News Briefs for June 18, 2025

•New York-based importer and distributor Skurnik Wines & Spirits has announced a day-to-day leadership transition effective January 1. On that date, CFO Oren Simon will succeed his father-in-law Michael Skurnik as CEO, while current EVP David Skurnik will replace his father Harmon Skurnik as president. Michael and Harmon Skurnik will assume the titles of founder and chairman, and executive chair, respectively, and intend to remain actively involved in the business for the foreseeable future. Skurnik is a national importer and operates as a wholesale distributor in nine states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and California.

•Josh Cellars, part of the Deutsch Family Wines & Spirits portfolio, is launching its Non-Alcoholic Sparkling offering nationally after a successful test run in limited markets earlier this year. Made in Italy’s Prosecco region, the non-alcohol sparkler retails at $18 a bottle. Including its Reserve and Prosecco bottlings, Josh Cellars had U.S. volume approaching 7 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank. The brand continues to grow this year, rising 4.9% in value in Circana channels in the year to date through May 12.

•Clase Azul Tequila has unveiled a new Blanco Ahumado expression. The newcomer is made by cooking blue agave cores in a pit dug into the ground and lit with firewood and volcanic rocks, with the latter transmitting the heat to cook the agave. The process lends a smoky profile to the unaged Tequila. Packaged in a decanter with semi-opaque glass and a dark ceramic base, Clase Azul Blanco Ahumado is bottled at 45% abv and retails at $250 a 750-ml. decanter. It joins Clase Azul’s five existing Tequilas and three mezcals in the brand’s portfolio.

Tagged : Clase Azul, Deutsch, Josh, Skurnik

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