News Briefs for April 27, 2022

•Diageo-owned Lone River Beverage Company, maker of Ranch Water hard seltzer, is extending its brand with Lone River Ranch Rita. Made with agave nectar, the drink is a premium take on a canned Margarita-style beverage, at 6% abv. Ranch Rita’s launch will be supported by a multi-million dollar advertising campaign across television, digital and social platforms, audio, and point-of-sale placements over the summer. The campaign features musician and actor Ryan Bingham and actress Sulem Calderon and debuted earlier this month during the CMT Awards. Lone River Ranch Rita is available in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans as well as 16- and 23.5-ounce single cans. Diageo acquired the brand last year for an undisclosed sum.

•Charles Jacquin et Cie., Inc. has expanded its partnership with Breakthru Beverage to the Florida market, building on an alignment that already includes Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C. Breakthru will handle the full portfolio in the Sunshine State. Philadelphia-based Jacquin’s lineup includes Jacquin’s Rock & Rye, Jacquin’s Vodka Royale, Jacquin’s Blackberry Brandy, The Union Forge Vodka, Bartender’s Trading Co Ready-to-Serve, Irish Manor Irish Cream Liqueur, Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog & Cream Liqueur, and Royal Montaine Cognac & Orange Liqueur. The Pennsylvania Dutch label was up 28% to 230,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank. Breakthru’s Florida revenues are projected to reach $1.1 billion this year.

•Austria’s Domäne Wachau is launching a new wine, Steinwerk, in the U.S. Made from 100% Grüner Veltliner from the vineyards of Spitzer Graben, Steinwerk was fermented spontaneously in marble and granite vessels. After 12 months of aging on the fine lees it was bottled without fining and filtration. It’s rolling out next month in select markets, retailing at $40 a 750-ml. The Domäne Wachau winery manages 30% of the entire Wachau vineyard area, or around 400 hectares (988 acres). The brand is imported by González Byass USA.

•California wholesaler Wine Warehouse has announced a $100,000 donation to the Direct Relief Ukraine Response. “Our great-grandfather emigrated from Kharkiv in the 1890s,” said Jim Myerson, chairman and CEO of Wine Warehouse. “Now it’s our turn to aid the relief efforts in his homeland.” Direct Relief is working with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and other groups in the region to provide requested medical aid—from oxygen concentrators to critical care medicines—while preparing to offer longer-term assistance to people displaced or affected by the war.

Tagged : Breakthru, Charles Jacqui, Diageo, Domane Wachau, Lone River Beverage Company, Wine Warehouse

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