News Briefs for June 11, 2014
June 11, 2014•The state of Tennessee has ended its inquiry into Diageo’s warehousing of some whiskey made at its Tullahoma-based George Dickel Distillery out-of-state. Tennessee dropped the issue after master distiller John Lunn testified yesterday in federal court that all George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey is in fact stored in Tennessee, according to state law. Dickel does warehouse some of its production in Kentucky, but only spirit that’s destined to be blended into other Diageo products, the Associated Press reported. Diageo began storing some of this blending whiskey in Kentucky in recent years after exhausting capacity at Dickel’s own warehouse. In April, Dickel opened a new $7 million warehouse—with a second, $5-million space in the works—to increase Diageo’s storage capacity within Tennessee.
•Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi is launching a new wine from its Nipozzano estate this month in the U.S. market. Nipozzano Vecchie Viti (Old Vines) is made from the oldest vineyards surrounding the Nipozzano Castle in the heart of the Chianti Rufina DOCG. The newcomer, which spent 24 months in large oak barrels, is 90% Sangiovese, with Malvasia Nera, Canaiolo and Colorino comprising the remaining 10%. Retailing at around $30 a bottle, Nipozzano Vecchie Viti will be distributed nationally in the U.S., where Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi’s wines are handled by Folio Fine Wine Partners.
•The New Zealand winegrape crop for 2014 was up 29% to 445,000 tonnes (490,000 tons), according to industry trade group New Zealand Winegrowers. Every wine region in the country reported a heavier crop this year, with the Nelson, Waipara and Central Otago regions exceeding 10,000 tonnes for the first time. New Zealand Winegrowers says the uptick will help the industry meet ongoing increases in consumer demand and further its progress toward its goal of reaching NZ$2 billion ($1.7b) in exports, from about NZ$1.3 billion ($1.1b) currently. Click here to read Wine Spectator’s Australia/New Zealand harvest report.
•Lake County, California-based Shannon Ridge Family of Wines has appointed Joy Merrilees as director of winemaking and production, effective immediately. She will be responsible for overseeing the production of the entire Shannon Ridge portfolio. Merrilees has previously worked at California’s Steele Wines and Kelsey Creek Brewing, Australia’s Margaret River Vintners and J. Christopher Wines in Oregon.
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