News Briefs for September 8, 2021

•Blackened x Willett Rye, Four Roses 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch, and newcomers from Barrell and Blue Run are among the offerings featured in Whisky Advocate’s latest weekly roundup. The magazine’s website has all the details.

•Villa Maria, part of the Winebow Imports portfolio, is introducing a new brand called EarthGarden in the U.S. The new entry includes a Villa Maria EarthGarden Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Malborough Pinot Noir, both retailing at $20 a 750-ml. The launch of EarthGarden is intended to highlight Villa Maria’s sustainability credentials and its vision of converting 100% of its company vineyards to organic farming by 2030.

•Pacific Highway Wines has added two new California wine brands—Hogwash and ’75 Wine Company—to its sales portfolio, effective October 1. Hogwash’s portfolio covers still and sparkling rosé, mostly sourced from the Clarksville AVA and available in 750-ml. ($18), 1.5-liter, 19.5-liter keg, and 2-packs of 250ml cans for the still wine; and 2-packs of 250-ml. cans for the sparkling rosé. The ’75 Wine Company’s Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the Feliz Creek Vineyard in the Mendocino AVA and is available in 750-ml. bottles ($20) and 19.5-liter kegs. Both brands are from winemaker Shawn Johnson.

•Anheuser-Busch announced a number of changes to its management team in the U.S. Kyle Norrington, currently president of Labatt in Canada, has been appointed as U.S. chief commercial officer to oversee sales and marketing. Prior to running Labatt, Norrington was based in New York, overseeing global brands from AB InBev. Simon Wuestenberg, currently president of the company’s distribution unit AB One, will become U.S. chief sales officer. Current CMO Marcel Marcondes is transitioning to a new role to be announced at a later date; he will be replaced by Benoit Garbe, currently Anheuser-Busch’s U.S. chief strategy officer.

Tagged : '75 Wine Company, Anheuser-Busch, Hogwash, Pacific Highway, Villa Maria, Whisky Advocate, Winebow

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