Vijay Mallya Wants Flavored Scotch
Speaking to the World Whiskies Conference last week, Mallya challenged the Scotch industry to open itself to Irish and American whiskies. He said the whiskey industry must unite and drop its stodgy image to make Scotch more appealing to younger demographics, the Scotsman reported. If not, Scotch could lose out to vodka or other categories.
Mallya suggested the industry experiment with natural additives and ingredients to create a “spectrum of flavors” – a practice that purists are very much against. He also called for a global whiskey association.
"The SWA spends too much time worrying about whether whisky is spelt with an 'e' or not when it should be broadening the appeal of Scotch whisky to take on other categories head on,” he said, as quoted in The Scotsman. “As an industry we should be looking at ways of making Scotch whisky far more appealing to a younger audience.”
"I have to say in the past the SWA has been a bit heavy-handed in its relations with India. Confrontation does not work in India, it just leads to stubbornness with a situation that a no is a no for the sake of politics,” he continued.
He of course refers to India’s clash with the Scotch industry, which claimed India imposed unfair tariffs on imports. The UK managed to have the national tax abolished last year, but Indian states have since imposed their own high duties on whiskey and other alcoholic imports.
WHO RELEASES DRAFT RESOLUTION ON ALCOHOL
The World Health Organization has released its draft resolution on reducing the harmful effects of alcohol, Harpers is reporting. The executive committee (compromised of 34 member states) of the WHO met in January and drafted a resolution to be submitted for adoption at the 61st World Healthy Assembly in Geneva, May 19-24, 2008.
The draft resolution makes a number of recommendations and requests. The main points are
as follows:
• Submit to the 63rd World Health Assembly in 2010, a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol that is based on all available evidence and existing best practices...
• This strategy should optimally combine available measures and interventions that target the general population, vulnerable groups, individuals and specific problems
• This strategy's aim is to support and complement public health policies in Member States, with special emphasis on an integrated approach to protect at-risk populations, young people and those affected by harmful drinking of others
• To ensure that the draft global strategy will be composed of a set of proposed measures recommended for states to implement at a national level taking into account the national circumstances of each country,
• To collaborate with member states as well as with intergovernmental organizations, health professionals, non-governmental organizations and economic operators on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol.
BOSTON BANS BOTTLE SERVICE
Boston’s licensing board chairman Daniel Pokaski is banning “bottle service” at nightclubs, claiming the service violates state and city alcohol laws. Pokaski says bottle service forces alcohol consumption and violates the city’s “happy hour” law that bans establishments from serving more than two drinks at a time to patrons. A letter will be sent to club owners alerting them that the service is banned, according to local reports.
"We're not New York and we're not South Beach," he said. "The city of Boston has a lot more to offer than just getting people inebriated."
BAROSSA VALLEY LAUNCHES E MINOR CHARDONNAY AND SHIRAZ
The producers of the E&E Black Pepper Shiraz are introducing the latest addition to the Barossa Valley Estates portfolio: 2006 E Minor Chardonnay and 2005 E Minor Shiraz. Considered the "little brothers" of the E&E Black Pepper, both wines are sourced from select vineyards from within the grower co-operative in the Australian Shiraz region.
Barossa Valley Estate is owned by Constellation Wines Australia. E Minor wines are available nationally for a retail price of $12.99.
TEXAS WINES EVOLVE, BENEFIT FROM TECHNOLOGY
Here are some interesting facts: Texas is the fifth largest grape and wine producing state in the U.S. and has more than 220 family-owned vineyards in a $1 billion industry. How do we know this? Well, besides being from Texas, Bloomberg published an interesting piece on Texas wines today. Most (95%) of the wines are consumed in Texas, but producers are hoping to change that. For one, winemakers are using technology to help produce all wines, such as Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, despite the intense heat of Texas.
As reporter John Mariani put it: “I had a chance to taste about 50 Texas wines...and I came away impressed with how they have evolved over the past decade.”
“I also wondered if too much Texan swagger is getting in the way of planting the best grapes in the best vineyards. Wineries are trying to grow dozens of varieties, from pinot grigio to Riesling, in climates that can be unsuitable to them,” he continued.
NORTH CAROLINA MAKES A NAME IN WINE
North Carolina wines have received rave reviews lately in the press, according to the News & Observer. The Today show’s food editor Phil Lempert said North Carolina’s coastal region was even poised to replace Napa once global warming kicks in. Many of the North Carolina producers disagree with the comparison and insist on making their own mark on winemaking.
Jim Hofman, author of the online site Wine Trails USA, also said North Carolina wines “are among the best in the United States.”
The state has 70 wineries and ranks 10th in the nation for wine and grape production. The 2007 vintage is supposed to be especially good.
PALANDRI WINE GROUP FINDS BUYER
Global Wine Holdings has purchased “certain assets” of the ailing Palandri Wine Group (based in Australia), according to administrators Deloitte. Premium wine company Palandri Wines went into voluntary administration in February with millions of dollars in debts to 2,500 creditors.
Global Wine is a newly-formed private company controlled by Chinese entrepreneur Xibo Ma. Xibo was formerly the second largest shareholder of Palandri.
WSD BRIEFS:
CHINESE ENTREPRENEUR SPENT A RECORD $500K ON 27 BOTTLES OF WINE, London-based Antique Wine Company told Reuters. The anonymous buyer purchased a mix of vintages of Romanee Conti, a Burgundy wine and one of the world’s most exclusive. It is the highest price that has ever been achieved for a single lot.
PATRON HAS EXPANDED ITS DISTRIBUTION INTO SPAIN AND RUSSIA, the company said today. Distributors in the countries will carry Patron tequila and Pyrat rum.
Until tomorrow, Megan
“I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
Sir Winston Churchill
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 16
Sell days this month: 22
Sell days this month last year: 21
This month ends on a: Wed.
This month last year ended on a: Mon.
YTD sell days Over/Under: 0
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: megan@winespiritsdaily.com
© 2008 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
Mallya suggested the industry experiment with natural additives and ingredients to create a “spectrum of flavors” – a practice that purists are very much against. He also called for a global whiskey association.
"The SWA spends too much time worrying about whether whisky is spelt with an 'e' or not when it should be broadening the appeal of Scotch whisky to take on other categories head on,” he said, as quoted in The Scotsman. “As an industry we should be looking at ways of making Scotch whisky far more appealing to a younger audience.”
"I have to say in the past the SWA has been a bit heavy-handed in its relations with India. Confrontation does not work in India, it just leads to stubbornness with a situation that a no is a no for the sake of politics,” he continued.
He of course refers to India’s clash with the Scotch industry, which claimed India imposed unfair tariffs on imports. The UK managed to have the national tax abolished last year, but Indian states have since imposed their own high duties on whiskey and other alcoholic imports.
WHO RELEASES DRAFT RESOLUTION ON ALCOHOL
The World Health Organization has released its draft resolution on reducing the harmful effects of alcohol, Harpers is reporting. The executive committee (compromised of 34 member states) of the WHO met in January and drafted a resolution to be submitted for adoption at the 61st World Healthy Assembly in Geneva, May 19-24, 2008.
The draft resolution makes a number of recommendations and requests. The main points are
as follows:
• Submit to the 63rd World Health Assembly in 2010, a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol that is based on all available evidence and existing best practices...
• This strategy should optimally combine available measures and interventions that target the general population, vulnerable groups, individuals and specific problems
• This strategy's aim is to support and complement public health policies in Member States, with special emphasis on an integrated approach to protect at-risk populations, young people and those affected by harmful drinking of others
• To ensure that the draft global strategy will be composed of a set of proposed measures recommended for states to implement at a national level taking into account the national circumstances of each country,
• To collaborate with member states as well as with intergovernmental organizations, health professionals, non-governmental organizations and economic operators on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol.
BOSTON BANS BOTTLE SERVICE
Boston’s licensing board chairman Daniel Pokaski is banning “bottle service” at nightclubs, claiming the service violates state and city alcohol laws. Pokaski says bottle service forces alcohol consumption and violates the city’s “happy hour” law that bans establishments from serving more than two drinks at a time to patrons. A letter will be sent to club owners alerting them that the service is banned, according to local reports.
"We're not New York and we're not South Beach," he said. "The city of Boston has a lot more to offer than just getting people inebriated."
BAROSSA VALLEY LAUNCHES E MINOR CHARDONNAY AND SHIRAZ
The producers of the E&E Black Pepper Shiraz are introducing the latest addition to the Barossa Valley Estates portfolio: 2006 E Minor Chardonnay and 2005 E Minor Shiraz. Considered the "little brothers" of the E&E Black Pepper, both wines are sourced from select vineyards from within the grower co-operative in the Australian Shiraz region.
Barossa Valley Estate is owned by Constellation Wines Australia. E Minor wines are available nationally for a retail price of $12.99.
TEXAS WINES EVOLVE, BENEFIT FROM TECHNOLOGY
Here are some interesting facts: Texas is the fifth largest grape and wine producing state in the U.S. and has more than 220 family-owned vineyards in a $1 billion industry. How do we know this? Well, besides being from Texas, Bloomberg published an interesting piece on Texas wines today. Most (95%) of the wines are consumed in Texas, but producers are hoping to change that. For one, winemakers are using technology to help produce all wines, such as Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, despite the intense heat of Texas.
As reporter John Mariani put it: “I had a chance to taste about 50 Texas wines...and I came away impressed with how they have evolved over the past decade.”
“I also wondered if too much Texan swagger is getting in the way of planting the best grapes in the best vineyards. Wineries are trying to grow dozens of varieties, from pinot grigio to Riesling, in climates that can be unsuitable to them,” he continued.
NORTH CAROLINA MAKES A NAME IN WINE
North Carolina wines have received rave reviews lately in the press, according to the News & Observer. The Today show’s food editor Phil Lempert said North Carolina’s coastal region was even poised to replace Napa once global warming kicks in. Many of the North Carolina producers disagree with the comparison and insist on making their own mark on winemaking.
Jim Hofman, author of the online site Wine Trails USA, also said North Carolina wines “are among the best in the United States.”
The state has 70 wineries and ranks 10th in the nation for wine and grape production. The 2007 vintage is supposed to be especially good.
PALANDRI WINE GROUP FINDS BUYER
Global Wine Holdings has purchased “certain assets” of the ailing Palandri Wine Group (based in Australia), according to administrators Deloitte. Premium wine company Palandri Wines went into voluntary administration in February with millions of dollars in debts to 2,500 creditors.
Global Wine is a newly-formed private company controlled by Chinese entrepreneur Xibo Ma. Xibo was formerly the second largest shareholder of Palandri.
WSD BRIEFS:
CHINESE ENTREPRENEUR SPENT A RECORD $500K ON 27 BOTTLES OF WINE, London-based Antique Wine Company told Reuters. The anonymous buyer purchased a mix of vintages of Romanee Conti, a Burgundy wine and one of the world’s most exclusive. It is the highest price that has ever been achieved for a single lot.
PATRON HAS EXPANDED ITS DISTRIBUTION INTO SPAIN AND RUSSIA, the company said today. Distributors in the countries will carry Patron tequila and Pyrat rum.
Until tomorrow, Megan
“I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
Sir Winston Churchill
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 16
Sell days this month: 22
Sell days this month last year: 21
This month ends on a: Wed.
This month last year ended on a: Mon.
YTD sell days Over/Under: 0
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: megan@winespiritsdaily.com
© 2008 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
posted at 1:59 PM
<< Home