Connecticut’s only trade magazine and comprehensive online resource for the local licensed beer, wine and spirits industry. Market’s Largest Product Source Brand & Price Index Local News, Photos & Columns GET LEARN READ SHOP MARKET INFORMATION ABOUT NEW NEWS, BE NEWS PRODUCTS & PRICES PRODUCTS ANYTIME INCLUDED IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PASSWORD TO ACCESS THE PRODUCT ORDERING PORTAL & THE APP REAL-TIME PRODUCTS AND PRICES, ANYTIME, VIA MOBILE PHONE, TABLET OR LAPTOP ONLINE ORDERING 24/7 DIRECT TO WHOLESALER CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE CALL US AT 203.288.3375 | VISIT US AT WWW.THEBEVERAGEJOURNAL.COM APRIL2016 FEATURES 10 Legislative News A round-up of bills from the March session, including the contentious SB-14. 26 Inside Look What does it take to launch a new brand in Connecticut? We tag along and see. 10 28 Beer Column Shandies are growing in popularity. Take a look at retailing them. 30 Local Chatter From student to Sommelier, dedication and passion fuel a career. 34 Rising Region: Portugal With odd grapes cool and blends red hot, the values of Portugal are taking o . 26 30 34 April 2016 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL 3 APRIL2016 38 A Living Legacy Hubert Opici celebrates his 100th birthday. 44 Tequila Back to Basics All about America’s thirst for this popular agave spirit. 38 50 High Spirits Paced by whiskey and premiumization, spirits continue to gain market share. 54 Hot Wheels Now may be the ideal time to see if delivery apps are right for you. 56 What’s New? 44 A look at the latest products available on the market. 54 50 DEPARTMENTS CONNECT WITH US 5 Market Point 27 The Find 42 Serving Up Follow us @BEVJournalsCTRI 6 News Front 32 Retail Review 12 Around Town 36 Wine Buzz Find us on Facebook HOW BEER, WINE LIQUOR BRAND INDEX JOURNAL CLASSIFIED Page 1a AND SPIRITS WINE BRAND INDEX SHOPPING NETWORK GET TO THE BEER BRAND INDEX THE INDEX MARKETPLACE The largest compilation of beverage alcohol price and brand information. 4 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL April 2016 See www.thebeveragejournal.com for online product access CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL April’s issue delivers local, national and international VOLUME 81 No04 APRIL 2016 beverage industry news and information, designed to { ISSN 0744-1843 } help you and your staff stay knowledgeable, and grow your business. PUBLISHER GERALD P. SLONE “Back to Basics” offers insight into tequila. Dig deep into showcasing the spirit’s [email protected] appeal to consumers … the more you know, the more you sell. EDITOR & ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER DANA SLONE We’ve got the latest stats and trends according to DISCUS. Whiskey is still red- [email protected] hot and premiumization is sweeping the nation. DIRECTOR OF WHOLESALER SERVICES LAURIE BUICK Delivery apps are multiplying, and now may be the best time for retailers to hop [email protected] on for the ride. SUBSCRIPTION/RETAIL SERVICES BRIAN SLONE This month’s “Rising Star Region” is Portugal, possibly home to the best wine [email protected] values in Europe right now. DESIGN EVAN FRASER Locally, the legislative session brought continued drama to the liquor landscape. [email protected] Which bills affect your business? EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR SAVANNAH MUL [email protected] WRITER LAUREN DALEY SUBSCRIPTIONS & RENEWALS $40 FOR ONE YEAR $9 FOR SINGLE COPY $68 FOR TWO YEARS (Includes shipping and handling) Subscription includes “Local Chatter” highlights local expertise, showcasing an individual’s unique Web portal product user ID and password All sales are final. beverage industry career. This month we feature Sommelier Gretchen Thomas. thebeveragejournal.com 203.288.3375 For local places, “Retail Review” goes to Franklin and “Serving Up” ends up in Enfield. Published Monthly By: Beverage Publications, Inc; 2508 Whitney Avenue, P.O. Box 185159; Hamden, CT 06518 is devoted to all liquor, wine and beer licensees as Check out “New Products and Promotions,” “The Find” and “Wine Buzz” for the described by the Department of Consumer Protection, Liquor Control Division. latest to hit the shelves. Nothing may be reproduced or uploaded without written permission from the publisher. This includes articles, pictures, pdf files, online or electronic versions. Not Did you know? Our trade-only, ordering website is free with your subscription responsible for unsolicited material or advertising claims. or listing, and offers you easy access to make and take orders after hours? Ask The opinions expressed here are that of the individual us how. It’s so easy. authors and not necessarily the views of Beverage Publication, Inc. We reserve the right to reject any material that is flawed due to content or design. All advertisements and price list advertising are subject to the approval of The Beverage Journal which reserves ON THE the right to edit, reject or properly classify. COVER Periodicals postage paid at New Haven, CT. Postmaster: Send address changes to: CT Beverage Journal, P.O. Box 185159, Hamden CT 06518 Photograph by Johnny Syres/Snapwire. DO NOT FORWARD. National Coverage, Local Advantage The Beverage Network Publications are served by: Beverage Media Group, Inc. 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 600, New York, NY 10016 tel 212.571.3232 fax 212.571.4443 www.bevnetwork.com April 2016 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL 5 NEWSFRONT NAPA INNOVATOR, PETER MONDAVI, SR., SPOONER TO LEAD TREASURY WINE ESTATES PASSES AWAY AT 101 AMERICAS REGION Peter Mondavi, Sr., a Napa Valley innovator Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) who steered his family’s Charles Krug has appointed Bob Spooner Winery through more than a half-century as President of the company’s of revolutionary change in the industry, operations in the Americas. died on February 20, 2016, at his home in Spooner will be replacing Sandra St. Helena, California, on the Charles Krug LeDrew, who is leaving her position after four years with the estate. He was 101. In 1943, his parents purchased Charles Krug company. Spooner began at TWE in January 2015 as the Chief Winery, which even then enjoyed a long pedigree. Prussian Supply Officer and has worked to improve the company’s emigrant Charles Krug founded his eponymous winery in 1861, supply chain, as well as develop a more efficient and effective making it the oldest operating winery in the Napa Valley today. wine production network. “Our recent acquisition of Diageo’s Known for introducing a number of significant advancements wine business and increasingly regional focus on TWE’s supply to California winemaking, Mondavi earned legendary status chain, means now is the right time for someone of Bob’s among Napa Valley vintners. Asked late in life to note his abilities to lead a unified and highly productive team in this proudest accomplishment, he replied, “Never losing control of region. This appointment will enable TWE to accelerate the our family winery.” momentum of our combined business so that we deliver the next stage of profitable and sustainable growth,” said Chief Executive Officer Michael Clarke. CALIFORNIA WINE EXPORTS SET RECORD, IMPORT ROSÉS SHOW GROWTH MILLERCOORS MAJOR BREWERIES ALL U.S. wine exports, 90 percent of LANDFILL-FREE which were from California, reached $1.61 billion in winery revenues in MillerCoors has announced that 2015, which sets an all-time record its major brewery operations are and is a 7.6 percent increase from landfill-free, including the Fort 2014. Volume was up 4.1 percent from the previous year to 461 Worth Brewery in Texas, which reduced waste by 66 percent in million liters, or 51.2 cases. For the 12th straight year, Wines of 2015 compared to the previous year. Since 2011, MillerCoors Provence has announced exports of rosé wines from Provence has been working towards reducing their waste with a passion to the United States have grown by double digits. In 2015, the to brew beer more sustainably. MillerCoors set a goal to achieve dry rosé wines of Provence show a 58 percent increase in sales landfill-free operations in all of its manufacturing sites in the volume over the last year, with a 74 percent increase in value, United States by the year 2020. according to the French customs agency and the CIVP/Vins de Provence, who also reported this is the largest spike in Provence HEINEKEN USA NAMES JAMAICAN LAGER TO rosé exports to the U.S. since 2001. IMPORTS PORTFOLIO Heineken USA will take over E. & J. GALLO ACQUIRES U.S. DISTRIBUTION management of Red Stripe as of March FOR ITALIAN PRODUCER 1, 2016. Production of the Jamaican E. & J. Gallo Winery has gained the beer brand will return to its home exclusive distribution rights for Renato country by the end of the year, and the Ratti, a luxury Italian wine producer. process will be completed by Desnoes and Geddes Ltd. "We The Renato Ratti portfolio will join Allegrini, Poggio al love the Jamaican culture and want to reinvigorate the brand Tesoro and Pieropan in Gallo’s Luxury Wine Group, LUX and the iconic stubby bottle by bringing the production of Red Wines, which was created in 2014 to meet the needs of their Stripe back to Jamaica where it came to life nearly 90 years ago,” consumers. The Renato Ratti portfolio will include Barolo said Ronald den Elzen, President and CEO of Heineken USA. Marcenasco, Barolo Conca, Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata, This move is also part of a plan to market Red Stripe as a global Langhe Nebbiolo and Barbara d’Asti. brand in the Heineken portfolio. 6 CONNECTICUT BEVERAGE JOURNAL April 2016 See www.thebeveragejournal.com for online product access ® © 2016 E. Rémy Martin & Co., Rémy Martin® Fine Champagne Cognac, 40% Alc./Vol., Imported by Rémy Cointreau USA, Inc., New York, NY. 1738® Centaur Design®. MELLOW CRAFTED ROYAL PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. NEWSFRONT SECOND-GENERATION OWNER OF J.