The Coca-Cola Co. and Cargill last week announced details on a sweetener made from the rebiana compounds in the stevia leaf. The companies worked together to develop the product, which is said to have a clean, sweet taste and is 200 times sweeter than sugar. The product will be marketed under the Truvia brand name.

“This is a significant milestone for Cargill’s emerging zero calorie sweetener business with application across food, beverage and tabletop products,” said Marcelo Montero, president of Cargill Health & Nutrition. “We have spent more than two years validating the consumer demand for this new sweetener.”

The companies announced that research on the safety of the new sweetener would be published electronically in the scientific journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, and represents the first safety evaluation program to evaluate rebiana. The research, “addressed unresolved questions and verified the safety of the product for use as a general purpose sweetener,” Cargill said in a statement. “The research program included metabolism, safety, intake, stability and human studies that complement the body of previously published research on purified steviol glycosides, the sweet components of the stevia leaf.”

Cargill has built a consistent stevia supply chain in anticipation of launching Truvia, it says. One stevia plant yields enough rebiana for 30 six-ounce cups of coffee. Read more about Truvia.

Wine industry icon Robert Mondavi died May 16 at his home in Napa Valley at the age of 94. “Robert Mondavi was unique in a very special way,” said Richard Sands, chairman of Constellation Brands, which acquired the Robert Mondavi Corp. in 2004. “He had a vision about the potential for developing great California wines. Robert was a pioneer who acted on his vision and was both passionate and relentless in his pursuit of ever-better wines, especially from the Napa Valley. He championed the marriage of fine wine, excellent food, arts and culture, and relationships that enrich lives. He was an inspiration and he will be greatly missed. Robert’s passing leaves a void in the world of wine which can never be filled. Our hearts and our thoughts are with the Mondavi family.”

The Robert Mondavi Winery was the first major winery built in Napa Valley after the repeal of Prohibition. Mondavi pioneered a number of winemaking techniques in California, including cold fermentation, stainless steel tanks and the use of French oak barrels. As a marketer, he initiated blind tastings of Napa Valley wines with fine wines from other parts of the world, allowing consumers and the trade to evaluate wine quality and value.

“Without Mr. Mondavi, there truly would not exist the fantastic appreciation this country now has for fine wine, said Craig Wolf, president and chief executive officer of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, in a statement. “He was the first one to preach the gospel that the best place in the world to produce wine was on American shores, right in the heart of Napa Valley. And he also was the first to envision the California lifestyle of good wine paired with good food. Mr. Mondavi was all about communicating with consumers and creating a marketplace which best met their needs, and for that reason he was a great supporter of wholesalers and the U.S. system of beverage alcohol distribution.” Read more on Robert Mondavi’s contributions to the wine industry.

Anheuser-Busch Inc., St. Louis, signed a letter of intent to terminate its U.S. importing rights to Grolsch beer brands, which it has imported since April 2006. The deal is expected to close by Aug. 1, and Miller Brewing Co. will become Grolsch’s importer. SABMiller plc completed its acquisition of Royal Grolsch NV and Grolsch brands in February. According to A-B, the agreement provides protections for Anheuser-Busch wholesalers.

“The time is right to end our importation of these brands,” said David A. Peacock, vice president of marketing, Anheuser-Busch Inc. “It is important that our wholesalers who transition these brands are able to protect their investments. This agreement includes provisions for our distributors that will compensate them appropriately.” Read more about the agreement.

Louis Glunz Beer Inc., Lincolnwood, Ill., announced the formation of the Glunz Beer Culinary Council. The panel is made up of Chicago-area chefs and other culinary experts who specialize in pairing beer with food, and applying beer as a culinary ingredient, the company says. The eight members are: Rich Camarota, chef de cuisine at Custom House; Craig Fass, chef and co-owner of Cooper’s – A Neighborhood Eatery; Jim Javenkoski, culinary attaché for La Brasserie Unibroue; Paul Kahan, executive chef at Blackbird; Randy Mosher, faculty member at the Siebel Institute of Technology; Mindy Segal, chef and owner of Hot Chocolate; Mike Roper, co-owner of the Hopleaf Bar; and Lucy Saunders, author of "The Best of American Beer and Food: Pairing & Cooking with Craft Beer," "Cooking with Beer" and "Grilling with Beer," and founder of the Web site beercook.com.

“We are excited to bring together some of Chicagoland’s top chefs and beer experts, as the premier distributor that brings the world of beer to their kitchens,” said Jennifer Faulk, director of marketing for Louis Glunz Beer Inc. and Culinary Council attaché. “This is truly the perfect pairing of beer and food aficionados, and we look forward to promoting the growth of this trend.” Read more about the council.

Pepsi released new Sierra Mist Undercover Orange and Sierra Mist Free Undercover Orange Free. The drink is tied to Warner Bros.’ “Get Smart” movie featuring Steve Carell as an undercover agent, Anne Hathaway and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The new Sierra Mist has a Mandarin Orange flavor, but in keeping with the movie theme, is disguised as a clear liquid with no orange coloring. The drinks are on shelves for a limited time, from May through July. Find out more about the product.

Bacardi launched the Bacardi Classic Cocktail Mojito. The ready-to-serve cocktail is made with Bacardi Superior Rum, natural lime and mint flavors. The bottle features a green cap and the pre-mixed beverage delivers a mojito taste, the company says. The beverage is 15 percent alcohol by volume with a suggested retail price of $19.99 for a 1.75-liter. Read more about Bacardi Mojitos.

Soma Beverage Co. added Metromint Cherrymint Water to its line of mint waters. Cherrymint is the brand’s sixth variety of mintwaters and combines cherry essence and mint to create the drink. Cherrymint Water contains no sweeteners, preservatives or calories. A 16.9–ounce bottle has a suggested retail price of $1.39 to $1.69. See more about Metromint.