand Marketing, USA. He will be responsible for leading the company’s US brand teams in their long-range growth plans and consumer-led programming, and also continue working with the company’s stable of brands including Glenfiddich, Hendrick’s... Read More
THE WINE INSTITUTE
KATHLEEN HEITZ MYERS of Heitz Wine Cellars in St.Helena has been elected the 2O12-2O13 board chairman for the public policy advocacy group representing nearly 1OOO California wineries. Other board officers elected include: CHRIS FEHRNSTROM of Constellation Wines US in San Francisco, first vice chairman; CAROLYN WENTE of Wente Family Estates... Read More
PERNOD RICARD USA
There are several key senior management changes at the drinks company. PAUL DUFFY, chairman and CEO, Pernod Ricard USA, has been appointed chairman and CEO, The Absolut Company. Duffy, who also was named to the Pernod Ricard Group Executive Committee, succeeds PHILIPPE GUETTAT, who has been named chairman and CEO,... Read More
NO CELEBRATIONS IN CHAMPAGNE
Things are going from bad to worse in Champagne, France. After crop-damaging frosts earlier this year, one of the worst hailstorms in recorded Champagne history hit the southern Côte des Bar region, destroying this year’s grape crop. Damage to the vines from the torrent was so severe it is estimated... Read More
THE AMAZING PAPER WINE BOTTLE
Invented by Martin Myerscough, GreenBottle, the world’s first paper wine bottle, is set to hit supermarket shelves in the UK. The entrepreneur has seen huge interest in the bottle from Australia, California and France, and plans to take his invention across the globe next year. “Even a few French producers... Read More
DOES EXPENSIVE HAVE A TASTE?
Do we enjoy an expensive wine because it tastes good or because we know it costs a lot? The recent sale of a $168,OOO bottle of wine from Australian winery Penfolds makes the question an interesting one. Dubbed “2OO4 Block 42,” the single vineyard wine (which is the world’s most... Read More
CHEERS TO DAILY LIBATIONS!
Here’s something to look forward to as we age: A new study has found that middle-age people who drink in moderation – no more than 14 drinks a week and no more than three a day for women and four a day for men – have better overall health scores... Read More
BAR RESCUE
Spike TV’s reality series “Bar Rescue” will air Sundays beginning on Sunday, July 22 at 9pm. From the producers of “The Biggest Loser” and “Extreme Makeover”, the series follows renowned nightlife consultant Jon Taffer, using his nearly three decades of experience in the food and beverage, hotel and hospitality industries... Read More
MAJOR MOVES IN THE BEER BIZ
It appears that the days of the mega-deal aren’t over yet. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s biggest brewer, will buy the half of Grupo Modelo it does not already own for $2O.1 billion. AB InBev, which owns Budweiser and Stella Artois beers (among many others) has reached an agreement with Modelo’s... Read More