November 2010 INSIDE THIS MONTH The No.1 choice for global drinks buyers WINES OF PORTUGAL REPOSITIONING THE COUNTRY'S OFFERING COGNAC REVIVAL HOW NEW MARKETS ARE OPENING UP BITTERS BARTENDERS' FAVOURITE INGREDIENT www.ronsantateresa.com Santa Teresa Drinks International ad 170 x 208.indd 1 01/11/2010 15:59 Contents Agile Media Ltd, Gateway Place, 42a East Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6AS Direct Line: +44(0) 1293 590049 Turkeys Fax: +44(0) 1293 474010 voting for Christmas ne senses things quietening down in the industry as memories of and sales leads from TFWA Cannes fade and, looking Oforward, one notices blank spaces in the diary. As we head towards the festive season, the focus switches from the producer/supplier end to the retailers who must all be hoping, if not praying, for a good Christmas. The burning question is: Will the drinks industry do its version of “turkeys voting for Christmas”? Will the port producers do their usual trick of selling off their LBVs cheaply (£4.99 in the UK), thus fundamentally undermining probably the most important sector to them? Will the major spirits producers flog off their flagship brands in 35 24 42 a “three-for-£20”? And, while I’m at it, when is Diageo going to resurrect Gordon’s as a proper premium brand? With so much activity in the News 30 rum Update gin sector, you would think the time is ripe to 05 business news Is rum going to become the most popular put Gordon’s back on the premium pedestal. Of 08 People and events category in the US? Lucy Britner reports course it has Tanqueray, but for many traditional 10 Travel retail news gin drinkers a full-strength (40%, or ideally 43% 12 What’s new 35 bitters export strength) Gordon’s with Schweppes tonic is Bartenders are obsessing about using what a classic G&T is all about. Enough said. Analysis bitters. Jaq Bayles is there to the bitter end By now all the selling-in for the festive season 16 Profile: Alex Turner has been done – the deals struck and contracts The Jedi Master bartender turned trainer 40 beer bartenders signed. A significant proportion of the stock is talks to Christian Davis Hamish Smith travels to Prague – one of already lying in warehouses, be they wholesalers’ the great brewing capitals – to see who or retailers’. As always we would like consumers 18 The International Cider Challenge wins a competition to find the top beer to start shopping as soon as possible. The trouble Last month we published the results. bartender is retailers have somewhat shot themselves in their This month judge Guy Thornton gives an feet by starting sales early to get people into their insight as to how it all went 42 The business of bars stores. Unfortunately, consumers are not stupid so Christian Davis attends and participates now they lie in weight for the first sign of those Features in the Bacardi Brown-Forman forum white on red signs that shout “sale”. 20 Portuguese Wine convened at The Clubhouse in Chamonix It must drive brand managers apoplectic when, A cautious “yes” from Charles Metcalfe as to after investing in and nurturing a brand, they get whether Portugal is succeeding with exports 44 bar Zone reports of “stock outs” as consumers break cover More cocktail competitions than you could and start filling their drinks cabinets. 24 Cognac shake a barspoon at, Skyy-high, Nightjar In these austere times it is going to be interesting The Cognaçais are looking for a premium and Britner’s Blog to see to what degree beer, wines and spirits remain uplift, according to Richard Woodard an “affordable luxury”. 46 Departure Zone Mining for wine sales. Book reviews and a Christian Davis Editor spot of yo-ho-ho november 2010 DRINKSINT.COM DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 3 News Wine arm for Pernod ricard ernod Ricard has confirmed Chairman and chief executive that its key international wine of Premium Wine Brands Jean- Pproperties will be grouped Christophe Coutures said: “The and managed under one business – creation of Premium Wine Brands not Premium Wine Brands. only allows us to offer a world-class The decision follows a review of the range of well-known brands but also company’s global operations. to share best-practice learnings that Premium Wine Brands will be allow us to play to our strengths, headquartered in Sydney and will while exploring and developing new include Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate opportunities. (formerly Montana), Campo Viejo and “We now have a complementary Alcatraz touches down Graffigna. portfolio of premium wine brands Other brands in the portfolio representing the signature varieties anta Teresa’s “gangster reform Gang members are recruited for a include Stoneleigh, Wyndham Estate for each country – Australian sprogramme” is to go national. two-year period of rehabilitation, with and Etchart. Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc from New Project Alcatraz, created by the aim of “eradicating delinquency Premium Wine Brands will be Zealand, Malbec from Argentina and Venezuelan rum brand Santa Teresa without violence”. responsible for the global brand and Tempranillo from Spain.” following an attack on one of its Recruits to the project undergo portfolio strategies, as well as technical Premium Wine Brands will work employees, is now being rolled out to programmes of labour, education, coordination, including production, with Pernod Ricard’s distributor the most dangerous districts of Caracas. rugby training and community service, viticulture and supply chain. network globally. Venezuelan national government before enrolling on classes that range institutions were impressed with from cooking and house-building to Project Alcatraz’s effectiveness in working for the distillery. countering rates of unemployment The Santa Teresa Foundation, a napa gains protection in india and murder, and the national roll out non-governmental body established by begins with the capital. head of Santa Teresa, Alberto Vollmer, he Napa Valley Vintners has the Californian region are protected In its first five years of operation in originally created the project in Tannounced that the “Napa from other products using the “Napa Revenga, Santa Teresa’s home county, response to a growing climate of crime Valley” name has been granted Valley” appellation. the project saw crime drop by 40% and and, in particular, the armed attack on Geographic Indication Status in According to Bruce Cakebread, murders by 65% – from 77 per 100,000 a staff member. India. board president of NVV – a non-profit inhabitants in 2003 to 27 in 2008. Vollmer said: “It was an issue of The GI means that wines from organisation that represents nearly turning a crisis into an opportunity.” 400 Napa Valley wineries – the GI will The perpetrators of the attack were “ensure that consumers know where offered the chance to become unpaid their wine comes from”. labourers at Santa Teresa, rather than NVV’s Napa Name Committee serving a prison sentence. chair Pat Stotesbery said: “The In the months that followed, NVV successfully lobbied the Indian further gang members applied government directly to gain this to the project and soon a peace important status and, along with the agreement between the area’s main Champagne region, is the first in the gangs was reached. world to be recognised in India.” The Tax Free World PeT bottles are likely to Wines oF soUTh UK retailer The co- associaTion World become the most popular aFrica’s first Sommelier oPeraTive has announced News Exhibition 2010, Cannes, alternative to glass among World Cup has been won plans to switch its own- saw guest numbers rise by UK wine drinkers, says by American Christopher brand californian wine 8% compared with last year. Wine inTelligence. a Bates. The week-long, range to lightweight bottles. In Brief The show attracted a total survey showed 40% of 12-contestant final in South in collaboration with d&d of 5,398 visitors from 2,570 respondents would choose Africa involved a written Wines international and companies. PeT as an alternative to test, a blind tasting and an broadlands Winery, the Industry stories from glass, compared with 37% on-stage role-play involving retailer says it will save 530 around the globe for a bag-in-box. the judging panel. tonnes of glass per year. november 2010 DRINKSINT.COM DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 5 News diageo is rolling out a global marketing campaign for its scotch single malt Talisker. The made by the sea campaign – reflecting the brand’s isle of skye heritage – was launched in the UK in october with a marketing spend of £1.6m for the coming year. The theme is the core of a long-term marketing campaign, different elements of which are being progressively deployed around the world, including France, northern europe and Japan. The photography is by French marine photographer Jean guichard. Travel retail awards announced rinks International Travel Retail Awards Best International Drinks Launch at Cannes was Best Luxury Drinks Brand of the Year trophy trophy winners were announced at the Tax won by the Drambuie Company’s premium offering was won by L’Essence de Courvoisier, with DFree World Association exhibition in Cannes. Drambuie 15. Beam’s Gareth Brown busy that night collecting the The overall winner was Beam Global Spirits & The trophy for Best Drinks Launch of the Year two trophies. Wine for its L’Essence de Courvoisier cognac, which was picked up Rémy Cointreau for its Louis XIII The Packaging/Repackaging trophy was won by took the Supreme Champion trophy. Rare Cask, which was unveiled at Cannes last year. Nude Brand Creation for its work on the Pernod Ricard de luxe blended whisky, Ballantine’s. Sagatiba’s Caipirinha Kit took the trophy for Best Presentation Box.