DIAGEO-GUINNESS USA
TOM LOONEY is being promoted from Chief Commercial Officer to President. He replaces Sheila Stanziale who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Jeff Ivey, currently Senior VP of Route to Market Strategy, will take Looney’s place.
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
Nik Fordham has been appointed Master Distiller. In this position he will oversee production for the brand at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Laverstoke Mill, Hampshire, England, due to open later this year. As Master Distiller, Fordham will join Ivano Tonutti, the brand’s Master of Botanicals.
HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES
Carlos Lozano has been appointed to lead the On-Premise National Account Division. Lozano possesses over 2O years of experience in the wine and spirits industry. His national account background includes managing portfolios for Diageo North America and Pernod Ricard USA. Most recently, he was Director of National Accounts for Monin... Read More
SIDNEY FRANK IMPORTING COMPANY
Tony M. Bagnulo has been appointed Vice President, On-Premise Marketing. In this newly created hybrid marketing and sales role, he will lead all on-premise programs, management and training as well as analysis and monitoring of the on-premise account universe for the company’s portfolio. Bagnulo has a decade of experience growing... Read More
OBITUARY: Henri Krug 75
The former president of Maison Krug Champagne, died on Thursday, March 7. He was the fifth generation to oversee the production of the legendary Champagne, along with his younger brother Rémi. During his tenure as company president from 1975 to 2OO2, Henri finessed the Grande Cuvée, and launched Krug Clos... Read More
OBITUARY: Jim Barrett 86
The founder of Napa Valley’s infamous Chateau Montelena passed away on March 14. Barrett founded the Calistoga winery in 1972, and shot almost immediately to world renown when critics famously favored his 1973 Chardonnay over four white Burgundies at the 1976 Paris Tasting – is often credited with elevating the... Read More
SENSATIONAL SOMMELIER
This is a man who knows wine. Paolo Basso has beaten off competition from 53 other hopefuls to be named Best Sommelier in the World. The 47-year-old Swiss-Italian was crowned champion at the 14th finals held by the Association de la Sommelerie Internationale in Japan. The global contest takes place... Read More
GROWLERS OF WINE
Over the last few years, the beer growler concept has become extremely popular. So if it’s good for beer drinkers, why not wine lovers? Well in Oregon it now is. The state Senate recently voted unanimously to let wineries, restaurants, grocery stores and wine shops dispense wine in consumer-supplied growlers... Read More
CHAMPAGNE HEIST
Apparently, even thieves have Champagne tastes. More than three and a half thousand bottles of Champagne worth €3OO,OOO (US $388,OOO) have been stolen from acclaimed grower Jacques Selosse in an extremely well-organized heist. The Avize-based domain lost well over 5% of its average annual production in the raid. Stolen bottles... Read More
. . . AN IPA JUST DOMINATED
India Pale Ale had a banner year in 2O12 with no signs of slowing down in 2O13. According to market research group GuestMetrics, based on its database of POS sales in restaurants and bars, the IPA style displayed the strongest growth and market share gains of all the various types... Read More