News Briefs for August 27, 2024

•Gnarly Head, part of the Delicato portfolio, is introducing its latest collection in partnership with The Grateful Dead. The new wines bear labels harkening back to some of the California band’s iconic album art. They include an Old Vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay and are rolling out nationally next month, retailing at $12 a bottle. Gnarly Head was at 200,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.

•Moët Hennessy has announced a packaging refresh for Hennessy VS Cognac. The new look for the brand sports an updated label highlighting the Hennessy logo, a gold foil cap for the bottle, and a simplified emblem showing off the brand’s Bras Armé. While the label is receiving an update, the Cognac inside remains unchanged. Last year, Hennessy was at 3.15 million cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

•Shaw-Ross International Importers has added Gentleman’s Cut Bourbon to its national distribution portfolio. The brand, co-founded by basketball star Steph Curry and vintner John Schwartz, retails for $80 a 750-ml. and offers its namesake release, a 45% abv Bourbon aged between five and seven years and made from a mash of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Gentleman’s Cut was added to Shaw-Ross’s portfolio early in August and will see distribution across major markets in the U.S.

•Cream of Kentucky, the 19th century brand revived by Jim Rutledge, has announced the 2024 editions of both the brand’s cask strength and small batch Bourbon whiskies. This year’s cask strength edition comes in at 57% abv and carries a suggested price of $100. Cream of Kentucky’s small batch release comes in at 50% abv and retails for $70. Both whiskies are now available in limited quantities across the U.S.

•Napa Valley’s Merryvale has named Jean Hoefliger as consulting winemaker, and Jeff Crawford as head winemaker. The appointments come following Merryvale owner the Schlatter family’s recent acquisitions that have expanded the winery’s vineyard portfolio to four estates across the valley. They include the Profile estate overlooking St. Helena; Altezia, the highest altitude Napa Valley vineyard on Mt. Veeder; Peridot, a north-facing mountain vineyard also on Mt. Veeder; and Berry Lane in Coombsville.

Tagged : Cream of Kentucky, Delicato, Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Gnarly Head, Merryvale, Moet Hennessy, Shaw-Ross

GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT 2025 ESTIMATES AND 2030 PROJECTIONS FOR THE WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRIES. ORDER YOUR 2025 IMPACT DATABANK REPORTS. CLICK HERE.