Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/101724
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Persevering in Tequila Distributor of the Year Award. Left to right: Dennis Groth, Brian Rogers of American W&S, Suzanne Groth, Mike Ferrante and Ray Sodeika (American W&S), Ken Uhl (Groth) and Jon Newlon (American W&S). Showing Good Groth T he Groth family, Dennis Groth and Suzanne Groth, along with Ken Uhl, Groth's Director of Sales & Marketing, presented awards to their top distributors at the annual National Sales Meeting in December. Groth Vineyards & Winery was established in 1982 and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from Napa Valley's Oakville AVA. Groth Vineyards & Winery presented the 2012 Distributor of the Year Award to American Wine & Spirits of Southern California. Their outstanding performance in all sales segments and their focus on Groth Vineyard wines, earned them the top award across the country. Groth is proud of the outstanding job that American Wines Southern California achieved in 2012. Groth Vineyards & Winery also presented the 2012 Red Stripe Award to American Wine & Spirits of Northern California for their focus on its Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. American Wines showed the largest increase of sales and accounts for the Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon across the country. American Wines in Northern California has won this award for two consecutive years. Casa Sauza Heritage Center Supervisor Victor Martínez speaks to the importance of tequila's denomination of origin during a special event at Casa Sauza's La Perseverancia distillery in Tequila, Mexico. C asa Sauza recently hosted a celebration at its La Perseverancia distillery in Tequila, Mexico. Together with the Tequila National Chamber and the Tequila Regulatory Council, Casa Sauza oficially recognized the legacy of Don Francisco Javier Sauza and his quest to solidify tequila's denomination of origin. The event also celebrated the global launch of Casa Sauza XA, Edición Limitada, the irst global extra añejo expression for the brand. A. Hardy USA to Market Thatcher's A . Hardy USA, Ltd. is the new national marketing and sales agent for Thatcher's Certiied Organic Liqueurs for the U.S. market. Thatcher's Organic Liqueurs are created in Michigan from sustainably farmed, all-natural ingredients that are USDA certiied organic. The liqueurs contain no high fructose corn syrup, no artiicial lavor- 10 / the tasting panel / january 2013 ings, no artiicial colorings and are made by hand in small quantities to ensure consistency. Thatcher's Certiied Organic Liqueurs are available nationally. The 750-ml. bottles are 15% alcohol by volume (30 proof) and the average retail price is $19.99.