Letter From the editor JOHNSON BROTHERS

J A N U A R Y, 2 0 0 7
Letter From the editor
JOHNSON BROTHERS
VOLUME XXII, EDITION 1
Happy New Year!
News From the Vintage Division
The year 2007 is off to a big start with some great promotions
to entice your customers. There are plenty of exciting events
going on right here in the State of Minnesota during the month
of January, and hopefully we will get some snow for all of our
outdoor enthusiasts.
Some of the most exciting sports action will take place this
month, including the NFL playoffs and culminating with the
Super Bowl. To help with all of the parties that will take place
is a fantastic rebate on some of Minnesota’s best selling spirit
products, including RonDiaz Spiced Rum, McAdams Canadian,
and Petri Brandy.
Read on for more information and have a great month!
As we start a new year, some things
remain the same...the consistency
and popularity of Rosemount wines
for example! “The prestige wine of
Australia,” produces a selection of fine
wines that reflect the riches of the
Australian climate and an unswerving
dedication to winemaking quality,
innovation and style. This month’s
spotlight is on the four
Rosemount Diamond 750ml
blends.
Traminer-Riesling is a
delightfully crisp wine
without the overly sweet
characters of many Rieslings.
Cabernet-Merlot is a lush,
full-flavored red wine which
reminds one of a bowl of
cherries with soft tannins.
Shiraz-Cabernet is full of ripe
blackberry fruit with spicy
undertones which provides
a smooth and fruity, soft-finishing red
wine.
Shiraz-Grenache has deep raspberry and
cherry fruit-flavors that are enhanced by
exotic spice and pepper characteristics.
Consumers continued to flock
to the Australian section in
2006, shown in the category’s
12% growth. Mattie’s
Perch wines feature luscious
fruit forward flavors with
hints of vanilla and caramel
from the use of oak aging
and are a superb value that
your customers are sure to
appreciate. Mattie’s Perch
is available in Chardonnay,
Shiraz, Cabernet-Shiraz, and
White Shiraz and come in 750ml and
1.5L bottles. Ask to see the colorful
packaging and point of sale that are
sure to make Mattie’s Perch “bonzer!”
(outstanding) in 2007!
Few brands have
seen the success
and longevity that
Carlo Rossi has
experienced over
the decades, and
things just keep
getting better.
Carlo Rossi 5.0
WINE & SPIRIT
NEWS
liter boxes have been a hit with consumers
since their launch in September 2006.
Varietal wines continue to push the
growth in the box wine category which
is why Carlo Rossi Boxes are available
in Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, and
White Zinfandel. Take advantage of a
valuable mail-in rebate offer on Rossi
Boxes this month to continue the growth
of this iconic wine brand.
News From the Diageo Division
January is play-off time and
what better spirit to bring
to your football parties than
Smirnoff Twist. Smirnoff Twist
flavors are excellent chilled
straight or in your favorite
mixed drink. With 10 flavors to
choose from you can’t go wrong
with Smirnoff.
Also, don’t forget about Captain
Morgan Tattoo. This great
alternative to Jagermeister tastes great
chilled or with your favorite energy drink.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Get the details of this month’s fantastic
750ml blend promotion from your
Vintage Sales Representative.
Make your January Super!
News From the Spirit Division
The multi brand Rebate will offer your consumers extra savings on one to
four bottles of our great tasting, value priced, and strong selling products just
when the credit card bills hit from the holidays. Display and promote some of
Minnesota’s best selling spirit products for a “Super Start” to your New Year’s
sales.
Three Olives Vodka presents a
rush of flavor – Three Olives
Pomegranate Vodka. Awardwinning, ultra-premium Three
Olives combine the sweet
and sour taste of ripened
pomegranates with their toprated, quadruple-distilled,
quadruple-filtered vodka for
a drink that is exceptionally
delicious. Three Olives
Pomegranate Vodka is the newest and
hottest addition to the Three Olives line.
We are starting the year off with a fantastic promotion tied around the NFL
playoffs and the Super Bowl to help stimulate incremental sales.
News From the Gallo Division
Mattie’s Perch of Australia is the
perfect brand to feature this January.
1-800-723-2424
651-649-5800 www.johnsonbrothers.com
Questions? Email: [email protected]
Johnson Brothers Liquor
Company
1999 Shepard Road
St. Paul, MN 55116-3210
NEWS
WINE & SPIRIT
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
ST PAUL MN
PERMIT NO 7150
J A N U A R Y, 2 0 0 7
PHILLIPS
VOLUME XIV, EDITION I
NEWS FROM the REGAL WINE division
Bolla wines
represent true
Italian passion for
life. For more than
120 years, Bolla
has been producing
authentic, quality
wines in the Veneto
region of Northern
Italy. Bolla is now
proud to release
two new varietal
wines in both
750ml and 1.5L.
Bolla Riesling
is a refreshing,
delightful
wine made
from handpicked grapes from the
mountainous region of Northern Italy.
This wine is well-balanced and fruit
forward with a hint of sweetness and
spice. Bolla Pinot Noir is a versatile,
elegant wine made from handpicked
grapes, again, from the mountainous
region of Northern Italy. This Pinot
Noir is well-balanced and fruit forward,
with a light ruby color and jammy
flavors of black cherry and raspberry.
promotions, positive
ratings and the support
at retail. These wines
continue to produce better
wines with each year that
passes and the consumer
stays with wines they are
comfortable with. We
are looking
forward
to another
outstanding
year with
these
category
leaders in
2007! We
think you will like the
exciting programs we
are lining up for a year
of fast turns and solid
profits at retail. January
is a very strong month at
retail, with all the football
parties that happen. Sutter
Home is a “no brainer”
for the floor this month
for the crowd pleasers! And believe me,
sparklers still sell in January. Cook’s
Champagne, America’s favorite, will give
you the fast turns at the register this
month.
nEWS FROM ubi on
diageo brands
With holiday parties
and football play-offs
just around the corner,
now is the time for the
Jose Cuervo pre-mixed
cocktails. Jose Cuervo
Authentic Margaritas
are the number one
pre-mixed cocktail
in Minnesota, with
the new Jose Cuervo
Golden Margarita a
close second. Without
having to break out the
blender, there is no better way to enjoy a
margarita made with Jose Cuervo.
NEWS FROM the PREMIER WINE division
With all of the wine brands (both
new and old) that the consumers had
to choose from in 2006, the “big
hitters” still showed positive growth.
Brands like Sutter Home, Folie a Deux,
Inglenook, Lindemans and Cook’s all
had a banner year, thanks to year ‘round
1-800-462-5303
WINE & SPIRIT
NEWS
NEWS FROM the SPIRIT divISION
With the launch of Phillips Union
Whiskey, we set out to eradicate any hint
of historic whiskey harshness and create
a whole new generation of whiskey
lovers who are into smooth flavor and
mixing adventures. There are unique
differences between the whiskies of
the world and the characteristics of
Phillips Union Whiskey - which is, in
our humble opinion, the best thing
to happen to whiskey since the shot
glass. The straight whiskey is an artful
marriage of high quality Kentucky
bourbon and Canadian whisky. And
if smooth wasn’t enough, along comes
Phillips Union Cherry made from the
finest cherries available. And last, but
not least,
Phillips
Union
Vanilla
with an
unbelievable
nose and
taste of
the finest
vanilla.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
News from the Prestige Wine Division
PRESTIGE BRANDS SCORE BIG IN WORLD WINE COMPETITION
The 2006 World Value Wine Challenge results are in. Luccio
Moscato d’Asti scored 89 points, a Silver medal and “Highly
Recommended”. Starling Castle Riesling scored 86
points, a Silver medal and “Highly Recommended”. 2005
Conquista Malbec scored 84 points and a Bronze medal.
The Luccio Moscato d’Asti tastes of ripened apples and
apricots in a refreshing burst of bubbles. Pair with fruits,
desserts, cakes and any other dolce used in toasts for any
occasion.
The Conquista is soft, mouth-filling and perfumed. A
ripe tannin backbone holds flavor layers of blackberries and
blueberries, wild plums and hints of mocha and spice.
Intended for rich, spicy meat dishes to include grilled meats and vegetables, stews, rich
pastas and mature cheeses.
Starling Castle Riesling has a bright golden hue, the nose is fresh with a touch of citrus and
pear and semi-sweet fruit flavors. Matches with salads, fruits, light cheeses and desserts.
Starling Castle is just sweet enough to bring out the best of spicy Asian cuisine.
J A N U A R Y, 2 0 0 7
WINE MERCHANTS
VOLUME IX, EDITION I
INTRODUCING . . .
CHALK HILL WINERY
Sonoma County, California
The true essence of Chalk Hill is its
estate, a unique corner of California
wine country. Here, proprietors
Fred and Peggy Furth both preserve
the nature of the land and honor it
by producing wines that reflect its
exceptional qualities.
Inspired by his memory of hillside
vineyards in Germany and his
determination to preserve the natural
contours of the land, Fred pioneered
vertical planting on the slopes of Chalk
Hill in 1974.
Chalk Hill is an estate in the oldfashioned sense, combined with a
contemporary exploration of modern
viticulture. In their determination
to produce the greatest wines in the
world, the Furths look to tradition
and innovation for guidance. “We are
supporting an ongoing Chardonnay
clonal trial that is comprehensive in its
scope, in terms of international clones,
and dedicated to producing wine
from each clone and terroir,” which is
described comprehensively as, “soil,
drainage, subterranean water, rain water,
sun strike and relative
humidity.”
ESTATE CHARDONNAY
Oak, toasted and spicy, plays an
important role in the flavor of this wine.
Extracted layers of flavor with
concentrated texture. Estate-grown
Bordeaux varietals frame and enhance
the Chalk Hill Cabernet. The wine
boasts perfumed aromas of black
currants, blackberry jam, with hints of
lavender, mocha and star anise. Rich
and expansive with velvety tannins, this
wine is LUSH and is worth cellaring.
ESTATE BOTTLED
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Balanced and intense, the
Sauvignon Blanc from
Chalk Hill expresses the
uniqueness of the land.
Both rich and elegant.
Lush aromas of grapefruit,
honeysuckle and exotic spice
are met by a vibrant band
of tropical fruit and mineral
flavors. Classic!
Aged in barrel for 21 months and blended
with additional Bordeaux varietals that
amplify the voice of the estate, Chalk Hill
Merlot brims with red currants, earthy
plum, mocha and cigar box aromas. The
sweet mid-palate punctuates the silky,
supple, seductive texture that lingers
through the finish.
ESTATE BOTTLED PINOT GRIS,
NORTH SLOPE
The North Slope of the Chalk
Hill estate is the highest,
coolest block of the vineyard.
The wine has delicate floral
aromas and exotic fruit with
roundness and length. The
wine offers up perfumed
aromas of lychees, honeysuckle,
jasmine and hazelnut.
Moderately weighty flavors of
lime, toasty vanilla, shortbread
and even a little crème broûlée.
Ask your Wine Merchants
salesperson for pricing and
availability of the extraordinary wines
from Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
HENDRY RANCH WINERY
The Hendry Vineyard is situated on the bench lands between
the Napa Valley’s Carneros and Mt. Veeder viticultural
districts. Thin stony soils and gently sloping terrain formed
from ancient stream terraces produce high quality fruit at
low yields. The 115 acres of vineyard are divided into 49
separately managed blocks. These divisions reflect George
Hendry’s efforts to recognize unique terroir and to match
root, variety and clone to the regions to which they are best
suited.
91 points Wine Enthusiast
“When Hendry Zin is good, which it usually is, it’s very
good, and so it is with this ripe, flashy but balanced wine. Block 7, in particular,
is as dependable as Zin gets. It’s so delicious in jammy cherry, blackberry and
cocoa flavors, yet dry and crisp, with that sip-me-again quality that quickly
empties the bottle.” S.H.
2005 Pinot Gris
Nectarine and lime peel hint at the mouth watering acidity of this lightly floral
wine. In the mouth, nectarine repeats, with citrus and citrus peel, mineral and
tea. It has refreshing acidity and a richness of texture. There are rose petal and
delicate mineral notes on the finish.
These three medal-winning wines represent excellent value to the consumer and can be
great January “stackers” for all retail stores. Ask your Phillips Representative for new
“medal-winning” deals.
651-637-3300
NEWS
ESTATE BOTTLED CABERNET SAUVIGNON ESTATE BOTTLED MERLOT
Block 7 Zinfandel
Minerally and sleek!
Call it Cali-Chablis. An
enormously complicated
wine with oak, lees and
underlying peach custard
and spicy mango cream
flavors that finish long
and dry.
W I N E
1-877-202-8727
651-659-2825