News Briefs for July 23, 2025

•Zonin1821 has struck a strategic partnership with Tensley Wines and Fundamental Wines under which it will handle the two brands from winemaker Joey Tensley across the U.S. market. The move marks Zonin’s entry into the California wine category. Tensley Wines is known for super-premium Syrah from Santa Barbara County, while Fundamental offers red and white blends, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon at $18 a bottle. Known for its namesake sparkling label—which grew 5% to 420,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank—Zonin recently aligned with Breakthru in the California market. The Italian wine group has annual revenues of approximately €210 million ($247m).

•Sazerac-owned Buffalo Trace Distillery has launched Sazerac Rye 100 Proof, a new, higher-abv variant of the company’s Kentucky rye. The new release carries a suggested price of $30 a liter and is available in select states across the U.S. Sazerac Rye 100 Proof is made using the same recipe as the company’s flagship 45% abv Sazerac bottling. The newcomer will also join the Sazerac Barrel Select program, allowing on- and off-premise businesses to select their own barrels of the higher-proof rye.

•Su Casa Mezcal is expanding statewide with Total Wine & More in California and Florida. The move marks a significant retail expansion for the brand, which has mostly been targeted to the on-trade. Other key retail partners for Su Casa include BevMo, Gopuff, Wegmans, and Binny’s. Su Casa has a Blanco retailing at $35-$39 and a Reposado at around $50. The brand was founded by Empire Merchants veteran Joey Angelo, also founder of RTD brand SipMargs.

Tagged : Buffalo Trace, Sazerac, Su Casa, Tensley, Zonin1821

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