News Briefs for August 22, 2013
August 22, 2013•Vintage Wine Estates has acquired Clos Pegase Winery and Vineyards for an undisclosed sum, reports Wine Spectator. The sale includes the 25,000-case winery near Calistoga, 215 acres of vineyards, the brand and inventory. Richard Sowalsky will remain as winemaker and will consult with Vintage chief winemaker Marco Di Giulio. Vintage managing partner Pat Roney told Wine Spectator that there won’t be any winemaking style changes, and that the new owners plan to add vine acreage and replant sections of the winery’s two existing vineyards in Calistoga and Carneros, with a new emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Winery production is expected to expand—the permit allows for 80,000 cases annually.
•Nicaraguan rum brand Flor de Caña has undergone a full packaging makeover, intended to emphasize the brand’s heritage, age statements and craftsmanship. For the 4-, 5- and 7-year-old expressions, Flor de Caña’s bottles now feature a higher and more rounded shape, while the 12- and 18-year-old entries maintain their rectangular shape while gaining height, heavier glass and a more masculine look. The full range, meanwhile, now features etchings of sugar cane imagery and higher-quality glass. The brand’s logo has been superimposed over a volcano—a tribute to Flor de Caña’s Nicaraguan provenance. Flor de Caña is handled in the U.S. by Campari America.
•Southern Wine & Spirits of Minnesota has announced two appointments to its executive team. The company has named John Acott as vice-president, general sales manager of SWS-Minnesota. Acott has over 25 years of experience in the wine and spirits industry, having previously held positions at Gallo, Brown-Forman and Romano Brothers before joining SWS-Illinois in 2002. SWS-Minnesota has also named Dan Daul as vice president, general sales manager-wine, replacing Jeff Quale after his departure. Both appointments are effectiveSeptember 3. Acott will report directly to Will Conniff, executive vice president, SWS of Illinois, Kentucky & Minnesota, and Daul will report to Acott. The appointments come on the heels of Southern naming Dale Huhnke to the role of vice president, operations for the company’s Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota units.
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