News Briefs for January 31, 2014
January 31, 2014•Cantina Terlano has released what it calls Italy’s “most expensive white wine” in the U.S. market. The Alto Adige-based wine producer in recent days unveiled Terlaner I Grande Cuvée, a blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Sauvignon from Terlano’s vineyard sites at Winkl, Kreuth and Vorberg. First produced in 2011, Terlaner I Grande Cuvée will only be made in high-quality vintage years. This release is limited to 2,850 bottles, which will mainly be found on upscale restaurants’ wine lists, but will also be present in leading retailers at $250 a bottle.
•Beam Inc. has selected a location for its new 600,000-square foot distribution center, which SND previously reported on in August. The facility will be located on a 92-acre site in Franklin County, Kentucky, at 1509 U.S. Highway 421. Construction is expected to begin next month and be completed by year-end. The new center, which will be operated by a third-party logistics provider to be named at a later date, is slated to open in the first quarter of 2015 and employ around 60. “With two-thirds of Beam’s total spirits volume being produced in Kentucky, having our new distribution facility in close proximity to our production will help us gain increased efficiencies in our supply chain,” said David Hunter, vice president of global manufacturing for Beam.
•Anchor Distilling is launching BarSol Perfecto Amor—a traditional blend of fortified grape juice from Peru—in the U.S. market. Produced by the Ica Valley’s Bodega San Isidro, the 17%-abv aperitif is made with Quebranta, Italia and Torontel varietals, each of which are juiced separately and fortified with pisco before being blended and bottled. BarSol Perfecto Amor will be available nationwide, priced at $18.99 a 750-ml. In addition to Perfecto Amor, Anchor Distilling handles BarSol’s full pisco lineup, which includes BarSol Primero Quebranta ($24.99), BarSol Selecto Italia ($39.99), BarSol Acholado ($29.99) and BarSol Supremo Mosto Verde Italia ($39.99).
•Antonio Mastroberardino, considered by many to be the patriarch of wine from southern Italy’s Campania region, died Jan. 28 of natural causes, Wine Spectator reports. He was 86. After World War II, Mastroberardino brought his family’s historic property, founded in 1878, back from the brink of devastation due to the combined effects of economic depression, phylloxera and war. Under the guidance of Antonio and his brother Walter, the Mastroberardino estate thrived in the second half of the 20th century. For most of that time it was the only name known for quality wine from the region, producing more than half of Campania’s Denominazione di Origine Controllata-designated bottlings.
•St. Helena-based Flora Springs Winery & Vineyard has appointed industry veteran Steve Tamburelli as COO, effective February 1. Tamburelli most recently spent 11 years as general manager of Chappellet Vineyard & Winery. Prior to that, he was COO at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. In his new role, Tamburelli will assume responsibility for all winery operations at Flora Springs, including winemaking, production, marketing and sales, reporting to president and proprietor John Komes.
•Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. has appointed industry veteran Sami Salman to the role of senior director of procurement, effective January 27. Salman joins Southern’s senior supply chain management team from Bacardi, where he worked for 10 years and was most recently vice president, operations USA and supply chain director. He will report to Mel Velez, Southern’s vice president of demand planning and logistics.
Subscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.Tagged : Anchor Distilling, Bacardi, Beam Inc, Cantina Terlano, Chappellet Vineyard & Winery, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyard, Leap Wine Cellars, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Wine Spectator
