Liquor Industry News/Links 02-11-19

Franklin Liquors

Liquor Industry News/Links

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

By: Mark C Lenzi

CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*

02-11-2019

Liquor Industry Week In Review

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

This Weeks Highlights:

New Products

NUTRITIONAL FACTS OF WINE

Does Clear Ice Really Matter?

WHAT AMERICA DRINKS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

AND MORE!

Mezcal’s popularity puts pressure on producers

While Tequila has taken off, younger sibling mezcal is raring to go. But with its increasing popularity comes pressure on the raw materials that are used to make it, and the need to educate potential consumers about the spirit.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2019/01/mezcal-piggybacking-off-the-success-of-tequila/

Dry for 162 years, Massachusetts’s town now allows alcohol sales

The Rockport Board of Selectmen this week voted unanimously to give the coastal community’s only grocery store a license for take-home alcohol sales.

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/01/26/dry-for-162-years-massachusetts-town-now-allows-alcohol-sales

New Svedka Rosé Vodka

Svedka has unveiled a new Rosé extension, a 30%-abv vodka containing 5% rosé wine. Launching next month at $17 a 1-liter bottle, the new expression will have dedicated advertising through the brand’s recently introduced “Bring Your Own Spirit” campaign, and will receive the largest spend for any Svedka flavor launch to date. Constellation tells SND that the rosé vodka holds strategic value for the brand as it looks to expand in on-premise markets.

“Svedka was built in the off-premise, and we continue to dominate in that channel,” says Carl Evans, Constellation’s vice president for spirits marketing. “Based on the Rosé movement in the on-premise, we’re confident this SKU will flourish there as well. We’ve been laser-focused on programming for the on-premise and have seen tremendous potential for Svedka Rosé within the cocktail culture.” According to Impact Databank, Svedka grew 1% to 4.4 million cases in the U.S. last year.

The Lost Wine Consumer of 2019

The industry isn’t only at a cross-roads, we stand a chance of losing the wine consumer altogether.

https://svbwine.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-lost-wine-consumer-of-2019.html

Sicily rediscovers six indigenous grape varieties previously thought to be extinct

Rediscovered and added to the Italian National Register of Grape Varieties. The six grapes are the reds Inzolia Nera, Lucignola, Orisi, Usirioto and Vitrarolo, and the white Recunu.

http://imbibe.com/news-articles/wines/sicily-rediscovers-six-indigenous-grape-varieties-previously-thought-extinct/

Should you stop drinking prosecco for ethical reasons?

Demand for the Italian white wine has surged in recent years, and increased production has led to soil erosion. So should prosecco join beef and others on the naughty list?

https://www.theguardian.com/food/shortcuts/2019/jan/28/should-you-stop-drinking-prosecco-for-ethical-reasons

Are organic grapes better for winemaking?

Here are the results from recent studies, which have focused on the consequences that alternative farming systems have on vine, grape and wine parameters.

https://blog.vintagereport.com/en/2019/01/21/organic-grapes-winemaking/

HOW TO REALLY USE MARSALA WINE

Famous British chef Delia Smith boosted sales of Marsala years ago when she poured the amber liquid into one of her famous recipes.
http://www.snooth.com/articles/how-to-really-use-marsala-wine/?viewall=1#ixzz5e1LQvypf

The World’s Best Places for Growing Chenin Blanc

To understand everything there is to know about the French variety, here’s a guide to the different styles and regions of Chenin Blanc production worldwide.

https://vinepair.com/articles/best-chenin-blanc-types-guide/

The Rise of Australia’s Other Grapes

Grenache, Roussanne, and Nebbiolo are among the varieties helping to redefine Australian wine

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-rise-of-australias-other-grapes/

10% Of U.S. Wine Retail Sales Shipped Direct To Consumers In 2018

According to the 2019 Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Wine Shipping Report, over 6 million cases of domestic U.S. wine were shipped DtC in 2018 (up 9% over 2017

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomaspellechia/2019/01/26/10-of-u-s-wine-retail-sales-shipped-direct-to-consumers-in-2018/#2491c13d2c44

CHAMPAGNE EXPORTS OVERTAKE DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION FOR FIRST TIME IN OVER 50 YEARS

Estimated figures for total shipments during the past year show that more Champagne was consumed in foreign markets than France for the first time in over 50 years.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2019/01/champagne-exports-overtake-domestic-consumption-for-first-time-in-over-50-years/

Shanken News Daily Launches Weekly Cannabis Edition

In response to the rapid emergence of cannabis as a consumer category in North America, Shanken News Daily is pleased to announce that it will launch a new weekly newsletter covering the cannabis market, with a special focus on the movements of major drinks industry companies.

https://newsletters.shankennewsdaily.com/cannabisedition/

Mondavi Targets Female Drinkers With New Flat Top Hills Brand

Mondavi & Family is introducing a new California wine brand, Flat Top Hills, aimed at female consumers in their 30s and 40s with household income in the $45,000-$80,000 range. The new brand includes five wines: a Sauvignon Blanc ($14), Rosé ($14), Chardonnay ($14), Red Blend ($16), and Cabernet Sauvignon ($16).

“We’re looking to strengthen our overall brand portfolio with the addition of Flat Top Hills in a growing price segment,” says Mark Koppen, C. Mondavi’s vice president of marketing. The new franchise will debut February 1 in select on- and off-premise accounts in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, with additional markets slated to launch this fall. Sourced from Yolo County, Dunnigan Hills, Monterey Coast, Lodi, Sonoma County, and the Central Coast, the brand is named for the flat-topped summits of the Mondavi family’s Dunnigan Hills vineyards, where consulting winemaker Angelina Mondavi and her siblings and cousins played as children.

Overall, C. Mondavi had volume of over 1.5 million cases last year. “We’re seeing strong trends in our core Charles Krug Napa Valley wines as well as our CK Mondavi and Family line of everyday wines,” Koppen notes, adding that Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet varietals are performing especially well, and that the company is seeing “some positive signs in Merlot.”

Drinking wine better than exercise if you want to live a long life, study finds

A recent study from the University of California found those who drank two glasses of beer or wine every day had a better chance of living longer

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/110247551/drinking-wine-better-than-exercise-if-you-want-to-live-a-long-life-study-finds

MARLBOROUGH, WHERE SAUVIGNON BLANC FLIES CLOSE TO THE SUN
At the northeastern tip of the South Island it is sheltered from all the major and most extreme climatic influences, and instead has a sunny but fresh maritime climate – ideal for Sauvignon Blanc.
https://aroundtheworldin80harvests.com/2018/12/14/marlborough-sauvignon-blanc-mecca/?fbclid=IwAR0x6HZSIYFaKm_2mwLkFg5jk8tleZv5rROIALMmNplDe4xwSYjRgU_2sO0

BRAD AND ANGELINA’S MIRAVAL TO LAUNCH NEW ROSÉ

Château Miraval, which is still co-owned by Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has announced the launch of a new rosé to join its established Miraval Rosé, launched in 2012, called ‘Studio by Miraval’.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2019/01/brad-and-angelinas-chateau-miraval-to-launch-new-rose/

THE MOST EXPENSIVE VINEYARDS IN BORDEAUX, MAPPED

Here are the most expensive vineyards in Bordeaux, by land prices per hectare, in 2017.

https://vinepair.com/articles/most-expensive-bordeaux-vineyards-map/?utm_source=The+Drop+by+VinePair&utm_campaign=0301a8029a-Jan_30_2019&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b653fb8c99-0301a8029a-38937345&goal=0_b653fb8c99-0301a8029a-38937345&mc_cid=0301a8029a&mc_eid=d42ed911dc

8 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SCREAMING EAGLE WINERY

Founded in 1986 by former real estate agent Jean Phillips, Screaming Eagle epitomizes low-production, exclusive Napa winemaking.

https://vinepair.com/articles/screaming-eagle-best-napa-cabernet/?utm_source=The+Drop+by+VinePair&utm_campaign=0301a8029a-Jan_30_2019&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b653fb8c99-0301a8029a-38937345&goal=0_b653fb8c99-0301a8029a-38937345&mc_cid=0301a8029a&mc_eid=d42ed911dc

Head of French Taittinger Champagne house says the ‘crazy’ English invented the fizzy wine

It was an English physician, Christopher Merret, who first described the process of adding sugar to a wine to carbonate it by creating a second fermentation.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/30/head-french-taittinger-champagne-house-says-crazy-english-invented/

WHAT AMERICA DRINKS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Seasonal drinking is America’s most accessible pastime.

https://vinepair.com/articles/best-drinks-holidays-year/

Learn to Taste by Taking Better Wine Tasting Notes

Why Taking Notes Makes You Smarter

https://winefolly.com/review/learn-to-taste-by-taking-better-wine-tasting-notes/

Does Clear Ice Really Matter?

Many top-tier bars still argue that clear ice offers little beyond aesthetics. But that’s not the only consideration.

https://punchdrink.com/articles/does-making-clear-ice-cubes-really-matter-cocktail-bars/

How Natural Wines Develop Reductive Notes

With little or no sulfites added, natural wines should be more at risk of oxidation. So why do some yield reductive notes?

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/how-natural-wines-develop-reductive-notes/

Cannabis, wine still a murky mixture

Experts see crossover opportunities, but regulations and other obstacles loom.

https://www.farmprogress.com/grapes/cannabis-wine-still-murky-mixture

How Do You Prevent Wine Fraud? With Blockchain-Enabled Labels

Not that most of consider it on a regular basis, but fraud is a serious issue in the wine world.

https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/blockchain-traceable-wine

Pringles Wine Tumblers Exist, So Now You Can Channel Your Inner Walmart Woman

Have you been following the story of aTexas woman who won everyone’s hearts after getting banned from Walmart for drinking wine out of a Pringles can while operating an electric scooter?

https://www.myrecipes.com/news/pringles-wine-tumblers

NUTRITIONAL FACTS OF WINE

Let’s consider the nutritional facts behind your wines to, at least, knock one worry off your plate and help you plan accordingly for the goals you’re setting

https://ilikethisgrape.com/the-nutritional-considerations-for-wine

You Never Have To Choose Again: Wine Cocktails Are Here And Damn, They’re Delicious

Do I want to drink wine tonight? Or am I in the mood for an interesting cocktail? Turns out, there is a solution: A wine cocktail.

https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/217838/how-to-make-wine-cocktails/

NINE PRODUCERS BREAK WITH CAVA TO FORM ‘CORPINNAT’

Nine producers have formally broken ties with the Cava DO to form their own EU-recognised body known as Corpinnat with the first bottles bearing the name due to be released this spring.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2019/02/nine-producers-break-with-cava-to-form-corpinnat/

New Angels Envy

Louisville, Kentucky’s Angel’s Envy will launch a Sherry cask-finished Bourbon in limited quantities on February 15. The 50% abv whiskey ($200) is blended from Bourbon aged between four and nine years before spending an additional two to three years finishing in Oloroso Sherry casks. Only 3,600 bottles of Angel’s Envy Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks will be available at the brand’s distillery and in select retailers in Kentucky. Bacardi acquired Angel’s Envy in 2015.

NBA Kings and Bogle Vineyards Release “Proud Roots” 2016 Vintage Wine

Grapes Harvested in 2016 Celebrate Golden 1 Center’s Opening and Highlight Sacramento’s Agricultural Community — Wine will be available at Golden 1 Center on February 2

https://www.nba.com/kings/news/sacramento-kings-and-bogle-vineyards-release-proud-roots-2016-vintage-wine

VinePair Continues to Be Largest and Fastest Growing Drinks Media Brand 2019

Brings Wine & Beer Reviews & Print Magazine Launch
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4136722#ixzz5eO0do8Oa

Sting Operation Targets Cheap Grapes in Fancy Wines

More than 50 companies tied to Italian wine exports are under investigation for fraudulent practices.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/sting-operation-targets-cheap-grapes-in-fancy-wines

We all whine about the cold, but what about the wine?

Minnesota wine grapes are designed to survive the cold, but is this cold too much for them?

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/we-all-whine-about-the-cold-but-what-about-the-wine/89-4981dc90-bd22-4caf-8991-46f52cf0e2ad

Drink Up at the Booze History Museum of Staten Island

Tours are usually conducted in Russian, and they frequently turn into larger celebrations of Jewish and Russian culture, with musical performances and potluck buffets.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/nyregion/vodka-russia-museum-staten-island.html

Which foods or beverages should I avoid before a wine tasting? And is there anything that I should be eating or drinking before a tasting?

Good question—professional tasters have a variety of pregame rituals. This is also a good time to bring up that before (and while) tasting wine, it’s smart to avoid heavy scents, like perfume, smoke or even lotions and soaps. It’s also important to pay attention to certain supplements or drugs, prescription or otherwise, that might interfere with your taste buds (or be contra-indicated with alcohol, even if you are spitting). Some antibiotics can cause a bitter aftertaste, for example.

Every taster has their own list of foods that might personally clash with wines. For me, things like Brussels sprouts, raw garlic or onions and cauliflower tend to repeat on me, and that aftertaste can be very distracting. I also avoid the foods that are known to fight with wine: asparagus, artichokes, oily fishes (no tuna fish sandwiches!), vinegar and pickled items. Some tasters avoid coffee and tea, which both also have a lot of tannins, before a tasting. Bitter and spicy foods can also sensitize taste buds, causing tannins or acidity to seem harsher.

In general, professional tasters tend to make sure to stay hydrated (with water), and most stick to healthy, neutral meals on tasting days. I also like to taste when I’m a little bit hungry—I feel like it heightens my perceptions—but it’s a fine line, because I hate to taste when I’m starving, because I find a grumbling tummy distracting. Some tasters also like to eat plain crackers during a tasting, which can help alleviate tannin fatigue.

What Wine Marketers Should Know about Cannabis Consumers

Adult-use cannabis legalization has ushered in a new consumer of THC products—here’s a snapshot of the demographic

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/what-wine-marketers-should-know-about-cannabis-consumers/

Franklin Liquors New Daily Newspaper

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)