News Briefs

Drinks Americas Holdings Inc.
, Wilton, Conn., has formed a fine wine company called Drinks Global Imports LLC to import super-premium wines from around the world. Products so far include Domaine N&G Fevre from Chablis, Domaine Nicholas-St. Jemms from Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine Foucher selections from the Loire Valley, Cave Chaintre from Macon, select wines from the Cote d’Or in Burgundy, and selections from Palazzi in the Veneto and Borgo Cipressi in Tuscany. Additional selections from New Zealand include Marlborough’s Sauvignon Blanc and South Island’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Richard Sheikman will lead the new company.
Barton Brands, Chicago, will import and market Meukow Cognac in the United States beginning this month. “Like Effen Vodka, Meukow is a small but growing brand that supports our strategy of investing in premium spirits brands in growing categories,”said Andy Berk, Barton Inc.’s chief executive officer. “We believe our distribution scale in the U.S. will enable us to accelerate the growth of this brand.”
The International Bottled Water Association announced its Annual Convention and Trade Show, to be held Sept. 27-30 in Orlando, Fla., will feature educational seminars and a variety of Continuing Educational Units for Certified Plant Operator Accreditation such as Bottled Water and Homeland Security; Creating and Growing Shareholder Value in Bottled Water; The Changing Landscape of Bottled Water: HOD Business; and How to Start, Expand and Grow a Successful Bottled Water Business.
The show also will feature a seminar conducted by the Water Quality Association titled “Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry Drinking Water Treatment.” Joseph F. Harrison, technical director for WQA, will lead the session.
Moet Hennessy has ended its importing arrangement with Brown-Forman for the Glenmorangie brands in the United States, Canada, Europe and some parts of Asia. Moet Hennessy acquired the brands earlier this year.
Blavod Extreme Spirits, Franklin, Tenn., has penned retail deals with Walgreens and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in Florida, and Binny’s Beverage Depot in Illinois. Walgreens and ABC will carry Blavod Black Vodka, and Binny’s will carry Player’s Extreme and Blavod Black Vodka.