COMPASS BOX
MARC NICOLET has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President, National Sales Director. Nicolet began his 18-year career in the spirits industry in distributor sales at Empire Merchants in New York. He then moved to regional sales management positions for Ketel One, Cooper Spirits and Pisco Port’n. ... Read More
THE CLEOPATRA CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
by PINK LADY IT’S EASY TO FEEL the winter doldrums when February rolls around here in New England, so we recommend a little armchair traveling, courtesy of our favorite cocktail books. And we can hardly imagine a better way to lift the spirits than with Champagne, mixed into a classic... Read More
LAPOSTOLLE WINERY SOLD
GRUPPO CAMPARI has sold its Lapostolle wine and Pisco business “ì acquired as part of its takeover of Grand Marnier’s parent company “ì back to the Marnier family for $31 million. In 2O16 Campari took control of the French liqueur brand as part of its friendly takeover of parent company... Read More
WINE & CHEESE SHOTS
WINE IS GOOD and cheese is good but a wine and cheese shooter? Somehow that seems not so good. In late December PopSugar Food created a video showing how to make wine and cheese shots. It’s both fascinating and repellant at the same time. They’re made by melting cheese into... Read More
BANANA WINE, A RWANDAN SUCCESS STORY
BANANA WINE is probably not something you’ve ever considered but it happens to be a best-selling product in Rwanda. And it just may be coming to America. Winemaker Christine Murebwayire has turned her fermented banana juice into a national brand, but she has her sights set on expansion beyond the... Read More
THE MERRY QUEEN’S GLORIOUS OBSESSION
by HARVEY FINKEL FROM THE HIGHLANDS section of her native Newton, Massachusetts, to California’s Russian River Valley, from infant commoner to dubbed reigning Queen of Pinot Noir, much-honored Meredith Edwards, widely called “Merry,”ù evinces growing confidence and competence through her bottled progeny. We can trace the steppingstones: a teenager cooking... Read More
CABERNET FRANC
by SANDY BLOCK, MW THE LEGENDARY 2O12 Joseph Phelps Insignia contains a mere 2% Cabernet Franc. At Far Niente the same vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 1% Cabernet Franc. What possible difference can incorporating 1 or 2% of a particular grape variety into a wine make to its... Read More
SAMUEL ADAMS WINTER CLASSICS VARIETY PACK
The Winter Classics variety pack includes Boston Lager, Winter Lager, Chocolate Bock, Old Fezziwig and new brews, Hopflake IPA and Ginger Beer. The Hopflake is a wheat beer with notes of sweet lemon and orange with a slightly bready character. The Ginger is light-bodied with hints of citrus and spice... Read More
NARRAGANSETT AUTOCRAT COFFEE MILK STOUT
This seasonal release is a custom blend of Narragansett’s bittersweet milk stout with coffee extract from Autocrat Coffee, the key ingredient in Rhode Island’s official drink: coffee milk. The full-bodied brew has notes of roasted barley, chocolate malt and rich crystal malt. Suggested retail is $8.99 to $9.49... Read More
BORGOLUCE PROSECCO SUPERIORE DOCG
This brut Prosecco from Valdobbiadene has notes of yellow apples, pear, wisteria and wild flowers with a fine, rich flavor. Suggested retail is $25. AVAILABLE FROM Carolina Wine & Spirits