News Briefs for September 26, 2012
September 26, 2012•Pernod Ricard USA has added two new brands from Pernod’s Corby Distilleries unit in Canada: Wiser’s Canadian whisky and Polar Ice vodka. Previously distributed in the U.S. by McCormick Distilling, the two brands came to Pernod USA effective July 1 in a contract running to June 30, 2017. The Wiser’s portfolio includes Wiser’s Deluxe, Wiser’s Legacy and Wiser’s 18-Year-Old (which was awarded Canadian Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate this year). Wiser’s shipped 786,000 cases globally in the 12 months through June, with Canada accounting for 717,000 cases. Polar Ice shipped 394,000 cases in 2011, with 350,000 going to the domestic Canadian market. New Pernod Ricard USA president Bryan Fry, who took over for Paul Duffy September 1, said both brands would benefit from Pernod’s U.S. route to market and track record for premium brand-building.
•Higher-end brands continued to drive U.S. wine growth in SymphonyIRI channels in the year-to-date through September 9. Wines priced $20 and over were the fastest-growing price segment of the market by volume during the period, rising 18.4%, with the $15-$20, $11-$15 and $8-$11 segments following, in that order. Wines below $5 continued to decline in the year-to-date period. Overall, domestic table wines grew 3.3% by volume, while imports slipped 2.3%. Among domestic sources, Oregon (up 15.9%) posted the fastest percentage growth while New Zealand (up 24%) led among imported wines.
•Peter Lehmann Wines has named Matt Lane as vice president, Peter Lehmann Wines Americas, effective immediately. Lane will be based in Napa at The Hess Collection Winery (Peter Lehmann Wines is a member of Hess Family Wine Estates) and report directly to Peter Lehmann CEO Jeff Bond. In the newly created position, Lane will oversee extensive wine education programs for the brand’s distributor and retail partners in Canada, the U.S. and the Americas. Lane most recently served at Treasury Wine Estates, where he was Americas sales director for the luxury Heirloom Wine Group. He was also previously head sommelier and senior wine educator for Penfolds and then the brand’s ambassador in the Americas.
•Glen Rock, New Jersey-based Opici Wines is partnering with Ramona Singer, a star of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” to create a new extension for the Ramona Wines line—Ramona Red. The Sangiovese-Merlot blend is made from Chianti grapes and is billed as a “mini-Super-Tuscan” with cherry fruit flavors and spicy oak as a back note. It will begin shipping to retailers nationwide in October priced at $14.99 a 750-ml. The launch follows the release of Singer’s debut wine, Ramona Pinot Grigio, in 2011.
•Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s luxury Andaz hotel brand has opened its first Northern California outpost. Located in downtown Napa Valley and in proximity to the region’s wineries, tasting rooms and gourmet restaurants, the 141-room Andaz Napa caters specifically to wine tourists. The hotel’s signature restaurant—Andaz Farmer’s Table—offers a “Napa-to-Table” menu created by chef Sarah Linkenheil, featuring produce locally sourced from community gardens and select Northern California ranches. Mercantile Social, the hotel bar, is led by mixologist Caitlin Laman and focuses primarily on cocktails made with regional, small-batch spirits, including Napa’s Charbay Vodka and Bay Area-based St. George Spirits. Both the restaurant and bar offer high-end, boutique Napa Valley wines, as well as a selection of locally produced craft beers. Andaz Napa is one of seven Andaz hotels in the U.S., including two locations in New York City, single outposts in San Diego, West Hollywood and Savannah, and the upcoming Andaz Maui, set to open spring 2013.
•Wolfgang Puck’s acclaimed Los Angeles restaurant Spago has reopened after closing for renovations in June. The redesigned venue now features a glass-encased wine rack displaying 7,000 bottles, an open kitchen and a patio with a retractable roof. Spago’s menu has also been revamped, featuring dishes with a stronger Asian influence created by chef de cuisine Tetsu Yahagi. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Spago, which debuted in Hollywood before relocating to its current location in Beverly Hills in 1997.
•Bravo Media is launching a Top Chef-branded pop-up restaurant called Top Chef Kitchen in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood beginning October 16th and lasting through November 18th. Bravo is collaborating with the restaurant operators of Distilled NY on the limited-time restaurant, at which each week a different pair of former Top Chef contestants will serve their own specialty prix fixe menus. Guests can chose to have the four-course menu with or without wine pairings, or they can reserve the Chef’s Table eight-course tasting menu with wine pairings and exclusive seating near the kitchen where they can interact with the chefs. Top Chef Kitchen will also offer a full cocktail program and an extensive wine list including Quickfire Wines, created by Terlato Wines in partnership with Bravo Media.
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Tagged : hotels, Pernod Ricard, restaurants
