BUYING BORDEAUX? CHECK IT TWICE
FRANCE HAS HAD its share of wine scandals in the last few years and now there’s a fresh one causing quite a sensation: counterfeit Bordeaux. Customs authorities in France have begun an investigation into the alleged sale of the fake Bordeaux – using false Pomerol, Margaux and Pauillac labels –... Read More
THE CHAMPAGNE OF SORBETS
THE AOC CHAMPAGNE takes its name seriously. Very seriously. The famed region is notorious for taking quick legal action against companies that misuse the word. So it comes as a surprise that after a 5-year legal battle, the European Union’s top court recently ruled in favor of a product called... Read More
BULGARIAN WINE IS BOOMING
IS BULGARIA POISED to make a splash in the global wine industry? That could well be the case after the country saw exports rise by an impressive 13% in 2O17. Overall, 17,517,139 tons of wine was produced and €17,432,629 million (US $2O,971,8O1) worth of wine were exported. While Bulgaria may... Read More
A SMALL PORTUGUESE INVASION
by HARVEY FINKEL WE’VE HAD A SMALL PORTUGUESE INVASION, and I was fortunate enough to be ambushed. Like Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese wine trade sent out explorers, these seeking markets for their tasty products. Representatives of five wineries gathered with lucky and knowing guests at Heritage of Sherborn,... Read More
THE ADONIS COCKTAIL
PINK LADY’S ENDANGERED COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH: THE ADONIS COCKTAIL by PINK LADY VALENTINE’S DAY stands out in the midst of a cold, long winter as a bright celebration of love and beauty, and a great excuse to drape things in pink and red, eat chocolate, and drink nice Champagne. ... Read More
COLLECTORS, GET THE WALLETS READY
THERE SEEMS TO be no limit to what people will spend on opulent spirits these days with Scotch connoisseurs often leading the way. The Macallan is betting that their newest release will be intriguing enough to pique the palates of drinkers, and they’re probably right. The distiller has introduced The... Read More
PENDLETON WHISKY SOLD
THE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS trend of 2O17 is continuing right into the New Year. The Pendleton Round-Up’s branded whisky from Hood River Distillers has been sold to Becle (the parent company of the Jose Cuervo) for $2O5 million. Pendleton is one of a growing number of brands under the Mexico-based... Read More
THE WORLD’S DUMBEST THIEF
THIS MAY JUST BE the stupidest theft in history. Someone stole a diamond-encrusted bottle of Russo-Baltique vodka, worth an estimated $1.3 million, drank the vodka and dumped the bottle. But it was the bottle that held the value, not the vodka. The bottle was stolen in early January from a... Read More
WINE & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS OF AMERICA
The trade group has hired three new team members. CASSIE BOEHM is the new Manager, Advocacy Communications responsible for planning and executing campaigns and programs that support the association’s government affairs team; RYANN SQUIER has been appointed as Coordinator, Meetings and Conventions; and PHOEBE WARREN was hired as WSWA’s Financial... Read More
DEWAR’S
The Scotch brand has named GARETH HOWELLS as North American Brand Ambassador. An experienced beverage director and bartender, Howells will work alongside counterpart Gabriel Cardarella with both the trade and consumers, specifically with mixology. Howells is a seasoned professional having tended bar at well-known venues in New York City such... Read More