DOG DAYS FOR CANINE “CHAMPAGNE”
A WORD of advice to anyone seeking to register a product with a name bearing the slightest similarity to “Champagne”: think twice. Champagne producers take that very seriously. Most recently, Moet Hennessy, citing its high-end Dom Perignon brand, moved to block a Florida man from registering “Dog Perignon”. Fort Myers-based... Read More
FRENCH DESTROY SPANISH WINES
THERE’S BEEN a lot of innocent wine destroyed in France of late as tensions have reached a boiling point over cheap Spanish imports. Over the last year militant winemaker group CAV – or CRAV as it is sometimes known – has attacked lorries carrying Spanish wines and set fire to... Read More
MOTHER NATURE’S APRIL WRATH
MOTHER NATURE has been particularly cruel this year as spring storms and frosts have caused devastating damage to much of France’s wine regions as well as several other countries including Germany, Italy and England. Champagne vineyard managers were among the first to raise the alarm over frost but it was... Read More
BLUE BUBBLY COMING SOON . . .
For better or for worse, blue seems to have become a trend in wine production. First there was Gik, the blue wine from Spain made by mixing red and white wines together along with a blue plant-based dye. After being told it could not label its product as “wine” the... Read More
$252 MILLION WORTH OF FAKE ALCOHOL & FOOD SEIZED WORLDWIDE
THERE’S A STAGGERING amount of fake alcohol and food flooding the world’s markets. As quickly as police shut down one operation, three more sprout up. But authorities are far from giving up. A recent joint operation carried out by Interpol and Europol seized 26.4 million liters of counterfeit alcohol and... Read More
WILLIAM GRANT BUYS TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS
BIG NEWS in the American craft distilling industry: William Grant & Sons has bought producer Tuthilltown Spirits – New York State’s first distillery since Prohibition – for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition includes the distillery, gourmet restaurant, visitor center and grounds with riverfront views. Chief Executive Officer Simon Hunt, said:... Read More
THE BEER INSTITUTE
TRAVIS GIBBONS has been named Senior Director of Health Policy and Regulatory Affairs. He brings over a decade of government and advocacy experience to the Beer Institute, most recently as the Director of Federal Affairs for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
MAST-JÄGERMEISTER US
CHRIS PEDDY has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer. In this position he will oversee Jägermeister’s new brand identity launch as well as all aspects of the US marketing platforms, strategy and innovation, digital marketing, customer marketing and public relations. Peddy was initially hired by Mast-Jägermeister US (formally known as Sidney... Read More
THE STOLI GROUP
HUGUES PIETRINI has been hired as Global Chief Executive Officer for the division responsible for the production, management and distribution of the Group’s global spirits portfolio. Most recently Pietrini was the Executive Vice President of Distribution at Moët Hennessy, where he led the Ruinart, Krug, Glenmorangie and Belvedere brand houses. ... Read More
RÉMY COINTREAU USA
LOU CONRAD has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales. He replaces BILL CORBETT, who has stepped back from his SVP responsibilities as he moves toward retirement in September, 2O18. Corbett has been with the drinks company for 32 years. He’ll continue to work closely with the management team... Read More