Dear Client:     After 16 years of collaboration, family-owned Italian fine wine producer Marchesi Antinori and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates announced that Marchesi Antinori will take over full ownership of Napa-based Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. No financial details were disclosed.  “There are few opportunities in one’s lifetime when such an important and historical winery as … Continue reading “Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Changes Ownership as SMWE Focuses on Pac NW”

Dear Client:     Since joining Archer Roose Wines in 2021, coo and co-owner (and famous Hollywood actress, writer, producer and director) Elizabeth Banks has elevated the alternative packaged wine company’s message of sustainability and approachability with her irreverent approach to storytelling.  “I think there was a persistent mythology in this category that wine in a … Continue reading “How Sustainability Positively Impacts Archer Roose’s Bottom Line”

Dear Client:     Spirit of Gallo recently launched two high-profile creative campaigns to support two of its biggest brands: High Noon and New Amsterdam. WSD got to chat with Spirit of Gallo vp Brandon Lieb to talk more about the content of the campaigns and how their recent launches are performing.  TEQUILA SELTZER GETS ITS … Continue reading “Gallo Debuts Campaigns for High Noon and New Amsterdam”

Dear Client:     The Duckhorn Portfolio announced today that it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire an unnamed north coast winery and vineyards. The transaction, valued at $55 million, includes a production winery and over seven acres of planted vineyards in the Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California. The acquisition will add to Duckhorn’s production capacity … Continue reading “Duckhorn Acquires Sonoma-based Winery and Vineyards”

Dear Client:     Longtime Sazerac president and ceo Mark Brown will be stepping down from his role and transitioning to executive chairman this summer, reports Louisville Business First. At that time, current chief commercial officer Jake Wenz will take the helm for Sazerac.  Mark first joined Sazerac in 1981 as director of new products, eventually … Continue reading “Longtime Sazerac Chief Mark Brown Stepping Down”

Dear Client:     Cocktails to-go became a lifeline for restaurants during COVID, and so far 19 states have permanently adopted the provision and another 13 states have extended the measure on a temporary basis.  “Now there were not many silver linings of the pandemic for restaurants at all. It was a very, very tough time … Continue reading “Cocktails To-Go is the “Future” for Restaurants”

Dear Client:     Campari Group came out of the gate hot this year, reporting organic net sales growth of almost 20% globally for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, ended March. This was largely driven by price increases last year as well as shipment phasing and an earlier Easter calendar, per earnings release.   “Looking at … Continue reading “US On-Premise Biz Boosts Campari’s Q1”

Dear Client:     Spirit of Gallo announced today that it has acquired New York-based ready-to-drink brand Fishers Island Lemonade. Financial details were not disclosed.  Fishers Island Lemonade was an early mover in the RTD space, first coming on to the scene in 2014. Its namesake cocktail was popularized at the historic Pequot Inn in Fishers … Continue reading “Gallo Acquiring RTD Brand Fishers Island Lemonade”

Dear Client:     Grupo Cuervo started off fiscal 2023 with global volumes up 3.9% in Q1, driven by Mexico, which had strong tequila performance and less glass supply constraints. However, US and Canada results weighed down overall volumes, due to volume declines in the ready-to-drink category, per release.  Meanwhile, global net sales were up 5.7% … Continue reading “RTDs and FX Hamper Proximo’s Q1 Results”

Dear Client:     Pernod Ricard experienced top line weakness in Q3, mainly due to tough comps. But Pernod brass are not phased. Indeed, global sales grew 8% on an organic basis for the first nine months of the fiscal year ended March 31, and they expect to see marked improvement in Q4. “Our very strong … Continue reading “Phasing & Comps Impact Pernod’s Q3 Performance”

Dear Client:     Oregon-based Hood River Distillers sold off its Pendleton Canadian whisky brand to Cuervo for $205 million in 2017. “I think when Pendleton left, everybody was like ‘well RIP, it was a great run, you had your moment.’ But for us, it’s the motivation to say ‘what’s next?'” Hood River president David Ballew … Continue reading “Part II: Putting Hood River Back on the Map”

Dear Client:     David Ballew took the helm of Oregon-based Hood River Distillers in 2020 when the company was in the midst of rebranding and refreshing a lot of its portfolio in addition to dealing with COVID-related challenges.   Your editor took the opportunity to sit down with David at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of … Continue reading “Hood River Distillers Taps into Latest Trends with New Product Launches”

Dear Client:    Craft spirits industry leaders Dave Schmier and Paul Hletko announced today that they’ve teamed up to acquire Goza Tequila. No financial details were disclosed. Goza was founded in 2015, and the portfolio includes blanco (srp $38), reposado (srp $40) and anejo (srp $50). Dave and Paul plan to release a limited selection of Anejo … Continue reading “Spirits Industry Veterans Acquire Goza Tequila”

Dear Client:     Tequila has been steadily carving out a larger space for itself in the spirits segment in recent years, especially in the on-premise. In fact, tequila held the title of the third highest-velocity spirits category for all of 2022 in the on-premise, according to a recent CGA report.  Read on for more insights … Continue reading “A Closer Look at Tequila’s On-Premise Performance”

Dear Client:     Over the past 15 years, Ohio-based Middle West Spirits has quietly ascended to join the ranks of top spirits producers in the US. The distillery has steadily grown its output, becoming the top distiller in Ohio and has plans to be a top-ten US grain-to-glass producer with its latest expansion project announced … Continue reading “Middle West Spirits on Path to Become Top Ten Grain-To-Glass Producer”