Shanken News Daily: Exclusive news and research on the wine, spirits and beer business

News Briefs for February 3, 2025

February 3, 2025

Portugal’s Esporão Group has added a new Reserva Red to its Monte Velho brand, imported to the U.S. by Hoboken, New Jersey-based Cultivamos, Inc. The new entry from Portugal’s Alentejo region aged eight months in used oak barrels and has an SRP of $18 per 750 ml. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Syrah, and Trincadeira, it joins the existing line of Monte Velho Red, White, and Rosé, the latter three all fermented in stainless steel. Monte Velho has had U.S. volume of 40,000 cases in recent years.
Italy’s Zonin 1821 has partnered with August Imports on the Bocelli 1831 wine brand, from the family winery of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Under the deal, August Imports will manage sales of Bocelli 1831 wines in the U.S., aligning with Zonin 1821’s global distribution strategy for the brand. Zonin 1821, through its Miami branch, will oversee importing and branding efforts, focusing on strengthening Bocelli 1831’s presence in the U.S. market. Bocelli 1831 wines distributed in the United States will include a Prosecco, an IGT Toscana Bianco, and an IGT Toscana Rosso. They’re produced by Zonin 1821 under the supervision of the Bocelli family.
Irish whiskey label Glendalough, part of the Mark Anthony portfolio in the U.S., is introducing new packaging for its Double Barrel expression. The new look includes new label and stopper designs as well as gold embossing, highlighting Glendalough’s association with Irish saint Kevin of Glendalough. Double Barrel is a single grain Irish whiskey that first ages in flame-charred ex-Bourbon casks and is finished in first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks. It’s bottled at 42% abv and retails at $35 a bottle.
Penelope Bourbon has added a new Wheated Bourbon to the brand’s Core Series of whiskies. The 47.5% abv whiskey is made from a mash of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye and 3% malted barley, and carries a suggested price of $40 a bottle. The new release sits alongside Penelope’s other core offerings, including Four Grain Bourbon, Barrel Strength Bourbon, Architect, and Toasted Bourbon. The Penelope brand is owned by MGP and is part of the company’s Luxco lineup of branded products.