Market Watch January/February 2021

Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits started 40 years ago as a one-man operation, run from founder Bill Deutsch’s home. It all seemed simple enough—another small, familyowned wine importer, like so many others dotting the landscape. But few people could have imagined that Deutsch would go on to build the biggest French wine brand in America with Georges Duboeuf (reigning from 1989-2010), and then top that performance by creating the market’s biggest Australian wine brand with Yellow Tail—which also became the largest-selling imported wine overall. For a period of time in the mid-2000s, Yellow Tail was America’s No.-1 brand by value among all wines, surpassing even the most successful players from California. And lest you think this is all about the past, you’d better think again—because the Deutsch story is still…

Moët Hennessy Takes Minority Stake In WhistlePig…. Moët Hennessy has taken a minority stake in Vermont-based distiller WhistlePig for an undisclosed sum. The move comes as the two companies have also announced a partnership in which Moët Hennessy will look to bolster WhistlePig’s international presence. “The partnership and minority investment will have no impact on WhistlePig’s distribution partnerships in North America and is focused on building WhistlePig and the brand outside of North America,” the two companies stated. One of the leaders in driving ultra-premium rye whiskey in the U.S., WhistlePig opened its distillery on a 500-acre Vermont farm in 2015. Along with Woodinville Whiskey in Washington, it gives Moët Hennessy exposure to the fast-rising upscale rye whiskey category. Gallo Closes Mega-Deal With Constellation….It’s been a long time coming, but…

Dallas: Cocktails And Whisk(e)y Rule At New European Pub Dallas-based Harwood Hospitality Group opened its ninth restaurant concept in early December, unveiling Harwood Arms in the city’s Harwood District. The 4,000-square-foot venue is inspired by the British Isles and features pub fare, signature cocktails, and a large menu of whiskies, including several private blends made exclusively for the concept. Creative cocktails include the Keep Calm & Carrot On, made with Bacardi Superior rum, Aperol aperitif, carrot and lemon juices, and coconut syrup, and The Edward Longshanks, blending Jameson Irish whiskey, Nux Alpina walnut liqueur, and house-made salt and pepper syrup (cocktails are $10-$14). In all, Harwood Arms lists roughly 50 whiskies ($8-$225 a 1¼-2-ounce pour) on its menu, spanning Scotch, Irish, and American labels and including ultra-premium offerings like Pappy…

Woodford Reserve Very Fine Rare Bourbon Brown-Forman has launched the winter 2020 iteration of the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection. This season’s whiskey, Woodford Reserve Very Fine Rare Bourbon ($130 a 750-ml.), is blended from Bourbon aged up to 17 years, dating back to 2003, when current master distiller Chris Morris took the helm. The 45.2% abv whiskey will also feature assistant master distiller Elizabeth McCall’s name on the bottle’s tag for the first time. The Bourbon is available in select markets. For more information, visit Woodfordreserve.com. Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Reposado and Platino Jose Cuervo is extending its high-end Reserva de la Familia range with Platino and Reposado offerings. Made at the La Rojena distillery, Platino ($65 a 750-ml.) is making its return to the U.S. market after…

As it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits can pause to look back at a long, remarkable journey. Today’s revenue is at around $1 billion, and annual volume is 13 million cases. The company now employs 350 people, headquartered in a modern glass office building in Stamford, Connecticut. It’s all quite a contrast to the earliest days. At the dawn of the 1980s, founder Bill Deutsch was on a bright career path in the corporate drinks world. His resumé sparkled with executive experience at companies including Gold Seal, Austin Nichols, and Somerset Importers, where he had started in 1975 and had risen to become senior vice president of sales. Somerset was owned by billionaire industrialist Norton Simon, whose vast holdings also included Hunt Foods, Canada…

Last March, the world was unmoored by the emergence of Covid-19, a virus that would come to alter everyday living across all corners of the globe. While the pandemic has proven devastating to many industries, some have benefited from the new social distancing guidelines that have become entrenched in everyday life; among them is the wine industry, and, more specifically, its e-commerce enterprise. Over the course of 2020, wine’s e-commerce presence experienced astronomical growth, with both retailers and producers seeing gains that were once expected to take years explode seemingly overnight. Though there were early challenges in navigating such mammoth momentum, most in the industry have since adjusted accordingly, and at a rapid clip, meeting the demands of consumers who are now more acutely attuned to the benefits of buying…