News Briefs for April 17, 2013
April 17, 2013•California Governor Jerry Brown spearheaded a trade mission to China this month, aimed at adding momentum for Golden State wine exports to the world’s most populous nation. California wine exports to China surged 20% in 2012 to $74 million. That figure has nearly doubled over the last two years. On the heels of Brown’s trip, Napa Valley Vintners and a delegation of 50 vintners led by the Wine Institute are doing promotional events in major Chinese cities in April and May. China is the fifth-largest export market for California wine, behind the European Union, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.
•Royal Wine Corp. has named industry veteran Douglas Simon to the newly created position of vice president, national sales manager. Simon was most recently vice president, national sales manager, Jackson Family Imports & Global Business Development. A leading producer and importer of kosher wines, New Jersey-based Royal is best known for its Bartenura label, an Italian import and Impact “Hot Brand” winner that includes Moscato, Moscato Rosé and Sparkling Moscato offerings priced around the $14.99-$17.99 a bottle area.
•Eugene, Oregon-based Ninkasi Brewing has introduced a new beer, Sterling Pils, to its Prismatic Lager series. Sterling Pils (5.1% abv) is a German-style pilsner, brewed with North American ingredients, including Washington-grown Sterling hops, Pilsner malt from Montana and Idaho and water from Oregon’s McKenzie River. It will be available both in bottles and on draft across Ninkasi’s footprint from now through June. The Prismatic Lager series was established in 2011—beginning with the release of Helles Belles—to highlight beers in Ninkasi’s portfolio that are Northwest versions of traditional lager styles. Last fall, the brewer began an expansion project slated for completion in late 2014 and projected to increase production from the current 95,000 barrels per year to nearly 295,000 barrels.
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