Exclusive news and research on the wine, spirits and beer business

Daily Archive: January 5, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: White Rock’s Coulombe Discusses Pinnacle Phenomenon

Lewiston, Maine-based White Rock Distilleries has risen to the fore as one of the U.S. spirits market’s top brand innovators, particularly in vodka. After selling its fast-growing Three Olives vodka to Proximo Spirits in 2007, it quickly reloaded with a new vodka label, Pinnacle, sourced from France and selling for $14 a bottle, down a price tier from Three Olives. Pinnacle grew from 265,000 cases in 2008 to 1.4 million cases in 2010. But last year it nearly doubled to 2.7 million cases—according to Impact Databank—riding the wave created by its Whipped flavor extension. Continue reading →

Posted in News on January 5, 2012

Constellation’s U.S. Shipments Slip, But Depletions Rise In Q3

Constellation Brands reported today that its core U.S. wine business saw shipments slip 10.3% to 12.2 million cases in the three months through November, its fiscal third quarter, and 5.9% to 35.3 million cases in the nine months through the same date. Continue reading →

Posted in News on January 5, 2012

News Briefs for January 5, 2012

•As part of its weeklong unveiling of the 25 Best Cigars of 2011, Cigar Aficionado announced the names of Cigars No. 4, 3 and 2 earlier today. Continue reading →

Posted in News on January 5, 2012