Weekly Headline Round-Up
DIAGEO CAPITALIZES ON HILARY’S PUBLICITY STUNT
An article in Ad Age calls Diageo “as shameless as politicians,” claiming the company “pounced” on the free publicity after Hillary Clint’s shot-and-a-beer act earlier this week. As you’ll recall, Hillary took a shot of Crown Royal and drank a beer in front of TV cameras in an Indiana bar, and Diageo is apparently using the incident as a marketing opportunity (do you blame them?).
"It used to be that whenever the cameras came around, you'd see the politicians hiding their drinks behind their back," said a Diageo spokesman to reporter Jeremy Mullman. "But she was using it ... as a way of touching the people."
While Diageo isn’t planning to use Clinton’s image in any Crown Royal ads, the company reportedly plans to send bottles of its obscure Jeremiah Weed Bourbon Liqueur to all three remaining presidential campaigns. Diageo hopes to boost the brand through sampling, word-of-mouth, and a brand website launched yesterday.
When asked why the company wasn't using the "watershed" moment to promote Crown Royal, the spokesman pointed out: "Well, you all are doing that for us."
ROBERT PARKER TOUTS FRENCH WINES AS THE BEST
Infamous American wine critic Robert Parker thinks French wines are the best in the world, outperforming California and every other region. In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper, he said: "French wines remain the benchmark for all countries producing great wines. Their boldness and intrinsic quality are indicators that influence winemakers in other countries," reports the AFP.
"French wines have considerably improved in quality, even during difficult years," said Parker, considered the world's leading Bordeaux expert.
With that said, he wasn’t too impressed with the 2007 vintage. He told the newspaper that the majority of the 2007 production was bland, "with a hereby taste... Overall, they are disappointing." Ouch.
VIRGINIA LAUNCHES STATE WHOLESALER
Virginia wineries have found a way to sidestep independent wholesalers through the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, a private, nonprofit state wholesaler that begins operation this week. The Virginia General Assembly agreed to the new venture last year after the state banned direct wine shipments in 2006. Virginia wineries that choose to participate may distribute up to 3,000 cases of wine per year through VWDC, which is associated with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The VWDC basically acts like a less-expensive wine wholesaler for small Virginia wineries. Wineries will continue to market their wine to shops and restaurants, but will place orders and make wholesaler deliveries through the VWDC. The VWDC will provide electronic purchase orders and invoices, collect and remit taxes, and submit government reports. By contract, VWDC and the winery share delivery workers, bonded warehouse space and delivery vehicles. The cost to Virginia wineries using the services of VWDC will be $5 per transaction initially, reports Wine Business. So far, 52 wineries and farm wineries have signed up to use VWDC, with 18 more pending.
WSD BRIEFS:
FANTESCA ESTATE & WINERY HIRED HEIDI BARRETT as the new winemaker, according to local reports. Robert Parker, Jr. named Heidi “The First Lady of Wine” after she became the only winemaker ever to have received five perfect scores from the top wine critics in the country. This marks her first venture since leaving Screaming Eagle.
TESCO WILL LAUNCH 10 additional Fresh & Easy stores in Las Vegas.
Until Monday, Megan
“All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.”
Sean O'Casey
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 15
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
An article in Ad Age calls Diageo “as shameless as politicians,” claiming the company “pounced” on the free publicity after Hillary Clint’s shot-and-a-beer act earlier this week. As you’ll recall, Hillary took a shot of Crown Royal and drank a beer in front of TV cameras in an Indiana bar, and Diageo is apparently using the incident as a marketing opportunity (do you blame them?).
"It used to be that whenever the cameras came around, you'd see the politicians hiding their drinks behind their back," said a Diageo spokesman to reporter Jeremy Mullman. "But she was using it ... as a way of touching the people."
While Diageo isn’t planning to use Clinton’s image in any Crown Royal ads, the company reportedly plans to send bottles of its obscure Jeremiah Weed Bourbon Liqueur to all three remaining presidential campaigns. Diageo hopes to boost the brand through sampling, word-of-mouth, and a brand website launched yesterday.
When asked why the company wasn't using the "watershed" moment to promote Crown Royal, the spokesman pointed out: "Well, you all are doing that for us."
ROBERT PARKER TOUTS FRENCH WINES AS THE BEST
Infamous American wine critic Robert Parker thinks French wines are the best in the world, outperforming California and every other region. In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper, he said: "French wines remain the benchmark for all countries producing great wines. Their boldness and intrinsic quality are indicators that influence winemakers in other countries," reports the AFP.
"French wines have considerably improved in quality, even during difficult years," said Parker, considered the world's leading Bordeaux expert.
With that said, he wasn’t too impressed with the 2007 vintage. He told the newspaper that the majority of the 2007 production was bland, "with a hereby taste... Overall, they are disappointing." Ouch.
VIRGINIA LAUNCHES STATE WHOLESALER
Virginia wineries have found a way to sidestep independent wholesalers through the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, a private, nonprofit state wholesaler that begins operation this week. The Virginia General Assembly agreed to the new venture last year after the state banned direct wine shipments in 2006. Virginia wineries that choose to participate may distribute up to 3,000 cases of wine per year through VWDC, which is associated with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The VWDC basically acts like a less-expensive wine wholesaler for small Virginia wineries. Wineries will continue to market their wine to shops and restaurants, but will place orders and make wholesaler deliveries through the VWDC. The VWDC will provide electronic purchase orders and invoices, collect and remit taxes, and submit government reports. By contract, VWDC and the winery share delivery workers, bonded warehouse space and delivery vehicles. The cost to Virginia wineries using the services of VWDC will be $5 per transaction initially, reports Wine Business. So far, 52 wineries and farm wineries have signed up to use VWDC, with 18 more pending.
WSD BRIEFS:
FANTESCA ESTATE & WINERY HIRED HEIDI BARRETT as the new winemaker, according to local reports. Robert Parker, Jr. named Heidi “The First Lady of Wine” after she became the only winemaker ever to have received five perfect scores from the top wine critics in the country. This marks her first venture since leaving Screaming Eagle.
TESCO WILL LAUNCH 10 additional Fresh & Easy stores in Las Vegas.
Until Monday, Megan
“All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.”
Sean O'Casey
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 15
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
posted at 10:42 AM
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