Zaca Mesa
Although the American Indian word zaca means “restful place”, it appears that Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos, California, founded in 1972, entered a blessedly restful phase only a few years ago. It’s original owners, a group of investors led by oilman Louis Ream, gave way in 1986 to the... Read More
Great American Beer Festival 2009
Things could have gone very differently this year. In the midst of the worst economy for consumer goods in more than half a century, craft and domestic brewers alike braced for a painful and unknown impact. They anticipated sharp declines, the product of worried consumers staying home and away from... Read More
Seasonal Beers
With all of the sustained and even explosive growth craft beer has enjoyed over the last decade, perhaps no area has been more active than seasonal beer. Brewers have long understood the importance of appealing to the changing consumer drinking patterns that accompany shifting weather patterns, which fuels the active... Read More
Endangered Cocktail: The Whisky Skin
COCKTALE If many single malt drinkers won’t add even a cube of ice to their Scotch, the thought of mixing that water of life into a cocktail is sure to make them shudder. Be that as it may, before blended Scotches erupted onto the scene in the 189Os (along with... Read More
Single Malt Whisky
While one brand of blended Scotch sells more than all single malt brands put together, and the category is dwarfed by vodka sales, single malts have led the way on ‘premiumization’, the marketing realization that consumers will pay more for a product with a better flavor, a better package, a... Read More
The Blends
“In the top tier of blended Scotch, it’s all price driven,”said Ryan Maloney of Julio’s Liquors in Westborough.“In the second tier, customers are switching to cost-friendly brands.” Maloney echoed the statements of retailers across the state. “The same brands are selling the same as always,”said Phil LeBlanc of Table &... Read More
2009 Gift Guide
The season of perpetual celebrations is finally upon us, which means chances are high that you’ll be seeing more and more unfamiliar faces appearing in your store. Whether they’re hosting a party or attending a friend’s, you’ll soon have lots of opportunities to interact with clients as they are soliciting... Read More
Monterey County
Although Franciscan missionaries in the 17OOs found what is known today as Monterey County to be ideal for viticulture, it was only in the 196Os that the US wine industry seriously entered the area. Urban sprawl increasingly forced wine producers to look further and further south of San Francisco for... Read More
Insanity
European regulators are shooting themselves in the foot, yet again. To begin with, France’s INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) is reportedly set to ban mention of grape variety from Alsace labels. When I mentioned this to a seasoned and wise international wine merchant, an éminence grise, he exclaimed, “Insane!”,... Read More