Robert Parker’s Cryptic Message
Famed wine critic Robert Parker posted a cryptic message on his blog yesterday that led to speculation all over the internet.
“One of the biggest stories in my 30 years in the wine field will be the detailed announcement ...officially set for tomorrow...that will shake the fine wine world ......and I am not referring to BOTTLE SHOCK the movie...,” he wrote (ellipses added by him).
It turns out that Chateau Cos d'Estournel (hailing from Bordeaux) announced the purchase of the historic Chateau Montelena in Napa. Some agree that Parker’s announcement may have been a little dramatic, but there’s no denying the rising success of Cos d'Estournel and the historical prominence of Chateau Montelena in Napa.
Details of the transaction were not included but an article in Decanter, among others, is speculating it will cost about $110 million or higher. Final authorization from US authorities is not expected until October 2008.
With regards to the news, Vinography writer Alder Yarrow wrote: “While I certainly don't think this event merits the description Parker used, it's certainly an interesting development, and if the economy continues the way it has recently, probably not the last time a prime Napa property will be snapped up by European investors of one kind or another.”
The 2008 vintage for Montelena will be overseen by Cos d'Estournel's director and winemaker.
SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS MERGES WITH THE ODOM CORP.
Southern Wine & Spirits has joined with The Odom Corporation in a merger across 7 Pacific Northwest states, which includes the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska and will also incorporate the Southern Wine Spirits West existing six-state Control States operation in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The new venture will encompass a strategic partnership for the distribution of wine throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho; wine and spirits within the state of Alaska; and the immediate establishment of a fully operational wine distributorship in the state of Oregon.
In a related transaction, the partnership has agreed to purchase certain wine and the spirits distribution rights from Alaska Distributors in the States of Alaska, Washington and Idaho.
Adam Hilpert was named executive vp, general manager to oversee the wine wholesaling division in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
James Allen will serve as executive vp, managing director, fine wine, of the Southern-Odom partnership and will also work closely with all current and prospective wine suppliers and trading partners.
Michael McLaughlin was appointed vp, general manager of pacific northwest six-state brokerage operations as well as Alaska’s Spirits Division.
The new ‘greenfield’ division in Oregon is scheduled to be completely operational and fully staffed by September 15, 2008.
All appointments are effective immediately and further management appointments to follow.
FOSTER’S HAS MIXED GROWTH IN THE U.S.
Foster’s U.S. sales growth was flat in the 52 weeks to the end of June, with Beringer growing only 1% in the eight weeks and Lindemans, Rosemount and Wolf Blass declining from the same period last year. Case sales of Foster’s wines priced below $9 declined -8% in the month while the category grew 2%.
Foster's wines priced above $9 a bottle were up 24% by volume, ahead of category growth of 7%. Penfold's was the only Foster's brand to exhibit any growth in the US market in June, up 7%. Sales of competitor Jacob's Creek, however, grew 11% in the same period.
ROBERT BERNING OF TRADER JOE’S DIES
We regret to inform you that Robert Berning, the principal wine buyer for Trader Joe's beginning in the 1970s, has died of bone cancer at the age of 73. He is most famous for introducing consumers to bargain priced wines from around the world after joining Pronto Market (now Trader Joe’s) in 1965. As head wine buyer, Berning played a major role in building Trader Joe's private label wine program. He retired from the company in the mid-1990’s.
He was born Jan. 25, 1935, in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. He’s survived by his daughter Christina Coulourides, he son Craig, daughters Nanette Berning-Pate and Julia Berning-Escamilla, his sisters, Evie Vesper and Laurie Berning, and 13 grandchildren.
To read more, click here.
MONDAVI FAMILY COMPLETES CLOUD VIEW PURCHASE
Continuum, a partnership of the Marcia and Tim Mondavi families and Margrit Biever Mondavi, announced today it has completed its purchase of Cloud View Vineyards on Pritchard Hill, overlooking the Napa Valley in St. Helena. Escrow closed on the deal on July 16, exactly 42 years after the opening of the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, reports Wines & Vines.
Until the new winery is completed at the Pritchard Hill property, Continuum will continue to be produced under an alternating proprietorship arrangement with Tony Cartlidge's Greenfield Wine Co. in America Canyon, CA.
Former owners of the property, Linda and Leighton Taylor, will continue to produce the Cloud View Vineyards brand that they launched in 1999. The Mondavis have reportedly searched for a permanent home for Continuum since 2005.
OKLAHOMA WINERIES AWAIT STATEWIDE VOTE
The Oklahoma legislature passed a bill that would allow both in-state and out-of-state wineries producing 10,000 gallons per year to bypass wholesalers and distribute the products directly to retailers. No products can be shipped via common carrier (such as Fed-Ex or UPS). Now, it’s up to the voters to make SB 995 a law. SJR 29 created State Question 743, to be presented to voters this November.
NEW LABEL REQUIREMENTS FOR LODI WINES
A new California law is requiring wineries to put “Lodi” on the labels of wine from the 552,000-acre Lodi American Viticultural Area, regardless of whether the labels name more specific vineyard locations. The bill, AB 2397, was supported by winegrape growers and wineries concerned about Lodi’s diminishing name recognition, reports the St. Helena Star.
WSD BRIEFS:
COGNAC ONE IMPORTS NEW XAVIER FLOURET WINES. Xavier Flouret Wines have been launched in the U.S. at a suggested retail price of $15-29. The portfolio consists of ten white, rose and red wines, including Nationale 7 (2006 Côtes de Provence Rosé), Fé (2001 Rioja Reserva Red) Rouge Noir (2006 Menetou-Salon Red), French Blonde (2007 Sancerre), and La Victoire (2005 Bordeaux Red). Beginning in the fall, the company will offer 5 additional wines with another 15 expected in the next year.
GLAZER’S TEXAS APPOINTS RYAN CHANDLER as GM, Cactus Spirits. Chandler will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities/execution on Cactus Spirits brands in the state. Ryan joined Glazer's in August of 2000 and has held a number of management positions.
LVMH HAS SELECTED MORPHEUS MEDIA as its new U.S. interactive agency of record following an extensive agency review. Morpheus will be responsible for domestic online marketing strategy and execution across the LVMH brands.
ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES HITS SHELVES. Absolut Los Angeles, a limited-edition, city-inspired flavor honoring the City of Angels. Celebrating the city's trend-forward ideals, said the company. It is made with all-natural blueberry, acai berry, acerola cherry, and fruity notes of pomegranate. Los Angeles will be available beginning in July at bars, restaurants, nightclubs and retailers nationwide.
PIPELINE BRANDS ANNOUNCES STEPHEN SCHULER is joining the company effective August 4th. Steve will serve in the newly created role as the Director of Brand and Market Development. Pipelines current clients include St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, the Rhum Clement and Rhum JM lineups of Martinique, Charbay Winery and Distillery of Napa, Ca., Palmes d’Or Champagne from Nicolas Feuillatte, Potocki Vodka of Poland and Coole Swan Dairy Cream Liqueur of Ireland.
Until tomorrow, Megan
“The time is now, the place is here. Stay in the present. You can do nothing to change the past, and the future will never come exactly as you plan or hope for.”
Dan Millman
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today’s Sell Day: 16
Sell days this month: 23
Sell days this month last year: 22
This month ends on a: Thur
This month last year ended on a: Tues.
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.
“One of the biggest stories in my 30 years in the wine field will be the detailed announcement ...officially set for tomorrow...that will shake the fine wine world ......and I am not referring to BOTTLE SHOCK the movie...,” he wrote (ellipses added by him).
It turns out that Chateau Cos d'Estournel (hailing from Bordeaux) announced the purchase of the historic Chateau Montelena in Napa. Some agree that Parker’s announcement may have been a little dramatic, but there’s no denying the rising success of Cos d'Estournel and the historical prominence of Chateau Montelena in Napa.
Details of the transaction were not included but an article in Decanter, among others, is speculating it will cost about $110 million or higher. Final authorization from US authorities is not expected until October 2008.
With regards to the news, Vinography writer Alder Yarrow wrote: “While I certainly don't think this event merits the description Parker used, it's certainly an interesting development, and if the economy continues the way it has recently, probably not the last time a prime Napa property will be snapped up by European investors of one kind or another.”
The 2008 vintage for Montelena will be overseen by Cos d'Estournel's director and winemaker.
SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS MERGES WITH THE ODOM CORP.
Southern Wine & Spirits has joined with The Odom Corporation in a merger across 7 Pacific Northwest states, which includes the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska and will also incorporate the Southern Wine Spirits West existing six-state Control States operation in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The new venture will encompass a strategic partnership for the distribution of wine throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho; wine and spirits within the state of Alaska; and the immediate establishment of a fully operational wine distributorship in the state of Oregon.
In a related transaction, the partnership has agreed to purchase certain wine and the spirits distribution rights from Alaska Distributors in the States of Alaska, Washington and Idaho.
Adam Hilpert was named executive vp, general manager to oversee the wine wholesaling division in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
James Allen will serve as executive vp, managing director, fine wine, of the Southern-Odom partnership and will also work closely with all current and prospective wine suppliers and trading partners.
Michael McLaughlin was appointed vp, general manager of pacific northwest six-state brokerage operations as well as Alaska’s Spirits Division.
The new ‘greenfield’ division in Oregon is scheduled to be completely operational and fully staffed by September 15, 2008.
All appointments are effective immediately and further management appointments to follow.
FOSTER’S HAS MIXED GROWTH IN THE U.S.
Foster’s U.S. sales growth was flat in the 52 weeks to the end of June, with Beringer growing only 1% in the eight weeks and Lindemans, Rosemount and Wolf Blass declining from the same period last year. Case sales of Foster’s wines priced below $9 declined -8% in the month while the category grew 2%.
Foster's wines priced above $9 a bottle were up 24% by volume, ahead of category growth of 7%. Penfold's was the only Foster's brand to exhibit any growth in the US market in June, up 7%. Sales of competitor Jacob's Creek, however, grew 11% in the same period.
ROBERT BERNING OF TRADER JOE’S DIES
We regret to inform you that Robert Berning, the principal wine buyer for Trader Joe's beginning in the 1970s, has died of bone cancer at the age of 73. He is most famous for introducing consumers to bargain priced wines from around the world after joining Pronto Market (now Trader Joe’s) in 1965. As head wine buyer, Berning played a major role in building Trader Joe's private label wine program. He retired from the company in the mid-1990’s.
He was born Jan. 25, 1935, in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. He’s survived by his daughter Christina Coulourides, he son Craig, daughters Nanette Berning-Pate and Julia Berning-Escamilla, his sisters, Evie Vesper and Laurie Berning, and 13 grandchildren.
To read more, click here.
MONDAVI FAMILY COMPLETES CLOUD VIEW PURCHASE
Continuum, a partnership of the Marcia and Tim Mondavi families and Margrit Biever Mondavi, announced today it has completed its purchase of Cloud View Vineyards on Pritchard Hill, overlooking the Napa Valley in St. Helena. Escrow closed on the deal on July 16, exactly 42 years after the opening of the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, reports Wines & Vines.
Until the new winery is completed at the Pritchard Hill property, Continuum will continue to be produced under an alternating proprietorship arrangement with Tony Cartlidge's Greenfield Wine Co. in America Canyon, CA.
Former owners of the property, Linda and Leighton Taylor, will continue to produce the Cloud View Vineyards brand that they launched in 1999. The Mondavis have reportedly searched for a permanent home for Continuum since 2005.
OKLAHOMA WINERIES AWAIT STATEWIDE VOTE
The Oklahoma legislature passed a bill that would allow both in-state and out-of-state wineries producing 10,000 gallons per year to bypass wholesalers and distribute the products directly to retailers. No products can be shipped via common carrier (such as Fed-Ex or UPS). Now, it’s up to the voters to make SB 995 a law. SJR 29 created State Question 743, to be presented to voters this November.
NEW LABEL REQUIREMENTS FOR LODI WINES
A new California law is requiring wineries to put “Lodi” on the labels of wine from the 552,000-acre Lodi American Viticultural Area, regardless of whether the labels name more specific vineyard locations. The bill, AB 2397, was supported by winegrape growers and wineries concerned about Lodi’s diminishing name recognition, reports the St. Helena Star.
WSD BRIEFS:
COGNAC ONE IMPORTS NEW XAVIER FLOURET WINES. Xavier Flouret Wines have been launched in the U.S. at a suggested retail price of $15-29. The portfolio consists of ten white, rose and red wines, including Nationale 7 (2006 Côtes de Provence Rosé), Fé (2001 Rioja Reserva Red) Rouge Noir (2006 Menetou-Salon Red), French Blonde (2007 Sancerre), and La Victoire (2005 Bordeaux Red). Beginning in the fall, the company will offer 5 additional wines with another 15 expected in the next year.
GLAZER’S TEXAS APPOINTS RYAN CHANDLER as GM, Cactus Spirits. Chandler will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities/execution on Cactus Spirits brands in the state. Ryan joined Glazer's in August of 2000 and has held a number of management positions.
LVMH HAS SELECTED MORPHEUS MEDIA as its new U.S. interactive agency of record following an extensive agency review. Morpheus will be responsible for domestic online marketing strategy and execution across the LVMH brands.
ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES HITS SHELVES. Absolut Los Angeles, a limited-edition, city-inspired flavor honoring the City of Angels. Celebrating the city's trend-forward ideals, said the company. It is made with all-natural blueberry, acai berry, acerola cherry, and fruity notes of pomegranate. Los Angeles will be available beginning in July at bars, restaurants, nightclubs and retailers nationwide.
PIPELINE BRANDS ANNOUNCES STEPHEN SCHULER is joining the company effective August 4th. Steve will serve in the newly created role as the Director of Brand and Market Development. Pipelines current clients include St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, the Rhum Clement and Rhum JM lineups of Martinique, Charbay Winery and Distillery of Napa, Ca., Palmes d’Or Champagne from Nicolas Feuillatte, Potocki Vodka of Poland and Coole Swan Dairy Cream Liqueur of Ireland.
Until tomorrow, Megan
“The time is now, the place is here. Stay in the present. You can do nothing to change the past, and the future will never come exactly as you plan or hope for.”
Dan Millman
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today’s Sell Day: 16
Sell days this month: 23
Sell days this month last year: 22
This month ends on a: Thur
This month last year ended on a: Tues.
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 12:39 PM
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