Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/326040
12 / the tasting panel / june 2014 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT A Whole New Ball Game "T he Coppola World Series program was named for Francis Ford Coppola Winery's most recognized brand, the Diamond Collection. It is a sales contest that the winery developed to create a friendly rivalry within their different Southern Wine & Spirits (SWS) distributor teams," explains Marlow Daniel, the Director of Public Relations and Communications at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Now in its third year and gaining traction, the largest volume of the 15 markets compete in the Major Leagues, and all of the remaining states compete in the Mid-Majors. Each percent of growth during the contest is a run scored, and the team that scores the most runs wins and is recognized with a World Series Trophy. The 2013 winner for the Major League was James Bradney, VP–General Manager for SoCal, and the Southern California Team; the 2013 Mid-Major winner was Tom Collins, Executive VP–General Manager for SC, and the South Carolina Team. All Plungerhead wines are fi nished with a peel and reseal ZORK®, a recyclable closure that doesn't require a corkscrew. Plungerhead wines are made to be easily, and responsibly, enjoyed. THE OTHER GUYS | 35 MAPLE STREET | SONOMA CA 95476 @theotherguys facebook.com/togwines togwines.com DRY CREEK VALLEY Cabernet Sauvignon LODI Cabernet Sauvignon DRY CREEK VALLEY Zinfandel LODI Zinfandel SWS VP-General Manager James Bradney and the Southern California Team won the 2013 Major Division. Executive VP/General Manager Tom Collins and the South Carolina Team won the 2013 Mid-Major Division. When the Glass Fits S piegelau, the 500 year-old company focused on the perfection of beverage-specific glassware, has just announced the launch of its newest glass, the world's first stout-specific beer glass, engineered to complement and enhance the modern-day stout beer—in all of its varieties. The new Spiegelau x Left Hand Brewing Company x Rogue Ales Stout Glass was developed over a yearlong series of design workshops and tasting panels led by Riedel crystal glassware owner Georg Riedel and Spiegelau VP Matthew Rutkowski. Eric Wallace of Left Hand Brewing Company, Brett Joyce of Rogue Ales and experts from each brewery tested a selection of stouts ranging from Rogue Ales' Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout to Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout. After many deliberations, it was unani- mously determined that the Prototype "C" stout glass delivered the optimal taste, aroma and mouth feel to enhance stout beers. www.SpiegelauUSA.com Absolut Gaga A bsolut Vodka is joining forces with Grammy Award–winning artist Lady Gaga to create unique fan experiences on the U.S. leg of her upcoming concert tour, artRAVE: the ARTPOP Ball. Two lucky fans at each concert in the U.S. will be chosen in real time to hang out in the Absolut ARTPOP Lounge—a one-of-a-kind, onstage bar created to be part of the theatrical set—while sipping custom cocktails like the Absolut Gaga (ginger ale, apple sparkling cider, grapefruit and Absolut). Fans also have the chance to win Absolut ARTPOP Lounge tickets to select shows across the country through the #Absolutgaga contest or through Gaga-inspired runway shows hosted by LGBT-friendly bars across the country. One national grand prize winner will win a trip for two to see Lady Gaga's show live in Stockholm, Sweden, home of Absolut—details at absolutsummer.com. For more information about all other contests, visit www.absolutgaga.com. TP0614_001-33.indd 12 5/23/14 8:29 PM