Liquor Industry News/Links
04-08-17
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*
Franklin Liquors Has New Technology
New More On Tap App!
Sale Items
Drink Recipes
Product Information
Events
Food And Wine Pairings
Staff Picks
And More!
Watch For Our Easter Newsletter
Food And Wine Pairings
Sale Items And More
A Consumer’s Guide to 2017 State Politics
A bill in Massachusetts is seeking to double excise taxes on alcohol. All funds would be used for various substance-abuse treatment and awareness programs. Another proposal would allow Bay Staters to buy booze on Thanksgiving Day. (Bans on Sunday and Christmas Day sales would still stand.)
Take Care
Franklin Liquors
Mike & Mark
Liquor Industry Week In Review
This Weeks Highlights:
New Products
Natick MA selectmen approve Wegmans’ liquor license
TOTAL WINES OVERTURNS ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ SOUTH CAROLINA LIQUOR LAWS
Good wine shop can make all the difference
AND MORE!
Franklin Liquors New Daily Newspaper
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
Our Daily Wine Newspaper
How To Take Advantage Of The Expanding World Of Wine
For many wine consumers, the temptation to drink the same few grape varieties, from the same places where those wines are most well-known, is overwhelming.
HOW TRADER JOE’S WINE BECAME CHEAPER THAN BOTTLED WATER
The company’s white zinfandel is one of 83 California wines that tested positive for high levels of inorganic arsenic. Our conclusion is that something is going on inside the winery, not in the field where grapes are grown. More likely than not, they’re adding something to the wine
https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/trader-joes-wine-two-buck-chuck-history
GUINNESS LAUNCHES LIMITED RELEASE WHEAT BEER
Guinness Irish Wheat has a typical wheat haze and notes of citrus, clove, and banana. It’s brewed with wheat sourced in Ireland with the same yeast that is used for Guinness Stout.
Piedmont’s “other” wines
This north-westerly region boasts many indigenous grape varieties that each bring a unique character to the table. Wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco are examples of fine wines to savour for special occasions, but Piedmont’s everyday drinking wines hold a charm of their own.
http://bbrblog.com/2017/03/30/piedmonts-other-wines/
The challenges of working with wine
To stay well and healthy in this industry, particularly when travelling to markets where tasting and drinking is part of the job, is not easy, as it requires restraint, mindfulness of environment, body awareness, and knowledge of self
https://www.meininger.de/en/wine-business-international/challenges-of-working-wine
Wine terminology that drives us all mad
“Old World” and “New World” wines. Both have been in use for years now and yet many people still scratch their head when first hearing of them.
http://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20170330/off-vine-wine-terminology-that-drives-us-all-mad
The most popular alcoholic drink in 31 countries around the world
Are We Overly Influenced by Wine Labels?
Wine labels play an important role in our decision making process, even if we don’t realize why. Let’s take a look at how wine labels influence our choices and affiliation with brands, along with some tips on how to look past the design on the bottle for pertinent information.
http://winefolly.com/tutorial/are-we-overly-influenced-by-wine-labels/
GLOBAL WARMING AND COOL CLIMATE WINE
Climate change has had a negative impact on agriculture
https://www.alcoholprofessor.com/blog/2017/03/28/global-warming-and-cool-climate-wine/
Your Illustrated Guide to Pairing Fashion and Wine
Armani, Versace, Wang, Gaultier—we check out eight designers and find the wine that suits their style. Also, which fashion icons have turned to winemaking?
http://www.winemag.com/2017/03/29/your-illustrated-guide-to-pairing-fashion-and-wine/
Time To Play Some Wine Games
For those of us who enjoy a little fun and folly, here are several intriguing games all centered around the topic of wine.
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO WINE FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS
To get to the most extreme winemaking region in Spain, you’ll have to travel a bit farther south than the country’s mainland – just off the coast of southern Morocco, to be exact. It’s here that the volcanic archipelago of the Canary Islands, or Las Canarias, sprung up over the course of several million years and became home to some of Europe’s oldest vines.
http://vinepair.com/wine-blog/a-complete-guide-to-wine-from-the-canary-islands/
HOW TO SHOP FOR GOOD WINE – 8 TOP TIPS
Slow down, turn that bottle around and check out the description on the back.
AND SHOP FRANKLIN LIQUORS!
7 Wine Rules You Officially Have Permission to Break
If you think wine is snobby, expensive and difficult to understand, it’s time to forget everything you’ve ever heard right this second. Today, the world of wine is more exciting than ever, so we’re ditching the old adages. Presenting seven outdated wine rules you’re officially allowed to break.
http://www.purewow.com/food/wine-rules-you-should-break
8 Health Benefits of Drinking Wine
Every year, there is a flurry of headlines about the health benefits of wine. But can drinking wine really make a difference?
TOP 10 BOOZY TREATS FOR EASTER
Brands the world over have been exploring the idea of alcoholic Easter-themed treats to give the upcoming seasonal event a little extra kick
https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/03/top-10-boozy-easter-treats/
CÎROC ADDS SUMMER COLADA FLAVOUR TO LINE
Diageo has expanded its Cîroc Vodka line with the launch of a limited edition Summer Colada expression, infused with flavours of pineapple and coconut.
https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/03/ciroc-adds-summer-colada-flavour-to-line/
Perusing old wine bottle labels offers tasty glimpse into evolution of California winemaking
Anyone still collect wine labels? For decades after the repeal of Prohibition, people enamored with the history, romance and art of wine patiently would steam or soak off labels from bottles.
http://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/wine/dunne-on-wine/article140779438.html#storylink=cpy
Also For The Wine Label Geek Like Me Check this Site Out!
https://labelthis.library.ucdavis.edu
How Do You Feel About Wine Cans?
Not intended to be a Millennial thing, per se; although, Millennials are still very exploratory and are the age demographic to be more open to anything new. They’ve all recently left home and are out on their own, mostly bucking “the establishment.” Their enjoying wine in a can certainly says, “This is NOT your daddy’s wine,” right?
http://www.wine-blog.org/index.php/2017/03/29/wine-cans/
Peter Yealands proposes ‘complete solution’ to grape marc issues
A sustainability pioneer has unveiled an ambitious plan to solve one of the problems facing the Marlborough wine industry: what to do with grape marc?
This winery has so many interesting ideas. How about 24hr opera music in vineyards?
Perfect Wine for Easter
Pairing wines with Easter can be tricky due to the variety and volume of food on the table. However with our picks, you’ll be able to hop along with your choices rather quick!
https://whattopair.com/perfect-wine-for-easter/
China’s Weilong aims to beat Treasury Wine Estates at own game
China’s third biggest wine company is aiming to have an $80 million winery up and running by 2019 near Mildura to mirror the export strategy of big Australian rivals
The brand loyalty paradox
By analysing the data from recent surveys in the US and the UK we can see that consumers indeed seem to have a fairly consistent repertoire of brands.
http://www.wineintelligence.com/the-loyalty-paradox/
The average Indian wine drinker can’t tell a Cabernet Sauvignon from a Sauvignon blanc
There is an old webcomic that punchily describes the two kinds of wine drinkers in the world. There’s the snob who revels in swirling the glass, sniffing the bouquet, and identifying the tones and undertones. And then there’s the drinker, for whom it’s just, well, wine to glug down
Guide to Wards, Districts, Regions and all that of South Africa
outh Africa has a clear and logical demarcation of land for wine growing. It is based, says the governing body, the Wine & Spirit Board and its relevant sub-committee, the Demarcation Committee, on ‘nature and the human hand’.
http://www.wine.co.za/news/news.aspx?NEWSID=30361
2016 sets record for small craft brewers: retail dollars up 10% to $23.5 bil, 21.9% share of all beer $ sales
LaBelle Winery now using grapes from its Amherst MA vineyard for wine production
For the first time, LaBelle Winery is producing wine from its own homegrown grapes.
Good wine shop can make all the difference
It’s time to get out of the supermarket and into the wine shop.
The World’s Great Wine and Cheese Pairings
Of all the great foodie pairings, wine and cheese has to be one of the very best.
http://socialvignerons.com/2017/04/03/the-worlds-great-wine-and-cheese-pairings/
TOTAL WINES OVERTURNS ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ SOUTH CAROLINA LIQUOR LAWS
US wine retailer Total Wines has successfully challenged the traditional liquor laws of South Carolina, after the state’s supreme court branded a cap on the number of stores a retailer can have as “unconstitutional”.
The Taste Of Wine Isn’t All In Your Head, But Your Brain Sure Helps
What do listening to music, hitting a baseball and solving a complex math problem have in common? They all activate less gray matter than drinking wine.
How to Drink Wine the Right Way, According to Science
Here are a few things that you could do if you want to enjoy a glass and don’t want to look or sound dumb,
http://gizmodo.com/how-to-drink-wine-the-right-way-according-to-science-1793691568
TTB Alcohol Beverage Sampling Program 2016 Results
Each year we purchase products from the marketplace and bring them to our offices for label assessments, where we first evaluate them for compliance with our labeling regulations. Following the label assessments, we send the products to our laboratories for a series of chemical analyses to assess whether the products themselves comply with the information displayed on the product labels.
Here are the wine findings:
Featured Wine: Nebbiolo
The most popular Nebbiolo-based wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, are quite expensive. Luckily, you can get your cherry, tar, and rose-fix from a few other regions where there are more pocketbook-friendly options
http://winefolly.com/review/featured-nebbiolo-wines/
Natick MA selectmen approve Wegmans’ liquor license
Kentucky Spirits in Natick Center plans to close later this year. Ercole Ubaldino, the store’s owner for the past 27 years, said he is sad to be shutting down.
Wegmans agreed to pay $1.32 million for the liquor license, according to records included in the transfer request application.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20170403/natick-selectmen-approve-wegmans-liquor-license
Is your wine worth it?
When it comes to pricing, quality and customer expectation both matter, finds a study co-authored at Cambridge Judge Business School that focuses on wine.
https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/is-your-wine-worth-it/?
The Two Faces of Ventoux
Although it has a long history as a producer of Rhône Valley wines—it was especially prominent during the Avignon Papacy—Ventoux has mostly been somewhat quiet and relatively ignored in recent centuries.
http://www.sommjournal.com/Stories/Web-Exclusives/2017/The-Two-Faces-of-Ventoux.aspx#.WOPCxhiZOSN
GMO yeast in wine and how to find them
The vast majority of wine does not involve genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Let me repeat, the vast majority of wine does not involve GMOs. On to the rest of the story:
http://wineoscope.com/2017/04/04/gmo-yeast-in-wine-and-how-to-find-them/
A look at pinot growing regions of Sonoma County
No California red wine today is generating more buzz than pinot noir. And Sonoma County is ground zero for the widest range of cool-climate styles of pinots, like the ocean-influenced wines of Sonoma Coast, foggy and cool Green Valley, gentle rolling hills of Carneros Sonoma and the extensive vineyards throughout the Russian River Valley.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/6745438-181/a-look-at-pinot-growing?artslide=0
Your Guide to American Single Malt Whiskey
In “Spirit Guide,” Wayne Curtis demystifies the ever-shifting spirits landscape one bottle at a time. This round: American single malt whiskey.
http://punchdrink.com/articles/guide-american-single-malt-whiskey-balcones-hillrock/
Introducing New Malibu® Beer
This refreshing golden lager is flavored with a hint of natural coconut for a light tropical note and features 5% ABV. The product is slated for a select market roll-out beginning May 1st 2017 in Miami/Fort Lauderdale (FL), San Diego (CA) & Ann-Arbor/Lansing (MI). Produced in the Caribbean, Malibu® Beer will be imported into the U.S. market by United States Beverage under exclusive licensing from the Malibu® brand.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/introducing-malibu-beer-123500254.html
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Wine Explorers wanted!
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Thursday April 13th
Wines From Abruzzo In Central Italy
Guest: Dave Abbot Mascerelli Wine
Masciarelli is the leading Estate of Abruzzo.
The Abruzzo region today is on the cutting edge of grape growing and winemaking in all of Italy. We will talk about the special set of climates and soils that makes Abruzzo unique. We will talk about the grape varieties that have evolved in Abruzzo for over a thousand years. And we will talk about Gianni Masciarelli, the curious skeptic, biological savant, and energy management genius who took Abruzzo from a sleepy wine backwater to the cutting edge.
About Dave:
Dave Abbott began his wine career in 1985 with the Big Y Wine superstore in Northampton, Massachusetts just in time to taste all of the 1982 Classed Growth Bordeaux, and most of the to 1983 Burgundy Premier and Grand Crus. This is when he became vitally interested in the geography, geology, topography, climate, agriculture, history, culture, wine traditions and culinary traditions of the European wine lands. Dave has been liberally overeducated at Dartmouth (BA English 1972), University of Michigan (MA English Language and Literature 1977), and University of Massachusetts (PhD/ABD 19th and 20th Century Novel leaving in 1985). A teacher at heart, Dave has long been fascinated by all the factors that make every wine unique. A salesman by trade, Dave has worked for Consumer Programming Services selling encyclopedias door-to-door in the West Virginia coal fields, as Sales Associate and Italian and German Brands Manager for Big Y Wines, as the founder of Wine Diamonds wine brokerage, for MRR Traders as Western Mass Wholesaler’s Rep, and since 1998 for Masciarelli Wine Company as Western Mass Rep, and later as a Regional Sales Manager. In 2007 Dave became Regional Sales Manager for the imports division of Masciarelli Wine Company serving North Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and Delaware later adding Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. In 2012 Dave also became Masciarelli’s Wine Educator, and Sales Trainer for both the Massachusetts and Florida divisions.. Since 2015 Dave has handled Regional Sales Manager duties for Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Marylnd, DC, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois. Since 2012 he has been National Brand Manager for Valori, Castello di Cacchiano, La Caplana, and the Masciarelli Estate in Abruzo. Summer 2015 marked Dave’s 25th trip to Italy.
Today my business involves making connections with 9 distributors, traveling to 13 states, doing ride-alongs with 85 sales people a year teaching them about the things that make our wines so very special, calling on 1000 retailers and restaurants projecting the voice, character, style and passion of the Masciarelli Wine company and the wine families we represent. Always fascinated by the intricacies of Italian wine, Dave aspires to be the World’s Best Italian Wine Salesman.
Favorite Quotes
When your done learning, your done.–John Wooden
The harder I work, the luckier I get.—Anonymous
https://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/events/238658836/
April 25th
Exploring Wine Labels
Hosts: Mark Lenzi And Kim Simone
Lets take an educational adventure while tasting wines and explore labels.
Do you know the truths and lies on the labels?
We will get back to our original club roots at this event. Talking and tasting while giving you tips and tricks.
You will leave a better wine buyer and a little scared!
Whats in that bottle can all learned with a few tips.
https://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/events/239011374/
May 4th
- Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Guest: Erin Foley
May 11th
Wines Of Santa Carolina In Chile
Host Mark Raymond
June 1st
Matchbook Wines
Host Dan O’connor
June 15th
Napa Valley Rocks
Host Jo Ann Ross
Franklin Adult Education 2017 Classes
Wine Buying Tips Using Label Information
Thursday, May 18th
Do you know 5 corporations own 80-90% of wines for sale? Many people buy wines based on label only. Do you? This wine tasting/education will explain what is on a wine label and how it can help you find the best for your dollar. After this event buying wine will never be the same!
Exploring Italian Wines
Tuesday, May 23rd
Italian wines can be some of the most confusing to understand. This tasting/education will cover history, geography, laws, regions and grapes. Come explore Italy!
Medway Community Education Winter Programs
The Language of Wine Labels
May 10
Ever found yourself staring at a wine label and been confused about what it’s telling you? You’re not alone! Join Mark and Kim as they decode the language on that bottle of wine. You’ll learn how to tell if a wine is dry or sweet, what might be in a blend, and so much more!
Tri-County Adult Education
French Wine Scholar Programs
Vinitas WineWorks LLC, Tri-County Adult Education, and Franklin Liquors are excited to announce the Fall session of the French Wine Scholar Certification program!
Now you don’t have to go to Boston for this world-class French wine course! Set yourself apart from your peers and specialize in the wines of France. Gain the confidence to taste, sell, and speak meaningfully about all aspects of French wine, from Champagne to Bordeaux and everything in between. Pass the exam and earn the title French Wine Scholar and FWS post-nominal.
Developed by the Wine Scholar Guild with the support of the French Ministry of Agriculture, this specialization program is designed for advanced students of wine, whether professionals or serious wine hobbyists. This is NOT an introductory wine class; students should have professional wine experience or previous classroom study. Students must be familiar with the concepts of viticulture and vinification, major grape varieties, wine regions, and wine styles from across the globe, and have experience tasting wine in a formal setting.
Tuition: $999
http://www.tri-county.tc/wine-scholar-program
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Franklin Liquors Wine Education
Certified Specialist Of Wine-CSW
Certified Specialist Of Spirits-CSS
Society Of Wine Educators
California Wine Appellation Specialist-CWAS-San Francisco Wine School (First In MA)
French Wine Scholar FWS-(Instructor) Wine Scholar Guild
Quini Certified Educator- QCE (First In USA)
Italian Wine Specialist-IWS-North American Sommelier Association
Our Wine Education/Events Partner
Kim Simone
