News Briefs for March 30, 2012
March 30, 2012•Tastingroom.com, a website specializing in delivery of luxury wine samples, has added four new labels to its wines by-the-glass program, which debuted exclusively with Napa’s Silver Oak winery on March 1. Silver Oak is now being joined by fellow Napa wineries Duckhorn and Alpha Omega, as well as the Russian River Valley’s Williams Selyem and Carneros’s Patz & Hall. Each of the by-the-glass wines is available in 100-ml. single servings (ranging from $12–$19) or four-packs (ranging from $45–$70). Launched in 2009, Tastingroom.com derives its small servings through its patented T.A.S.T.E. Technology, a reformatting process that transfers wine from 750-ml. bottles to 100-ml. or 50-ml. bottles in a zero-oxygen environment. CEO Tim Bucher recently told Shanken News Daily the group sees opportunities especially in providing by-the-glass servings to restaurants. “We exceeded revenue goals last year and saw unique customers hit well into the six figures,” he said.
•Seattle-based Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co. is releasing a new line of Mike’s On The Rocks premix beverages with two flavors—Hurricane and Long Island Iced Tea. Both drinks will be priced at $8.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans. Mike’s On The Rocks will be sold on-premise and off-premise across the U.S. and join a product line that includes Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Mike’s Harder Punch, The Classic Margarita by Mike’s and Mike’s Lite Hard Lemonade. Mike’s, an Impact “Hot Brand” winner, saw volume increase 13.8% last year to 18.3 million (2.25-gallon) cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
•A new concept store, Vines and Canines, offers dog-friendly shopping to wine lovers in Louisville, Kentucky. Stocking over 125 boutique wine labels (producing 5,000 cases or less), as well as small-batch Bourbons, Cognac, Tequila and higher-alcohol craft beers, Vines and Canines welcomes visits by “leashed dogs with well-behaved owners.” The store also offers a full selection of dog products such as leashes, collars, beds, pet treats and so on, in hopes of assuring shopping satisfaction for both pet and owner alike.
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