News Briefs for August 22, 2023

•Mary Dowling, Jack Daniel’s Rye, Glencadam 18 year old, and newcomers from Old Fitzgerald and Jefferson’s are among the offerings featured in Whisky Advocate’s latest weekly roundup.

Here are all the details.

•The Calling, part of the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits portfolio, is introducing a new single vineyard Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay. Retailing at $70, the limited-production offering is sourced from the Charles Heintz vineyard, located about 900 feet above sea-level nine miles from the Sonoma Coast. It was aged 16 months in 100% French Oak, 30% new. The Calling was founded by Deutsch Family CEO Peter Deutsch and Emmy-winning sports commentator Jim Nantz.

•San Francisco-based distiller and importer Hotaling & Co. has named Liz Brusca vice president of marketing, owned brands. The appointment marks Brusca’s return to Hotaling, where she previously worked from 2011 to 2021. In this new role, Brusca and her team of six will look to grow brands like Hirsch whiskey, Old Potrero Rye, Junipero Gin, Fiero Spicy Tequila, Severo Tequila, Convite mezcal, and Denizen rum, while reporting to company CMO Brian Radics. Brusca has over 20 years of experience in the spirits industry.

•California’s Line 39, part of the O’Neill Vintners & Distillers portfolio, has launched Organic, a new line of wines aimed at the “better for you” market segment. Line 39 Organic was created by winemaker Alyssa Reynolds and debuts with three releases—a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay, and a rosé—all sourced from organic grape growers in California. The line carries a suggested price of $15 a bottle and is now available in select locations across the U.S. Line 39 depleted 543,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.

•Lobos 1707, the Tequila and mezcal brand created by Diego Osorio and backed by LeBron James and other celebrities, has expanded its leadership team. First off, Dia Simms will step away from her current role as CEO and takeover as executive chairwoman of the company’s board. In addition, Carlos Vigil is joining the company as president and COO. Vigil joins Lobos from Southern Glazer’s, where he spent 15 years in leadership roles. According to the company, Lobos 1707 has reached national availability and distributed nearly 100,000 cases since its 2020 creation.

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