The Tasting Panel magazine

January / February 2017

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14  /  the tasting panel  /  january/february 2017 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Trimming the Fat N ew wine importer Golden Frog Productions is committed to launching new brands using higher-quality grapes but eliminating more than 85 percent of traditional importer margins to bring consumers these wines for up to one-third less. The company is co-founded by industry veterans Peter Click and Alan MacDonald, the brains behind top-selling wine brands Root: 1, Clean Slate, High Note, Fat Bastard, Eroica and Red Diamond, which have collectively sold more than ten million cases. "Most large wine importers have margins up to 45 percent to support their bloated infrastructures. Our margins are below ten percent," said Click. "By taking only a small slice, we can pay wineries for quality grapes typically retailing for $25 per bottle, entice both distributors and retailers with outstanding margins and yet retail that $25 wine for $17. This makes us a compelling partner for both wineries and distributors." Portfolio Additions K obrand Corporation is proud to announce the purchase of Joto Saké LLC, becoming the exclusive U.S. marketing representative and importer of a group of premium, multi-generational and family-owned Japanese breweries producing artisanal sakés. Founded in 2005, Joto Saké has developed an excellent reputation in the wine and spirits industry for its highly selective portfolio, authentic but accessible packaging, education- driven marketing, and strategic distribution. In its twelve years of business, Joto has only selected eight breweries to import. These jizake (craft) breweries produce in small batches, using locally grown rice and rice varieties. The Joto portfolio proudly includes Eiko Fuji, Huchu Homare, Izumo Fuji, Marumoto, Nakao, Saiya, Tajima and Tomita Breweries, as well as the Joto Saké brand. 1 Kobrand Corporation enhances its fine with the purchase of Joto Sake LLC, a marketer of a December 12, 2016 (Purchase, NY) — Kobrand Corporation, a leading portfolio of hand-selected brands from around the world, is proud to announce becoming the exclusive US marketing representative and importer of a group owned Japanese breweries producing artisanal Sakes. Kobrand will begin 1 st of 2017. Founded in 2005 by Henry Sidel, Joto Sake has developed an excellent reputation highly selective portfolio, authentic but accessible packaging, education-driven Joto means "highest quality" in Japanese and is the level to which the company years of business, Joto has only selected eight breweries to import. These batches, using locally grown rice and rice varietals. Most of them are brewmaster-owner different regions of Japan, some major sake-producing areas and some with approach, Joto's portfolio represents a wide range of flavors, styles, and types. Fuji, Huchu Homare, Izumo Fuji, Marumoto, Nakao, Saiya, Tajima and Tomita These eight brewers bring rich and wonderful Sake making histories to the amazing 67 generations and 1,520 years of family Sake producing history, According to Bob DeRoose, President and CEO of Kobrand Corporation, "As of expertise and strength in the on-premise channel we have monitored taking note of the stellar reputation that Joto and its portfolio enjoyed in to dive into the category with a saké portfolio reminiscent of our own wine product and quality of people, namely the eight family owned, multi-generational hand with Joto. These brewers and the team at Joto have the same commitment has proudly taken to market for the past 73 years." According to Henry moment I developed the vision for Joto Sake, I had Kobrand as a model for with our distributors, and built our business, I only saw more deeply what have Kobrand's values, expertise, loyalty, discipline, and history take Joto short of a watershed moment for the sake category, as well. To have a wine strong position on the category shows the incredible strides we have taken honor for our brands and our business to join the ranks of Kobrand's amazing A New Look T he 2015 vintage of Achaval-Ferrer will feature a redesigned bottle and new packaging to support the ageability of the wine, including the top-tier single-vine- yard fincas, and durability of the bottle and cork closure. Stoli Group's prestige wine division, Tenute del Mondo, has completed significant investments in the iconic Argentine winery.

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