News Briefs for August 7, 2020

•Woodford Reserve is paying homage to Diane Crump, the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby, with its 2020 $1,000 Mint Julep. Created every year as a fundraiser for racing-related nonprofits, the elaborate gold- and silver-plated cups this year honor the 50th anniversary of Crump’s groundbreaking race at the 1970 Derby, where the jockey, then 21, rode the chestnut colt Fathom to a 15th-place finish. And while in years past those who purchased the $1,000 Mint Julep would have to collect it in person on race day, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Woodford Reserve is shipping the 2020 cups directly to their recipients. Whisky Advocate has the full story.

•Napa Valley-based Crimson Wine Group has extended its partnership with RNDC-Young’s. The new agreement makes RNDC-Young’s the exclusive distributor of Crimson’s portfolio in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, and Oregon, in addition to the nine states that predate this development. Effective September 1, RNDC will distribute Crimson’s portfolio in 15 states nationwide. Crimson’s brands include Pine Ridge Vineyards, Archery Summit, Double Canyon, and Seghesio Family Vineyards.

•Château d’Esclans has partnered with celebrity caterer Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs Caterers, supplying the wine for white glove, at-home wine tasting dinners. The dinner package includes a four course, four hour dinner with wait staff for up to 10 guests and nine bottles of various Château d’Esclans wines including Whispering Angel and Rock Angel. The menu features a grilled peach arugula salad, asparagus risotto and sea bass, along with appetizers and dessert. Pricing for 10 guests starts at $3,200.

•Fetzer Vineyards’ Bonterra brand has debuted a new advertising campaign, “Tastes Like Saving the Planet.” The new promotion is centered on climate-friendly practices, aimed at illustrating the ways Bonterra protects and supports the environment through its organic and sustainable winemaking. The new spot was created by Tennessee-based agency Humanaut. Bonterra was up 3% last year to 439,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

•Dayton, Oregon’s Stoller Wine Group has appointed two new vice presidents. Bryan Schoen is now vice president of national sales and Patrick McBride is vice president of chains. Schoen joined Stoller last year with nearly two decades of industry experience and supported the company’s efforts in the Midwest in both the on- and off-premise. McBride is a more recent addition to the Stoller team, joining in June. Previously, he served as vice president of chains at Young’s Market Company Oregon.

Tagged : Bonterra, Crimson Wine Group, Fetzer, RNDC-Young's, Stoller Wine Group, Woodford Reserve

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