Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/735312
16 / the tasting panel / october 2016 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT S parkling wine is only a small portion of overall wine sales in the United States, and of that, Champagne—real Champagne— has an even tinier share of the fizz filling our glasses, so it might be easy to dismiss the need for this book. However, those that that pick up But First, Champagne: A Modern Guide to the World's Favorite Wine (Skyhorse Publishing, $29.99) by David White, will be richly rewarded. White, perhaps best known as the founder and editor of Terroirist.com, walks the reader through a vivid history of Champagne in six chapters, from the first vineyards making relatively unremarkable still wines, through the refinement of the winemaking process and the rise of bubbly's popularity among world elites, to the modern focus on grower Champagnes. The last pages are devoted to an overview of some of the major brands. He tips his hat to the big houses, or Grands Marques, and then journeys through each of Champagne's sub-regions, exploring the men and women behind the "farmer fizz" trend. The chapters blend entertaining history with the more techni- cal aspects of creating Champagne. Those with more advanced knowledge will find enough nerdy tidbits to get their Tastevins jingling. The list of producers and growers will stir everyone's resolve to tick each name off their cork-popping bucket list. Best of all, White never loses sight of what makes the region a truly unique place, perhaps the only place that could give birth to the world's most magical wine. —David D. Denton, CWE, CSS, IBWE Book Corner A Global Focus S tarting January 1, 2017, HEINEKEN USA will launch Five Points Trading Company, a new venture aimed at incubating a range of popular global beers in the U.S. Under this new umbrella, Five Points Trading Company will assume U.S. importer of record responsibility for Red Stripe, Tiger, Birra Moretti, Affligem, Murphy's Stout, Prestige, Sagres and Mort Subite. With the development of Five Points Trading Company, HEINEKEN USA is now able to bring these emerging premium brands back in-house while taking them to new heights by utilizing the resources and expertise of the com- pany's established distribution network. Named in reference to the five points of HEINEKEN's iconic red star and America's first melting pot neighbor- hood in lower Manhattan, Five Points Trading Company will be led by General Manager Charles (Chas) Littlefield, who, along with his team, will manage the new brands separately from HEINEKEN USA's current portfolio. A Vegas Update C hef Charlie Palmer, arriving in Vegas as one of the original pioneers of the dining scene in 1999, recently transformed Charlie Palmer Steak Las Vegas. Seventeen years after opening its doors in the Four Seasons Hotel, the steakhouse has revealed a reno- vated interior and façade, as well as a new Executive Chef and Pastry Chef, along with two Master Sommeliers leading renewed wine program. "We have deep roots in Las Vegas and a longstand- ing commitment to the Four Seasons and Mandalay Bay," says Chef Charlie Palmer. "With the restaurant's brand new look and an exceptional culinary and beverage team, I'm truly looking forward to another 17 years of serving the best steakhouse food and drink on the Strip."