News Briefs for May 10, 2022
May 10, 2022•Napa Valley-based importer and marketer Demeine Estates is expanding its French portfolio with the addition of La Chablisienne. Located in the heart of Chablis, La Chablisienne is a cooperative winery established in 1923 and owned by a collection of 270 winegrowing families. Among the most prominent producers in Chablis, it joins Domaine de Montille, Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye and Maison Legras & Haas in Demeine Estates’ growing French portfolio. La Chablisienne’s vineyard holdings total 1,200 hectares (2,965 acres), and include 82% of Chablis Grand Cru Chateau Genouilles. The winery produces 25% of the wine made in the Chablis AOC, and can supply 40,000 to 60,000 nine-liter cases to the U.S. annually, Demeine says. Chablis exports to the U.S. have seen strong growth lately, increasing by more than 50% over the past five years.
•Nine months after being arrested and accused of arson, New York sommelier Caleb Ganzer has reached an agreement with the Manhattan district attorney’s office. New York Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley signed off on the deal April 5. Ganzer, a co-owner and managing director of popular wine bar Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, was accused of setting fire to outdoor dining structures at Forsythia restaurant and Prince Street Pizza. Wine Spectator has more.
•Campari Group has acquired the Picon aperitif brand from Diageo for €119 million ($126m). In the fiscal year ended last June, the French label had net sales of €21.5 million ($22.7m). The brand generates almost 80% of its sales in France, where it has a leading position in the bitter aperitif category. With the acquisition of the Picon brand, Campari Group aims to further enlarge its brand offering in its core bitter aperitifs category in international markets and increase its critical mass in France and Benelux.
•Boston-based Latitude Beverage has extended its 90+ Cellars label with Lot 205, the brand’s first Vinho Verde. The 10% abv offering has 90 calories a five-ounce serving and retails at $8 a 750-ml. 90+ Cellars is also releasing a three-pack of 187-ml. Prosecco Rosé. Made from a blend of Glera and Pinot Noir grapes, the Prosecco Rosé minis retail at $12 a three-pack.
•Grain & Barrel Spirits’ Chicken Cock whiskey has announced its latest special edition, a new whiskey finished in Caribbean rum barrels. Island Rooster is a 47.5% abv Kentucky Straight rye that spent at least six months finishing in rum barrels before bottling. The non-chill filtered whiskey is made from a mash of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and the entire batch was made from just 25 barrels. Chicken Cock Island Rooster is available on ReserveBar and in retailers in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin for a suggested price of $200 a 750-ml.
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