WHAT a DIFFERENCE a LABEL MAKES
IT’S TRUE: we are a nation of label snobs. Changing the label on a wine changed diners’ opinions of their wine, opinions of their meal, and their decision to return to the restaurant, according to a recent Cornell University study. In the experiment, forty-one diners at the Spice Box restaurant... Read More
VIVE le COME BACK!
TIMES HAVE BEEN TOUGH lately in the French wine business but things may be on the upturn. After years of watching foreign taste buds respond to innovative New World wines, French wine and spirit makers appear to be making their way back into the global market. Exports in the first... Read More
RATS!
THERE WILL BE NO Ratatouille Chardonnay after all. Walt Disney Co. has shelved its plan to offer a Chardonnay in honor of the star of its latest movie. Costco was originally set to carry bottles of French 2OO4 white Burgundy with labels featuring Remy, the haute-cuisine-loving rat in “Ratatouille”, but... Read More
The JUICE BOX for ADULTS
WHEN THINKING OF FRENCH BORDEAUX, a tetra pack with a straw is not generally the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, the notion of Bordeaux being packaged in a mini tetra pack with a straw might sound downright gauche, but French wine merchant Cordier is currently selling 1OOO... Read More
OBITUARIES
BARON ELIE ROBERT DE ROTHSCHILD, 9O, who helped France’s renowned Rothschild winemaking and banking dynasty recover from the ravages of World War II, died August 6 while vacationing at his Austrian hunting lodge. He had been on a hunting trip at his lodge near the Alpine village of Scharnitz outside... Read More
MILLER BREWING CO.
NORMAN ADAMI is retiring from his position of President and CEO of SABMiller Americas on November 3O. Previously the President and Chief Executive Officer for Miller Brewing, Adami led the day-to-day operations at Miller from 2OO3 until August 2OO6, when he was promoted to the newly created position of President... Read More
PERNOD RICARD USA
DAN GRUNBECK has been named Vice President Sales, Pernod Ricard USA Wines. Grunbeck is an 18-year industry veteran who joins from the US division of William Grant & Sons, where he was Senior Vice President of Sales/National Sales Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing, Fine Wine Division. Among Grunbeck’s... Read More
FORTUNE BRANDS
BRUCE CARBONARI has been named Chief Executive, in addition to his current position of President and Chief Operating Officer. The new appointment will take effect January 1. Carbonari will succeed NORM WESLEY, who has been CEO since 1999. Wesley will continue to serve as Chairman of the board of directors.... Read More
MICHAEL JACKSON
I just learned that Michael Jackson has died. Jackson was immensely influential on all of us: drinkers, brewers, distillers, and of course, writers. (He could be almost too influential; I remember one writer telling me that he didn’t read Jackson’s work at all any more, because he didn’t want to... Read More
The GOOD VERSUS the BAD
TO DRINK OR NOT TO DRINK . . . that is the question. There’s a fine line to walk between health benefits from alcohol and health detriments from consumption. In the latest news, a large new Japanese study suggests that middle-aged men who drink heavily could see their blood pressure... Read More