News Briefs for December 9, 2020
December 9, 2020•Last night, the U.K. announced that it will suspend the November 2020 retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods—part of the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and European nations over aircraft subsidies—effective January 1. According to the U.K. trade minister Liz Truss, the move is meant to deescalate the conflict between the two nations and encourage deeper trade relations. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States applauded the move in a statement, saying, “As the new year approaches, we urge both the U.S. and U.K. to seek a fresh start to trade relations by immediately suspending tariffs on U.S. and U.K. distilled spirits as they negotiate an agreement to simultaneously eliminate retaliatory tariffs on distilled spirits, which will benefit the struggling hospitality businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”
•Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits has added a new Rosé Prosecco to its Josh Cellars family of wines. The release is rolling out now in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Connecticut, with a national launch following in March 2021. The release of the 11.5% abv wine comes hot on the heels of Rosé Prosecco becoming an officially sanctioned category within Italian sparkling wine and will be supported by Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram ads.
•Be the Change, a new diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative from Diversity in Wine & Spirits and Women in Wine held its first virtual job fair on December 2 and 3. The event featured a panel discussion among industry leaders—moderated by group founder Philana Bouvier (vice president fine wine at RNDC) and featuring E.&J. Gallo CMO Stephanie Gallo; Bobby Stuckey, partner, Frasca Food and Wine; Susana Balbo, founder and winemaker at Susana Balbo Wines; Dr. Hoby Wedler, sensory innovation director at Sensepoint Design; and Lia Jones, founder and executive director at Diversity in Wine & Spirits—as well as networking opportunities for attendees. The first job fair was supported by E.&J. Gallo, Jackson Family Wines, Constellation Brands, Bacardi, Moët Hennessy USA, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, The Wine Group, Trinchero, Laurent Perrier, WSET, RNDC, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and Breakthru, among others. Overall, the group works to address pay and opportunity inequity in the wine and spirits industry and, looking forward, will present the industry with tangible measures to improve the situation.
•Hine Cognac is releasing Domaines Hine Bonneuil 2010 in the U.S. The expression is the fourth in the company’s collection of single vintage, single estate Cognacs. It was sourced exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes grown in the vineyard of Hine’s private estate in Grande Champagne and only 18 casks yielding 8,100 bottles were selected for bottling. It is available now in select retailers and on ReserveBar, retailing for $140 a 750-ml. Hine Cognac is imported to the U.S. by San Francisco-based Hotaling & Co.
•Hopland, California-based Fetzer Vineyards has named Erik Olsen COO. Olsen succeeds Cindy DeVries, who worked at Fetzer for nearly three decades, operating in a wide capacity of roles. Olsen previously served as vice president and general manager for Constellation Brands’ Clos du Bois Winery.
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