Rocky Wirtz is being hailed as a hometown hero after the Chicago Blackhawks’ won the Stanley Cup last week for the first time in 49 years. As the Sun-Times put it, Rocky “has emerged as the Second City’s Prince Charming in an unlikely Cinderella story” since taking over the team from his father Bill Wirtz, who passed away in 2007.

Today the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) board of directors put out a resolution in support of the oh-so-controversial CARE Act, or HR 5034. It’s similar to the resolution they issued on Monday concerning the importance of control states. Here’s the big picture:

Brown-Forman chief Paul Varga and cfo Don Berg had some interesting things to say today in their conference call for the year ended April 30. Like other companies, they are more optimistic about pricing and trading up for fiscal 2011. They also see opportunities for growth in the US by branching outside of whiskey. Here’s a rundown:

French wines are struggling to make a comeback in the US market, with dollar sales down -14.7% and volumes down -8.3% in the 4-weeks to May 16, according to IRI off-premise scan data. When looking at the other two big imports, Italian wines dropped -0.6% in sales and grew 3% in volume. Australian wines saw sales decline -3.7% and volumes drop -0.9%.

In times like these when money is tight, states often explore raising taxes and privatizing spirits sales with the belief that it will generate more revenue. What are often ignored are the supposed social consequences of privatization. Until now, the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association has been relatively quiet about the fact that several states are exploring privatization. However, the board of directors announced today that they adopted a resolution at the Association’s May conference stating that “based on a multitude of published peer-reviewed scientific studies” that “there is irrefutable proof that alcohol control systems have a positive public health and safety impact on their communities.”

New campaign finance reports for Modernize Washington, the campaign for Initiative 1100, shows that Costco donated $350,000 last Tuesday. That’s according to a report in Publicola. The retail giant is clearly serious about getting the Initiative on the November ballot. Not only did they make a big donation, but they are also holding petition signings at warehouse locations across the state.

Last month we asked our readers if they are more or less optimistic about their business in 2010. Most said they are more optimistic this year, while some said their optimism is equal to last year. No one said they are less optimistic. Here are some comments that stood out:

The Champagne industry is seeing “positive developments” in the US, according to Daniel Lorson, communications director for the French-based CIVC trade group in a call hosted by the US Champagne Bureau. Note that the US is Champagne’s second largest export market. Shipments rose 20% in January and a whopping 95% in February, which Daniel called “very encouraging.”

Busy week for Foster’s. Foster’s Americas today announced more changes to its distributor network, effective July 1. Glazer’s Distributors will now distribute Foster’s full portfolio in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Alliance Beverage Distributing Company, which is a 50-50 partnership between Glazer’s and The Charmer Sunbelt Group, will sell the full portfolio in Arizona. Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) previously distributed Foster’s Limestone Estates wines, which include Penfolds, Lindemans, Rosemount Estate and other brands, in those four markets. So far it looks like Charmer and Glazer’s are frontrunners in winning Foster’s business. Note that Charmer will distribute Foster’s brands in New York, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Now that Foster’s has announced its intentions to demerge its beer and wine units, let the speculation begin. Once the demerger is complete, analysts agree that the beer unit won’t stand along for long. For one, the beer industry has seen a lot of global consolidation in recent years. Analysts also say that the wine business has never quite worked for Foster’s and distracted management from the more profitable beer business. And a consolidated beer and wine unit has largely hindered other brewers from making a play. But they will have their chance as early as June 2011. Foster’s said in a statement yesterday that “no decision has been made on the structure or timing of a demerger,” but it is “unlikely to be implemented until the first half of calendar 2011, at the earliest.”

That is if everything goes according to plan, and not before 2011 at the earliest. The industry has been waiting for this announcement since 2008 when former ceo Trevor O

We heard from a state-owned retailer and a privately-owned retailer at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association

Costco has publically come out in support of privatizing spirits sales in the state of Washington. The retailer put out a statement this evening saying they support Initiative 1100, concerning the privatization of spirits sales in the state, and that it “will work to have the measure placed on the ballot and passed by the voters.” Initiative 1100 is sponsored by Modernize Washington. This is not the first time Costco has fought against the state

President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), Eric Gregory, sent a letter today to the Congressional Bourbon Caucus and every member of Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation urging them to oppose HR 5034 (or the CARE Act). He claims the legislation “could significantly damage Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry.” Although proponents (mainly wholesalers and regulators) believe “it is needed to protect state-based alcohol regulation,” writes Eric, the legislation “has many far-reaching and negative consequences.”

Yesterday we spoke with Jonas Renner-Tahlin, vp of marketing, vodkas, Pernod Ricard USA, who gave us the low-down on Absolut’s latest flavor innovation, Absolut Brooklyn, which is a part of Pernod’s city series. In the second part of our interview, Jonas talked more about their strategy with Absolut. While the lion share of marketing dollars and Pernod’s focus in on Absolut’s flagship brand, or “Blue” as they call it,” they are still launching innovations to help create a halo effect for the parent brand. Jonas also shared some insight into the larger vodka market and current consumer trends. Here’s what he had to say, as you, dear reader, are a fly on the wall: