Taster’s Voice One to watch Brown-Forman Wines recently introduced low-carb wines to a national audience. The One.6 Chardonnay and One.9 Merlot offer consumers 1.6 and 1.9 carbs per 5-ounce glass, respectively, and were launched at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City last month. The wines are dry fermented and blended to maximize the flavor, while also producing a low-carb count. The wines will be available in retail stores such as Albertson’s, Safeway and Wal-Mart for a suggested retail price of $9.99 to $10.99 per 750-ml. bottle. The wine will be supported with a national promotional campaign that includes print advertising. This month’s contenders: Kimberly, registered nurse Christopher, project manager Here’s the skinny… Package “One.9 is a cool name and the colors are nice. But for me, the wine-drinking experience is minimized because the carb count is on the bottle.” – Kimberly “I like the colors and enjoyed the use of alpha and numeric text in the title.” – Christopher Flavor “It has a dry, oaky, crisp flavor. It is clean, edium-bodied and delicious.” – Kimberly “It is sweet, fruity and mild.” – Christopher Would you buy it? “Yes.” – Kimberly “I would buy it if my wife sent me out for some, but probably not on my own.” – Christopher Last call. “I think the concept is interesting, but after I’ve enjoyed a few, would carbs really matter?” – Kimberly

Pernod Ricard USA recently launched Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee, produced by Orlando Wyndham in the Barossa Valley of South Australia, in 30 states. The sparkling wine was created with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from Buckland Valley, Cowra and Adelaide Hills. Featuring citrus and toasted cashew flavors, the non-vintage wine also offers fruit flavors enhanced with creamy yeast, according to the company. The suggested retail price per bottle is $11.99.
Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee
Pernod Ricard USA, White Plains, N.Y.
Telephone: 914/539-4555
Distribution: National

Concentrate USA has announced the introduction of Maxxx Energy Drink in the United States. The company operates out of its headquarters in Costa Rica and the drink is produced in Austria, Germany. Featuring a tropical taste designed for the Americas, the suggested retail price is $1.99 per 8.4-ounce can. The beverage is currently available in 15 countries.
Maxxx Energy Drink
Concentrate USA LLC, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Internet: maxxxenergy.com
Telephone: 954/467-5066
Ingredients: Caffeine, taurine, extract of guarana, vitamin B6, vitamin H
Distribution: National

Power Water has been debuted by Power, a Toronto, Ontario-based company. The distilled, oxygenated water was created for the super-premium water category and is marketed toward consumers interested in sports and recreational activities. The official water of Mike Weir Golf, Power Water is available for a suggested retail price of $1.29 per 16.9-ounce bottle.
Power Water
Power, Toronto, Ontario
Telephone: 416/410-2215
Internet: powerwater.com
Distribution: National

Arizona Beverage Co. has introduced Botanically Brewed teas to its line of ready-to-drink tea beverages. The new teas are available in Red, Green and Black Tea varieties. Made with organic cane sugar, the teas are caffeine and preservative free. Bottled in 42-ounce plastic bottles, Arizona Botanically Brewed teas will be sold in grocery and natural food stores across the country for a suggested retail price of $1.59 to $1.99 per bottle.
Botanically Brewed Teas
Arizona Beverage Co., Lake Success, N.Y.
Telephone: 513/784-9898
Internet: arizonabev.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Filtered water, organic cane sugar, natural flavors, citric acid

Tradewinds Beverage Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has introduced Greenergy Double Brew ready-to-drink teas in three varieties: Pomegranate Green Tea, Energized Green Tea and Energized Diet Green Tea. Each 16-ounce bottle contains the same amount of green tea as four cups of tea, according to the company. In addition to offering 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, folic acid and niacin, the teas also contain taurine and l-carnitine. Available in stores nationwide, the suggested retail price per bottle is $1.99.

Blue Ice Vodka, made from potatoes, has been released by Silver Creek Distillery. The vodka is made from water from the Snake River Aquifer, where it filters through porous volcanic rock. It is fractionally distilled in a four-column still and undergoes a five-step filtration process to ensure purity. Blue Ice Vodka is available in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Georgia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and New York for a retail price of $18 per bottle.
Blue Ice Vodka
Silver Creek Distillers, Rigby, Idaho
Telephone: 208/727-1823
Distribution: Select markets

Skyy Spirits, San Francisco, has announced the arrival of The Glenrothes 1992 vintage, one of 13 vintages introduced since 1971. Packaged in a translucent frosted canister, The Glenrothes 1992 vintage is made with malted barley dried over peat-fired kilns and matured in American or Spanish oak casks that were previously used to mature Sherry or Bourbon. The single-malt whisky features a medium golden appearance with ripe black plum and licorice flavors. Each 750-ml. bottle retails for $50 at retail locations nationwide.

Canada Pure has introduced Canada Pure Sparkling Refresher, a carbonated water drink. Available in natural flavors such as Strawberry, Black Cherry, Raspberry, Lemon Lime, Orange and Wildberry, the sparkling water is made with spring water and is caffeine-free. Packaged in 8- and 16.8-ounce bottles, Canada Pure is sold nationally in stores such as Costco Wholesale and Sam’s Club for a suggested retail price of $0.99 per two-pack of 8-ounce bottles and $0.99 to $1.49 per 16.8-ounce bottle.
Canada Pure Sparkling Refresher
Canada Pure Water Co. Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
Telephone: 800/361-2369
Internet: canadapure.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Spring water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid clarified orange juice, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, natural flavor, ascorbic acid, carbon dioxide

Peerless Coffee and Tea Co. now offers Tropic Star Iced Teas in two varieties: Tropic Star Organic Tropical Blend and Classic China Black Blend. The loose-leaf teas are certified organic and are made with tightly-rolled large-leaf China Black tea infused with tropical fruit flavors. The foodservice teas are available in 1.5-ounce packets bulk loose-leaf quantities as well as 3-ounce packets for brewing in 3-gallon commercial brewers.
Tropic Star Iced Tea
Peerless Coffee and Tea Co., Oakland, Calif.
Telephone: 510/763-1763
Internet: peerlesscoffee.com
Distribution: National

California Giant, Watsonville, Calif., has launched Just Strawberries, a juice drink available in 12-, 16-, 32- and 64-ounce PET bottles. The drink uses Splenda sweetener and in addition to being fat-free, the strawberry drink contains no preservatives and has a 40-day shelf life.

Ardea Beverage Co. announced Airforce Nutrisodas have been introduced nationally. The carbonated mid-calorie energy drinks were designed for people who fly frequently to enable them to perform at their peak, according to the company. Airforce Immune, features tangerine and lime flavors; Airforce Focus, features mango and peach flavors; Airforce Energize features mandarin and mint flavors; and Airforce Calm features wild berry and citron. The 8.4-ounce sodas are available in Target stores across the country, and grocery stores, liquor stores, restaurants and fitness centers in the Midwest, and the suggested retail price is $1.99.
Airforce Nutrisoda
Ardea Beverage Co., Eden Prairie, Minn.
Telephone: 952/934-0096
Internet: nutrisoda.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Airforce Energize: Carbonated water, crystalline fructose, citric acid, natural flavors, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sucralose, Red 40

Trinity Springs Ltd., Ketchum, Idaho, recently debuted Trinity Springs water, produced from a water source that has been carbon-dated to be more than 16,000 years old. In addition to offering Trinity Geothermal Bottled Water, the company also has introduced Trinity Natural Mineral Supplement in natural food stores nationwide. Each half-liter bottle is sold for a suggested retail price of $0.79 and 1.5-liter bottle is sold for $2.09.

Adam’s Organic Coffees, Oakland, Calif., recently released its line of Fair Trade and Organic Coffees for retail and foodservice venues. The Rendezvous Brew Fair Trade is a blend of Central and South American beans; the Millenium Joe Decaf Fair Trade features Central American washed Arabica beans and is 99.97 percent caffeine-free; African Awakening is a unique African blend with Ethiopian beans that are French roasted; and Heavenly Hazelnut is a hazelnut-flavored medium-roast blend of Central American beans. All coffees are available in 5-pound foodservice packages and Millennium Joe is also available in fresh-ground and whole-bean 12-ounce bags for retail. The suggested retail price for Adam’s Organic coffees is $9.99 per pound for bulk coffees and $10.99 per 12-ounce bag.

Wyborowa S.A. has introduced Wyborowa Single Estate, a super-premium single-rye Polish vodka. Made in the Polish village of Turew, from Dankowskie rye, the vodka is distilled in copper columns, then filtered in Wyborowa’s rectification plant. The vodka features hints of citrus fruits and a slight licorice note with a spicy rye finish. Packaging was designed by renowned sculptor and architect Frank Gehry, and is available in 50-ml., 750-ml. and 1-liter sizes. Available in select markets beginning in 2005, the vodka will retail for $30 per 750-ml. bottle.
Wyborowa Single
Estate Vodka
Pernod Ricard USA, White Plains, N.Y.
Telephone:
914/539-4555
Distribution: National

Valley of the Moon Winery and Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, Calif., has announced the release of the 2001 Valley of the Moon Winery Sonoma County Zinfandel. Made from a combination of grapes grown in its estate vineyard and Dry Creek Valley, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. To add to the wine’s complexity, a small amount of Petite Sirah is added to the blend. The wine is available nationally for a suggested retail price of $15 per 750-ml. bottle, and 8,400 cases were produced.

Taste of Nature Inc., Carlstadt, N.J., has introduced Jingles Organizer and Jingles Applegizer 100 percent juice drinks. Sold in 8.45- and 33.8-ounce Tetra Brick Aseptic packaging with resealable openings, the juice drinks contain no added sugars, preservatives or colors. In addition to the Organizer and Applegizer drinks, the company also produces Jingles blends in Apple Carrot, Orange Veggie, Berry Veggie and Tropical Blend.

New Product Introductions by Category
Category	No. of Reports ’03/’04/% change	No. of SKUs ’03/’04/% change
Wine & Wine Coolers	51/61/20	122/202/66
Beer & Ale	29/39/34	53/69/30
Liqueurs & Other Alcohol Drinks	75/59/(21)	185/128/(31)
Alcohol Beverage Substitutes, Low Alcohol	4/3/(25)	15/7/(53)
Bottled Waters	13/24/85	34/54/59
Soft Drinks	26/26/--	131/69/(47)
Isotonic, Energy Producing Beverages	28/34/21	54/68/26
Health Drinks	13/18/38	49/43/(12)
Fruit & Fruit Flavored Drinks	70/60/(14)	282/236/(16)
Vegetable & Vegetable Flavored Drinks	5/1/(80)	11/1/(90)
Baby Beverages	12/9/(25)	20/37/85
Milk, Non-Dairy Milk & Yogurt Drinks	27/43/59	75/111/48
Tea	45/54/20	252/177/(30)
Coffee	26/40/54	104/342/229
Beverage Mixes & Flavorings	30/42/40	111/127/14
Grand Totals:	454/513/13	1498/1671/12
Source: Productscan Online (www.productscan.com). Current year-to-date introductions as of May 24, 2004. Previous year-to-date introductions as of May 24, 2003.