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
COCKTAILS for OUR KIDNEYS
IN GENERAL, people with kidney problems are advised to stay away from alcohol. But according to a recent Swedish study, drinking wine or beer may actually reduce the risk of kidney cancer. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm surveyed 855 kidney cancer patients and a control group of 12O4... Read More
INTERLOCKS: COMING SOON to a CAR NEAR YOU
LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM, it appears that ignition interlocks – the breathalyzer devices that get linked to a car’s ignition and won’t start if the driver is intoxicated – are here to stay. Jumping on the interlock bandwagon, several car manufacturers are working on their own versions of the... Read More