July 12, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / 1 Comment / Filed under Brand Management, New Products - Brands, News, Pelican Brands, The Paddington Corporation
Indianapolis, IN – July 12, 2011 – Paddington Brands announced today that it has launched its Agostón wine brand through Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain. Bodegas Virgen del Aguila, the Spanish wine cooperative, confirmed Paddington Brands as the exclusive U.S. importer of Agoston wines.
Agoston Tempranillo Cabernet from Spain - now available at ALL Walgreens
“When we first tasted Agostón, we knew this was a wine that would appeal to American consumers,” said J. Smoke Wallin, chairman and CEO of Paddington Brands. “Year after year Agoston has been receiving 90+ points in the Penin Wine Rating Guide, which is Spain’s equivalent to Robert Parker ratings. We have worked with Walgreens in order to bring this savory wine to the United States at an affordable price.”
In April Paddington launched both a syrah/garnacha and a tempranillo/cabernet blend in more than 4,000 Walgreens stores. The wines, priced at $5.99 a bottle in most states, have become one of the drugstore chain’s top selling imported wine brands.
“Agostón is a great addition to Walgreens wine selection as our first Spanish wine,” said Dex McCreary, Walgreens divisional merchandise manager. “We look forward to working with Paddington Brands to promote this brand and make this quality import a success.”
Agoston Garnacha & Syrah
“We were immediately impressed with the knowledge, drive and ‘can do’ approach of the entire Paddington team,” said Jose Maria Andres, CEO of Bodegas Virgen del Aguila co-operative. “We are proud to work with Paddington to launch this wine with such an important retailer like Walgreens, a company that will advance the development of the Agostón brand.”
About Agostón
Agostón is named after the wild Spanish boar and is made by the Bodegas Virgen del Aguila co-operative. Located in the great wine-producing area of northern Spain we´re lucky to have a climate and terroir ideal for makin
g quality wines full of character. Here we have 2,200 hectares of vines, planted with a good range of grape varieties, including the native Tempranillos and Garnachas, as well as international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Our oldest vines date from the year 1906 and help create wines of superb intensity, such as our Agostón range.
Our vineyards are located in the scenic foothills of the Ibérico mountain range and we have a wide variety of landscapes and eco-systems within our demarcated area. Under half of our land is taken up by vines, the rest being undisturbed areas of rocky outcrops and forested mountain slopes, dry river beds, wild-flower margins and old almond groves. This makes it and its surrounding area a zone of high biodiversity and an ideal wildlife haven, something that we’re committed to safe-guarding. The winery produces close to 10 million litres of wine a year, with a full range of styles, including young fresh whites and rosés, intense aromatic reds and complex oak-aged “Crianzas” and “Reservas”. The winery is modern, and fully equipped and the underground maturation cellars have 13,000 oak barrels.
About Paddington Brands
Paddington Brands (www.Paddingtonbrands.com) manages a portfolio of owned and agency premiere import & craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Paddington’s team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. Paddington owns the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery and 3 Amigos Tequila. Paddington is headquartered in Metro-Indianapolis, IN, with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, CA and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets. Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paddington-Brands/220043258012149 and Follow us on Twitter @Paddingtonbrands
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67 billion. The company operates 7,733 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
May 22, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2011 Event, Brand Management, Distributors, New Products - Brands, Pelican Brands
I’m very pleased to share a recap of our awards from the most recent WSWA wine and spirits tasting.
WSWA Wine & Spirits Tasting 2011, Sponsored By The Tasting Panel -With 18 medals- More Than Any Other Wine & Spirits Supplier
3 Amigos Blanco Tequila wins “Best of Show Silver Tequila” and Gold Medal.
Gemtree White Lees Shiraz Wins “Best of Show Red Wine” and Gold Medal.
Carmel, IN, USA – May 23, 2011 – Pelican Brands proudly announced today that its portfolio of world class wines and spirits garnered a whole host of new medals and awards at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Wine and Spirits Tasting held in April, in Orlando Florida. The awards were sponsored by the respected industry publication The Tasting Panel and came after rigorous blind tasting sessions with esteemed independent beverage industry judges. Pelican Brands portfolio won two Double Gold medals, three Gold medals and thirteen Silver medals in all as well as two of the coveted “Best of Show” for tequila and red wine.
A major highlight was the award of a Gold medal and “Best Silver Tequila” to 3 Amigos Blanco, a 100% blue agave tequila founded by the Gonzalez family. The product is made from agave grown at his family’s farm in Mexico.
Award winning 3 Amigos Tequila
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands said, “3 Amigos is all about good times and fun, which is amply demonstrated by its associations with International Speedway Corporation host of many of NASCAR’s best events, through sponsorship of numerous tracks and races throughout the calendar. However, 3 Amigos fans are extremely discerning and know quality when they taste it. This medal just shows what they and millions of other tequila fans are coming to know – 3 Amigos is above all else, great tequila.”
Gemtree Vineyards 2007 White Lees Shiraz won the “Best of Show Red Wine” much to the delight of Andrew Buttery, Managing Director of Gemtree Vineyards, who said, “We have been making wine for three generations and won our fair share of accolades along the way, however, this one is particularly special. We try to make our wines the very best way we know how and have been producing 100% biodynamically since 2008. We put a lot of heart and soul into it, and this award makes us very proud.” Andrew and the team at Gemtree had further success as their Uncut Shiraz 2008 also won Double Gold.
Gemtree - Single Bottle Shot - 07_whitelees
The final gold medals were a Double Gold, awarded to the Napa Smith Winery® for its 2007 Napa Smith Merlot and a gold for Vina Underraga’s 2010 (oops) Carmenere. More famed for its award winning craft beers, the
2007 Napa Smith Merlot
Napa Smith Winery has also been making exceptional wines. Like everything that bears the Napa Smith name this wine epitomizes all that is so great about Napa’s love affair with artisanal food and drink.
Chilean Carmenere is seen by many as ‘the next malbec’ and if this true then (oops) will surely lead the way with its marriage of serious wine and an irreverent attitude. (oops) was also awarded a further three silver medals.
Amongst other wineries winning Silver medals were three for Marisco Vineyards of Marlborough, Zealand, one for Vinedos de Aguilla, Spain for its Agoston Tempranillo and Carbernet 2009 now in 4,000 Walgreens stores, and Las Perdices Winery from Argentina for its 2009 Barking Sheep Malbec.
Agoston Tempranillo Cabernet from Spain - now available at ALL Walgreens
Wallin continued, “Pelican Brands has made great strides in the development of our global wine program in the past months. We are assembling an incredible portfolio of world-class wines, and this is very much evidenced by this wonderful haul of awards and medals. We are huge supporters of WSWA and extremely proud to have performed so well. These wines are already in much demand and this is sure to kick on from here.”
About Pelican Brands
Pelican Brands manages a portfolio of owned and agency premier import & craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Our team has extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. Our brands include the award winning craft brewer, Napa Smith Brewery & Winery, 3 Amigos Tequila and a portfolio of incredible agency brands of spirits, beer and wine. Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN, with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, CA and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets. www.pelican-brands.com And on Facebook http://on.fb.me/afmdBU And follow us on Twitter @pelicanbrands
December 20, 2010 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Distributors, New Products - Brands, Pelican Brands
Pelican Brands will Import and Drive the National Rollout of Barking Sheep Wines from Argentina, the first Brand to be Launched Under this Agreement
Carmel, IN, USA – December 20, 2010 – Pelican Brands and Schwartz Olcott Imports, LLC (SOI Wines) jointly announced today the formation of a long term strategic agreement to launch Barking Sheep wines from Argentina following a successful limited test market in 19 states.
Barking Sheep wines are produced in Mendoza, Argentina, and are styled for the U.S. market. The launch will include a beautiful classic Malbec and a fresh clean fruity Chardonnay.
Barking Sheep wines are produced at Las Perdices by chief winemaker Carlos Muñoz, from high altitude vineyards 1,000 meters above sea level towards the Andes Mountains producing full bodied classical fruit.
During a one year limited test market at a major national chain Barking Sheep was the #1 red wine of all new featured red wines.
Norman Schwartz, Co-Founder & Chairman of SOI Wines said, “There are many fine importers who do a great job with established brands; however, without brand builders like Smoke Wallin and the Pelican team it’s impossible to build a national brand franchise. With Pelican sharing our enthusiasm for Barking Sheep we are well positioned to rollout nationally and to launch other brands together”
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands said “The Barking Sheep brand further expands the Pelican Brands wine platform to Argentina. These wines offer the consumer great value with a fun attitude. We have high expectations for their national rollout.” Wallin continued, “Norman has created some incredible brands over the years. We are very excited to begin our long term strategic partnership with The Barking Sheep brand.”
NOTE: I’m very excited to be working with Norman and the team. Look for more exciting developments as we pool our resources!… Smoke
g quality wines full of character. Here we have 2,200 hectares of vines, planted with a good range of grape varieties, including the native Tempranillos and Garnachas, as well as international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Our oldest vines date from the year 1906 and help create wines of superb intensity, such as our Agostón range.
