Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/101724
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT PHOTO: FRED MINNICK Appointments T Ryan Jones. Roy Danis. Campari America appointed Roy Danis as its new Managing Director. Overseeing day-to-day operations for Gruppo Campari's U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican business, Danis will report directly to Gerry Ruvo, Managing Director Campari BU North America. Danis is an experienced veteran in the beverage alcohol beverage industry, having held leadership positions at such companies as Diageo, Pernod Ricard, The Seagram Company and W. J. Deutsch & Sons. Most recently Danis served as the Managing Director of North America for Jose Cuervo International. Oscar Garcia is now Region Vice President Sales, Central Region for Heineken USA , reporting to Scott Blazek, SVP of Sales. Garcia will oversee relationships with Heineken distributor partners and key regional accounts. Oscar Garcia. Arista's Matt Courtney. A he Hess Collection Winery has appointed Ryan Jones, CSW as Southwest Regional Sales Manager, responsible for such key Western states as Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. He will report to Brandon Middleton, Vice President Western Division, and be based in Colorado. Earlier, he began his beverage sales career with Gallo in the San Francisco Bay Area, earning Sales Representative of the Year recognition. The McWilliams family, owners of Arista Winery in the Russian River Valley appellation, announced that Matt Courtney will be their new full-time winemaker after working closely with former consulting winemaker Leslie Sisneros. Courtney's most recent tenure was at Marcassin Wine Company. Arista's vineyard holdings include their 36-acre estate, located on prime benchland on Westside Road, with four distinct vineyards, which have been planted to heritage and Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In addition, in 2012 they acquired the historic Martinelli Road vineyard in the Russian River Valley AVA, which is planted to 130-year-old Zinfandel, 20+-year-old Pinot Noir and 30+-year-old Chardonnay vines. S H Celebrity chef Lee Anne Wong (left) with Jason Dolenga, Beam Inc.'s Brand Director for Maker's Mark. Ballot up to the Bar W H # H D uring this past election, Maker's Mark ran a clean campaign on the platform of "It's all in the proof" and the promise of a bottle of "Maker's Mark in every home!" In Austin, New York and San Francisco and at the distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, the Cocktail Party hosted thousands of drinkers of all political persuasions for craft cocktails by renowned bartenders and celebrity chef–made fare. Cocktail Party candidates included both a winner and a loser. "The Swing State," a version of Maker's Mark Collins, was dead last in the Party's voting, while "The Conservative," a Presbyterian, was the clear winner. Does that mean Maker's drinkers lean Republican? Hey, this is no place for political quibbling—it's about the drink! "We are all so tired of the ighting," said Jason Dolenga, Beam Inc.'s Brand Director for Maker's Mark. "This Cocktail Party was really about putting aside our differences and just having a cocktail." What started out as a small idea to drive sales became a major strategy for the brand. Maker's Mark garnered millions of social media impressions alone during the campaign. "The saddest part is, it's over," Dolenga said as the balloting ended. However, here at THE TASTING PANEL, we'll be analyzing the 2016 Cocktail Party candidates. Stay tuned for our endorsements. — Fred Minnick 6 1 1 TO C E 12 / the tasting panel / january 2013 Pr *So