DON SEBASTIANI & SONS
ROB MCNEILL has been hired as Director of Winemaking – a newly created position for the company. He has served as a member in many organizations including the American Society of Enology and Viticulture, Napa Valley Vintners, Atlas Peak Appellation Association, and Mendocino Grape Growers Associations.
WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
JONATHAN YUSEN has been promoted to Managing Director & President USA. Yusen joined William Grant & Sons in 2OO7 as Senior Vice President Marketing for the US. Prior to that he held management roles with Allied Domecq and General Mills. He succeeds SIMON HUNT, who was recently promoted to the... Read More
DIAGEO
Chief Executive PAUL WALSH will retire after 13 years at the helm of the drinks company, with Chief Operating Officer IVAN EMNEZES taking the reins July 1. During his tenure Walsh transformed Diageo from a conglomerate of food interests ranging from the Burger King chain to a dough manufacturer into... Read More
VAN GOGH IMPORTS
STEVE ACKERMAN has been appointed to the newly created position of National Sales Manager, Vice President. Before coming to Van Gogh Imports, he was the Assistant National Sales Manager for Distillerie Stock USA. Prior to that he served as the Northeast Division Manager for William Grant & Sons Inc.
HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES
CHUCK SUMMERS has been hired as On-Premise National Accounts Regional Manager. He will be responsible for brand distribution and promotional opportunities for the Heaven Hill portfolio. Summers has over 3O years of experience in the spirits industry. Prior to joining Heaven Hill, he worked for the Patron Spirits Company and... Read More
MARTIGNETTI COMPANIES
MARY MASTERS has been appointed Vice President of the Classic Wine Imports Division of Massachusetts. Masters, a Portfolio Manager with the company since 2OO6, has over twenty years of experience in the fine wine sector with a concentration on the distribution tier of the business. Previous she held roles with... Read More
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE GREAT DEBATE
Few things ire winemakers like the topic of global warming. Now, renowned French winemaker Michel Chapoutier has weighed in and voiced frustration over the recent grim press reports claiming the winemaking map will be entirely redrawn by 2O5O. “The scientific community in this study is holding the truth hostage,” Chapoutier... Read More
HELL HATH NO FURY . . .
Brunello producer Gianfranco Soldera doesn’t seem to know when people are trying to be nice to him and now he’s paying a seriously stiff penalty for being ungrateful. Soldera has been expelled from the local Consorzio and sued for libel over newspaper remarks made in connection with sabotage at his... Read More
2O11 PORT VINTAGE DECLARED
Great news for port lovers The Fladgate Partnership, comprising the historic houses of Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and Croft, has declared 2O11 a Vintage Port year for all three houses. “2O11 has produced textbook Vintage Ports, classics in every sense,” says Adrian Bridge, Managing Director. He added, “The wines have a... Read More
ANOTHER VERY GOOD YEAR FOR THE U.S. WINE MARKET
Wine sales in the UNITED STATES from all production sources − California, other US states and foreign countries − increased 2% from the previous year to a new record of 36O.1 million 9-liter cases with an estimated retail value of $34.6 billion, according to wine industry consultant Jon Fredrikson of... Read More