News Briefs for February 7, 2017
February 7, 2017•Sonoma-based V2 Wine Group is adding the Central Coast’s Donati Family Vineyard to its portfolio, effective March 1. Under the agreement, V2 will handle sales, marketing and distribution for Donati throughout the U.S. Based in Templeton, California, in the Paso Robles region, Donati has a super-premium portfolio geared toward Bordeaux varieties, but also including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Syrah and Grenache. Formed by Dan and Katy Leese and Pete Kight in 2010, V2’s lineup also includes Bouchaine Vineyards, Coeur Clémentine, Dry Creek Vineyard, La Follette Wines, Lucinda & Millie Vineyards, Merryvale Family of Wines, Morandé, Quivira and Wine by Joe, among others.
•Italian wine group Mezzacorona has unveiled Mezza di Mezzacorona, a new sparkler targeted toward Millennial consumers. Sourced from Northeastern Italy’s Trentino region, Mezza di Mezzacorona is comprised of 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Bianco and 10% Müller-Thurgau and features an eye-catching label designed to appeal to social media users. The new entry, which will be available nationwide this spring, is positioned as a casual, everyday sparkler and retails at $15 a 750-ml. It will be handled in the U.S. by Prestige Wine Imports, a Mezzacorona subsidiary.
•Colorado-based importer Europvin USA is bringing Spain’s Lustau Vermut to the U.S. market this spring. The vermouth is created from a base blend of Pedro Ximenez and Amontillado Sherries that were aged separately for 10 years, then combined with separately macerated botanicals. Lustau Vermut will be available nationally, retailing at about $22 a bottle. Lustau partnered with fellow Spanish producers Cune and Vega Sicilia to acquire Denver-based Europvin in 2015.
•Multi-state distributor Pioneer Wine and Spirits is set to open a Pioneer Louisiana unit this month, and is also merging fellow wholesaler Maverick of Illinois into its organization. Pioneer Louisiana will be led by Frank Ceresa, formerly of Pioneer Texas, as president, and Michael Kennedy, formerly of RNDC Louisiana, as vice president, sales. Meanwhile, Maverick of Illinois, founded by Marquis Sauvage—who co-founded Pioneer Texas in 2008 with Greg Kassanoff—will now be folded into Pioneer Wine and Spirits Holdings. With the changes, Pioneer will have operations in Texas, Louisiana, Colorado and Illinois.
Subscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.Tagged : Bouchaine Vineyards, Coeur Clémentine, Cune, Donati Family Vineyard, Dry Creek Vineyard, Europvin USA, La Follette Wines, Lucinda & Millie Vineyards, Lustau, Maverick, Merryvale Family of Wines, MezzaCorona, Morandé, Pioneer Wine and Spirits, Prestige Wine Imports, Quivira, RNDC, V2 Wine Group, Vega Sicilia, Wine By Joe
