Introduction Coopers have long recognized the importance of forest origin in shaping the sensory qualities of wine, yet relatively little research has been conducted to understand the underlying factors driving these effects. With access to oak sourced directly from several prestigious and historically significant French forests through our company-owned stave mill in northeastern France, we saw a unique opportunity to investigate how forest terroir contributes to wine expression. This study was conducted for our TW Boswell brand of French oak barrels and aimed to evaluate whether specific forest origins impart distinct chemical and sensory characteristics to wine. We selected three single-origin forests – Allier, Tronçais, and Nièvre and a blend composed of Bertranges, Bercé, and Russy – to compare the influence of each on wine aged in barrels crafted with TW Boswell’s proprietary toasting profiles. Our goal was to better understand the role of f

With a challenging harvest, ongoing industry headwinds, and the recent resolution of the US election, the world is still adjusting to what has become a continuously evolving “new normal” since COVID-19. The supply chain now braces for potential uncertainties surrounding a new administration.  Concerns about rising fuel expenses are becoming more pronounced, with diesel prices experiencing a modest increase of approximately three cents on average across the US, as reported by the EIA. This uptick is causing anxiety among businesses that rely heavily on transportation to maintain their supply chains. On a more positive note, there is significant relief in international shipping. The cost of ocean freight from Asia to the US has seen a remarkable decline, with container shipping fees plummeting by $1,000 to $2,000. The International Longshoremen’s Association recently conducted a brief but impactful three-day strike at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. This wor

Are you better than the best? Can your spirit stack up to the 2023 Sunset International Spirits Competition champions? If you're ready to grab gold in your category, enter today! Best of the Best Pendray's Distillery Brandy XO Best Liqueur Brucato Amaro  Chapparal Best Vodka Royal Mash Royal Mash Vintage 2020 Best Vodka Flavored/Infused Jewell Distillery, Inc. Jewell Citron Vodka Best Other Agave Spirits Venus Spirits El Ladrón Yolo - CA Roasted Agave Best Tequila Cierto Tequila Private Collection, Extra Añejo Best Whiskey Savage & Cooke Savage & Cooke Bourbon Whiskey Best Gin Hinterhaus Distilling South Grove Gin Best Mezcal Cutwater Spirits Cutwater Mezcal Reposado Best Ready to Drink Cutwater Spirits Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary Best Hard Seltzer High Noon High Noon Grapefruit Think your spirit can take top spot in 2024? Enter Today!

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery Welcomes Brenae Royal, Director of Vineyard Operations

Sustainable Napa Valley Winery Appoints Vineyard Operations Leader    April 29th – Rutherford, California – St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery is pleased to announce the appointment of Brenae Royal, […]

Cheers to Empowering Your Customers and Boosting Satisfaction! Here's the scoop: by ramping up your DTC game, you can make your customers feel like the wine royalty they truly are. Here's how: Customized Wine Clubs: Let your customers call the shots! Give them the power to pick and choose their wines, set their shipment frequency, and unlock exclusive perks. Personalized Marketing: Say goodbye to generic messages! Use your customer data to send tailor-made offers, recommendations, and invites. It's like magic, but with wine! Targeted Allocations: Roll out the red carpet for your VIPs! Treat your top customers to special releases and limited-edition bottles based on their preferences. Best Customer Online Portal: Say hello to the ultimate wine hub! Build a user-friendly online portal where customers can manage their memberships, track orders, and dive into wine education. So, what do you say? Let's raise a glass to empowering your customers and takin

Afternoon Brief, March 26th

President of Treasury Americas, Ben Dollard to Keynote 2024 Wine Sales Symposium: Wine Industry Network (WIN) has announced Ben Dollard, President of Treasury Americas, as the distinguished keynote speaker for the upcoming Wine Sales Symposium...

OAK FARM VINEYARDS AND STEELBOUND DISTILLERY TAKE TOP HONORS IN 2024 LOS ANGELES INVITATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS CHALLENGE  MARCH 6, 2024 – Winners have been announced in the third annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A Barbera from Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi, Calif., and a Bourbon from Steelbound Brewery & Distillery in Ellicotville, N.Y., topped their fields to be named Best of the Best.  The competition was established in 2022, in conjunction with Los Angeles-based beverage professionals (representing both the on- and off-premise channels), to highlight the best of the best wine and spirits producers in the world, and to introduce those producers to the largest market of consumers in the United States.  Judging took place February 26-28, 2024. Says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine & Spirits Competitions Management & Production, “The competition grew again this year to attract close to 1,100 entries, and our

September 21, 2023 — The 2023 International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition match-up has announced Eberle Winery’s 2021 Cotes-du-Robles Rouge, a Rhone-style blend, as the Best of the Best…of the Best. A blend of 54% Grenache; 38% Mourvedre and 8% Syrah, Eberle’s red blend wowed judges, who described the wine as “Very well balanced,” “Black currant,” “Shows Grenache really nicely,” with a “really nice mouthfeel.” Located in California’s Paso Robles AVA, Eberle Winery (www.eberlewinery.com) was established in 1979 and now produces up to 15 wines annually. In addition to this year’s top winner, five other Eberle entries earned gold awards or better. This two-pronged East vs. West contest first chooses winners in the separate International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition (see parameters below), before the top wines from each are pitted against each other in

Afternoon Brief, September 7th

New Jersey Judge Upholds Retail Shipping Ban: Once again, the courts deem retail sales to be different than winery offerings...