Provenance Vineyards, Hook or Crook Cellars Sign National Distribution Agreement with RNDC

LODI, Calif., Jan. 24, 2022 – Two growing California wine brands – Provenance Vineyards and Hook Or Crook Cellars – have together signed a national distribution agreement with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), beginning Feb. 1, 2022, […]

Afternoon Brief, November 2nd

Winemakers, Distributors Experiment with Supply Chain & Carbon-Shrinking Shortcuts: Whether shipping wine across the globe in giant bladders, or biking a bottle down the street, there’s likely a way to make the trip cheaper for you and better for the environment...

Hook or Crook Cellars Bets on Growth with Sales Leader Marc Lohnes

LODI, CALIF., Oct. 12, 2021 – In a major move demonstrating its commitment to significant brand growth, Hook Or Crook Cellars has hired wine industry veteran Marc Lohnes as director of sales and marketing. A Thomas Allen Wine Estates brand, Hook Or Crook Cellars – based in Lodi, Calif. – has made a name for itself producing impressive yet affordable wine. Lohnes […]

Afternoon Brief, October 12th

U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Major Wine Shipping Case: The country’s highest court will not decide Sarasota Wine Market v. Schmitt, upholding Missouri’s law banning consumer direct-shipping alcohol sales from out-of-state retailers...

Afternoon Brief, September 27th

Newest Approved AVA—Virginia Peninsula: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) had officially given its blessing to the Virginia Peninsula American Viticultural Area (AVA), which includes five wineries and 112 acres of commercial vineyards...

OND (October, November, December) is the playoffs of the wine and spirits industry--40% of annual sales happen in just one quarter. OND success is often dependent on what has been set up in JAS (July August September). Come October, restaurants, bars and retailers will not necessarily be looking for new product placements. Now is the time to sell and promote those holiday new specialty wines and liquors, as well as gift packs! What are the most popular wines and spirits to offer Buyers? Gifty-items like bourbons, flavored whiskies, champagne, sparkling wines, and speciality wines--that’s what buyers are looking for. Read to drink beverages (RTD’s) are also very popular this year. Three bottle box sets of smaller bottles, special gift packs and custom glassware are also big sellers during the holidays. Kings County Whiskey & Bourbon Gift Sets A great example of a spirits holiday gift pack comes from Kings County Distillery with quality packaging and a prohibit

We Can Do Better. Here's How. John F Kennedy said once: "It is not enough to pin the blame on others, to say this is a problem of one section of the country or another, or deplore the fact that we face. A great change is at hand, and our task, our obligation, is to make that revolution, that change, peaceful and constructive for all." I am blessed to be surrounded each day by a team rich with diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, ages, and experiences, with many perspectives and voices to contribute. I have needed to do very little to create a relationship of respect among them except try to foster a forum where hard and serious conversations can occur (albeit over Zoom) and promote understanding, and not always force agreement. My team is doing the rest. Many are angry, most are sad, all are concerned and everyone is affected. Allyship is hard and a lifelong process but we're trying. We all need to try harder. As stewards of our client's marketi