News Briefs for April 15, 2013
April 15, 2013•Florida energy executive Bill Koch was awarded $12 million in punitive damages Friday in his court victory over fellow wine collector Eric Greenberg in Manhattan, Wine Spectator reports. Koch spent $3.7 million at a Zachys auction of 17,000 bottles from Greenberg’s cellar in October 2005, and alleged that 24 of the bottles he bought were fakes and that Greenberg knew it.
•The Florida legislature is considering two bills that could allow wine in kegs at bars and restaurants across the state. The Florida House unanimously approved its bill (HB 623) on March 22 and the Senate’s version, SB 658, could come up for a vote some time this week. Supporters say that serving wine on tap offers consumers fresh wine by the glass every time, as well as a more environmentally conscious option, holding the equivalent of 26 bottles in a reusable container. Florida’s current law caps the size of wine containers at 3 liters. It is one of only two states left—the other being Utah—to prohibit wine in kegs.
•Symington Family Estates has declared 2011 a vintage year for its full Port portfolio, which includes the Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s, Warre’s, Quinta do Vesuvio and Smith Woodhouse brands. The harvest was positively influenced by strong winter rains in 2010 and unusually warm weather in the spring of 2011, Symington said, which also resulted in reduced production. The Symington 2011 vintage Ports were all made with grapes sourced from the family’s vineyards, which span more than 2,300 acres in the Douro Valley. 2011 marks Symington’s third vintage declaration since 2000.
•The Wine Spectator Auction Index, which tracks sales of commercial wine auctions in the U.S., rose 2.14% to 313.13 points in the first quarter of 2013, marking the second quarter in a row that the index recorded an uptick. Percent-sold rates remained at a very healthy 97%.
•Aveníu Brands has named Glazer’s as its exclusive distributor in Indiana. The appointment represents a newly enhanced strategic alignment between Glazer’s and Aveníu, whose portfolio includes such wine and spirits brands as Artesa, Anna de Codorníu Cava, Septima, Vina Zaco, James Mitchell, Clos La Chance, Amarula Cream Liqueur, Piccini, Raimat and Elements. With annual revenues of around $125 million in Indiana, Glazer’s is currently the state’s third-leading spirits and wine distributor, behind Republic National Distributing Co. and Southern Wine & Spirits.
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