SABMiller will spend $50 million over the next year and a half on a worldwide marketing campaign to promote Peroni Nastro Azzurro beer. The promotion will begin in the UK in April followed by launches in the US, South Africa and Romania. The campaign involves a series of advertising and marketing proposals based on the … Continue reading “SABMILLER PUTTING FORCE BEHIND PERONI”

Brown-Forman’s Southern Comfort liqueur, SoCo Lime, will spend over $3 million on a new U.S. advertising campaign. The TV spot will be aired on F/X, E!, Comedy Central, USA Network and TBS through April, and includes a new “Start Things Up” slogan. This marks the largest media spending venture for Southern Comfort and will also … Continue reading “SOUTHERN COMFORT PUTS FORTH A NEW HOST OF AD CAMPAIGNS”

Brown-Forman reported a 10% rise in adjusted net sales for the quarter and a 13% increase in gross profits. Global volume and profit growth continues to climb for Jack Daniel’s, while Fetzer Wines experienced profit growth in the United States along with Finlandia Vodka. In the first 9 months of fiscal 2006, Jack Daniels grew … Continue reading “A GOOD OUTLOOK FOR BROWN-FORMAN’S THIRD QUARTER”

Argentina is the up and coming wine export worldwide. In 2005 the South American country exported almost $400 million in wines and grape juice to over 70 countries, up from $305 million in 2004. Although Australia, France, the U.S. and Chili produce far more than Argentina, the fledgling wine country has invested more than $1.5 … Continue reading “IS ARGENTINA TO BECOME THE NEW AUSTRALIA?”

The Advertiser reported that Australia’s annual wine exports are expected to strongly increase to 1.3 billion liters worth $4.89 billion for 2010-2011. The forecast for the current fiscal year is 749 million liters and $2.9 billion. However, prices are expected to fall despite growing demand due to wine abundance in other countries and waning demand … Continue reading “AUSTRALIAN WINE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PRICE DECREASES IN THE FUTURE”

Pernod Ricard announced today that Republic Beverage Company will distribute the wine and spirits giant’s full line of alcohol in Texas and Louisiana in addition to their current run in Oklahoma, Alabama and Mississippi. Southern Wine & Spirits was selected to distribute Pernod’s products in Arizona. Alain Barbet, COO, Pernod Ricard USA, said, “Our strengthened … Continue reading “CH-CH-CHANGES FOR PERNOD RICARD”

A recent study carried out by Napa-based Balzac Communications shows that 94%, or 9 out of 10, consumers think non-cork closures often depreciate a bottle of wine. The 20-question survey was issued to members of the U.S. wine trade which includes restaurateurs, retailers, wine buyers at nationwide hotels and the wine media. There were 327 … Continue reading “CORKS ARE STILL HOT FOR WINE”

The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation reported last week that the 2006 wine harvest will likely fall below last year’s record performance. Although it is expected to be good to excellent in quality, the crop will probably return to the average volume coming in close to 1.8m tonnes, 7% lower than the 2005 harvest. AWBC … Continue reading “PROJECTIONS FOR THE 2006 AUSTRALIAN GRAPE HARVEST”

Indiana may not turn into a direct shipping state after all. Last Thursday, February 23, a Senate committee approved HB 1190 which went on to be halted by the full Senate. Sen. President Pro Tempore Robert D. Garton does not want the bill to advance because he fears an ensuing lawsuit from in-state wineries. Reportedly, … Continue reading “UNREST IN THE HOSSIER STATE”

Ray’s Station Vineyards Sonoma County Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon “Hearty Red Wines for Men” is marketed specifically towards, well, men, namely those who steer clear of wine in the traditional sense. While most wines are targeted towards women, who purchased 55% of wine in the United States last year, Ray’s Station is going the other … Continue reading “UNLEASHING OF THE BEAST: MANLY WINE”

The wine industry is still divided over making zinfandel the official state wine of California. Some think it’s “a huge mistake to bestow such prestige on just one type,” according to the Contra Costa Times, while others want to honor zinfandel’s history and association with California. Although the grape likely originated in Croatia, California turned … Continue reading “MAKE ZINFANDEL OFFICIAL?”

InBev’s full year pre-tax earnings rose 15.5% and revenues increased 7.2% despite staggering sales in western Europe, their second biggest market. Second half profit went up 1.6% while sales gained 27% thanks to the 2004 acquisition of Brazil’s Cia De Bebidas das Americas. “Volume decrease in western Europe was expected. And although volumes fell, they … Continue reading “INBEV POSTS 2ND-QUARTER RESULTS”

The Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee altered HB 1190 to allow wine shipments in and out of Indiana. After wineries check identification in person, out-of-state and in-state wineries are allowed to ship up to 1,000 cases directly to Indiana residents. However, there is no limit to how many cases Indiana wineries can send to other … Continue reading “VICTORY FOR WINERIES IN INDIANA”

Constellation’s is planning to consolidate bottling operations at the Woodbridge Winery and Turner Road Vintners outside Lodi next year as a part of their restructuring program. Lisa Farrell, VP of communications, told Recordnet.com, “We will move the bottling operation at Turner Road Vintners to Woodbridge, primarily, and to other sites.” The company said they will … Continue reading “CONSTELLAION CONSOLIDATES BOTTLING OPERATIONS”

Former Wine.com chairman Chris Kitze and former CEO Peter Ekman and George Garrick are suing New York VC firm Baker Capital for offering an enticing buyout in order to cheaply profit off the troubled internet publication. According to a Dow Jones Newswire, Wine.com claims Baker Capital “forced the company to decline a purchase offer from … Continue reading “WINE.COM FILES SUIT AGAINST BAKER CAPITAL”