Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/76623
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Industry Pros Play on U.S. Open Court Thanks to M oët & Chandon and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) hosted 30 of New York City's most celebrated hospitality, wine and spirits professionals for the fi rst-annual Moët & Chandon Tennis Cup at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home of the U.S. Open, on Monday, July 9. In anticipation of the 2012 U.S. Tennis Open beginning August 27, Moët, the offi cial champagne of the tournament, gathered representa- tives from key on-premise accounts to compete for the title of fi rst- ever Moët & Chandon Tennis Cup Champion. In a series of round-robin matches, sommeliers, beverage direc- tors, hospitality managers and mixologists from Bagatelle, Benoit, The Box, The Bowery Hotel, The Dual Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Park Hotel and Rose Bar, Hilton Hotels Worldwide, Le Ritz, Mandarin Oriental, The New York Palace Hotel, Orsay, Paige Management Group, The Standard Hotel and Upstairs faced off to claim the inau- gural title. Semi-fi nalists squared off on Center Court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a fi nal match between The Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel and Hilton Hotels Worldwide. Moët & Chandon S Sonoma State Cellars Brand Benefi ts Wine Business Institute onoma State University's Wine Business Institute has received TTB approval for its fi rst Sonoma State Cellars release. Under the direc- tion of Professor of Business Dr. Armand Gilinsky Jr., more than a "I never imagined that I would be playing tennis— much less winning a tournament—at Arthur Ashe Stadium," exclaimed fi nalist Sebastien LeFavre (left) of New York's Gramercy Park Hotel, upon being awarded a magnum of Moët & Chandon Impérial by Ludovic du Plessis, VP of Moët & Chandon USA . dozen MBA students collaborated with Erik Miller, owner and winemaker at Kokomo Winery in Dry Creek Valley, in developing the brand. Miller donated a barrel of his 2010 Red Cuvée to found the program, and Ruth Waltenspiel of Timber Crest Winery hosted a launch party to raise support for students who volunteered their time at the winery and spent two years planning the release. All proceeds from sales of the brand will benefi t Sonoma State University's Wine Business Institute, and the Institute's Alumni Council will provide continuity for the program going forward. Sonoma State Cellars Red Cuvée 2010, a Merlot-dominant blend of Carignan, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, is available for $28 and can be ordered online at www.sonoma.edu/ winebiz. —Deborah Parker Wong Cockburn's Special Reserve Porto Marks the Return of a Classic I n 2010, Cockburn's celebrated its 195th anniversary by returning to family ownership and is now benefi ting from major quality improvements as well as an investment program by Symington Family Estates, the leading premium quality port producer. The Symington family has made signifi cant improvements to the wine. While the Cockburn's full-bodied palate and distinctive dry fi nish have been preserved, the wine has been enhanced with more profound fruit and better structure. Cockburn's Special Reserve has always been aged in seasoned oak vats and tonels longer than most other reserves, and this aspect has been maintained, the additional maturity in wood giving this wine its special identity. The re-launch includes the introduction of a new slender shaped, rounded shouldered bottle design. According to Symington's Marketing Director, Henri Sizaret, "Cockburn's is well remembered by many for its iconic bottle design, so we have based this work on the much-loved Cockburn's classic original of the '70s." Cockburn's Special Reserve has been a benchmark for all reserve ports since its inception in 1969. The range also includes Late Bottled Vintage, 10 and 20 Year Old Tawny, Quinta dos Canais, Vintage Port and Ruby, Tawny and White. 12 / the tasting panel / august 2012