The 45th Annual Impact Marketing

Seminar Rescheduled For September 29

In New York City

M. Shanken Communications, Inc. has announced that The 45th Annual Impact Marketing Seminar will now take place on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. While the Seminar was originally scheduled for March 4, due to the current Coronavirus situation, we feel it’s in the best interest of everyone's safety that we move the event to the Fall.

The Impact Seminar is the preeminent global conference for the beverage alcohol industry. Every year, the event brings together drinks industry CEOs, presidents and senior executives from around the world to discuss evolving trends and vital issues relevant to the beverage alcohol business at all three tiers.

Registration for this year's event will open in early spring. We hope you will be able to join us for another informative and engaging seminar. Please visit our website for more information and program updates in the coming months.

Wine Spectator: Importers, Retailers Look To New

Administration For Tariff Relief

The presidential inauguration is approaching, but the pain is not going away anytime soon for many European winemakers and the American businesses that sell their wines. As a parting gift to them, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced additional tariffs on New Year's Eve, part of the ongoing fight with the European Union over subsidies to airplane manufacturers.

When Lighthizer imposed 25% tariffs in October 2019 on wines from France, Spain and Germany, he only applied them to wines under 14% alcohol. No more. As of yesterday, French and German wines 14% and higher face 25% duties.

The pain is clear in France. Bottled table wine shipments from France to the U.S. had recorded 10 consecutive years of volume growth prior to 2020, according to Impact Databank. But French wine imports fell 37% in the first nine months of 2020, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

Will a new president in the White House change things? Tariff opponents are hopeful, but wary. For one thing, bureaucracy moves slowly. “Most people believe President-elect Biden will want to restore relations with global allies, and a key part of that with the European Union is resolving these trade issues,” said Ben Aneff, president of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance (USWTA) and managing partner at Tribeca Wine Merchants. Wine Spectator has the full story.

News Briefs:

•Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 countdown continues today at 10am with the unveiling of cigars Nos. 4, 3, and 2. Tomorrow, the magazine will reveal its Cigar of the Year, followed by the publication of its full Top 25 Cigars of 2020 list on Friday, January 15.

•Cava producer Segura Viudas has launched a new certified-organic offering. Made in Spain’s DO Penedès, Segura Viudas Cava Made with Organic Grapes marks the first organic Cava in the brand’s lineup. The new bubbly retails at $13 a 750-ml., and is currently rolling out nationwide. Based on the ongoing demand for organic expressions, the winery plans on qualifying all of its sparklers for organic certification by 2022. Segura Viudas is part of the Freixenet Mionetto USA portfolio.

•Coalition Whiskey, a new series of rye whiskies finished in Bordeaux barrels, has launched in seven states across the U.S. The brand, created by former Russian Standard USA CEO Leonid Yangarber, was distilled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery and enters the market with three expressions—one finished in Margaux barrels and bottled at 45.4% abv, another finished in Pauillac barrels and bottled at 46.3% abv, and one finished in Sauternes barrels bottled at 47.1% abv—all retailing for $90 a 750-ml. In addition, the brand’s unfinished rye is available at barrel strength (54.4% abv) for $130. The whiskies are rolling out now in New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, and Colorado.

•Double Cross Vodka has launched a new ad campaign and redesigned bottle. The campaign, Dare to Differ, will debut online and on social media channels throughout the first quarter. The new bottle abandons the brand’s original rectangular shape for one with sloped shoulders and an easy-to-handle neck while retaining Double Cross’ etched and metallic branding. The new bottles are rolling out now in 750-ml. and 1-liter bottles ($35 and $40, respectively), with 50-ml. and 1.75-liter bottles to follow in the third quarter. Double Cross vodka is produced from estate grown Slovakian wheat and is imported by Old Nassau Imports.

•Napa Valley, California-based Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners has appointed Michael Cerio as its vice president of operations. Cerio joins from Terlato Wine Group where he was vice president, wine supply & operations. Prior to his time with Terlato, Cerio served in leadership roles at The Wine Group, Treasury Wine Estates, and Diageo. In his new role, he'll oversee operations for Distinguished Vineyards’ portfolio, including Argyle Winery in Oregon, MacRostie Winery and Vineyards in Sonoma County, Napa Valley’s Markham Vineyards and Textbook, and Dough Wines, a new philanthropic partnership with the James Beard Foundation.

•The Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery has named Penny Kosut as vice president of sales for the Riboli Estates Group. Kosut comes to Riboli from Fetzer Vineyards, where she spent nine years, most recently as vice president of national accounts. In her new role, she will be responsible for furthering growth for Riboli's estate brands of San Simeon, Highlands 41, Maddalena, Windstream, Opaque, and Riboli Family.

•Silver Falcon Capital, the direct investment company and brand incubator founded by former NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France, has announced an undisclosed investment in premium mixer company Navy Hill. Navy Hill's portfolio of low-calorie half soda, half tonic mixers is sold via e-commerce and in select Whole Foods, Publix, King Soopers, Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, and regional liquor outlets. Silver Falcon provides equity investments between $5-$50 million to help companies market and scale innovative high-growth brands.