March 10, 2012 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2012 Event, Blog, Brand Management, The Paddington Corporation
Well, we had an amazing week in South Beach Miami for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival by Food Network. This event has grown to a must attend gathering for anyone who loves wine, food and SOBE. SOBEWFF was held February 23-26, 2012. This year Paddington Brands became a major Silver sponsor with our Tequila 3 Amigos, Agoston Wines and we had the pleasure of pre-introducing the new Miami Cocktail Company owned by friends of mine Ross and Simon. (Here is the sponsor page)
The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE is a national, star-studded, four-day destination event showcasing the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida and Florida International University(FIU), the festival benefits FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. To date, the Festival has raised more than $14 million for the School.
Our corner display in the Grand Tasting tent looked fantastic and was one of the highlights of the whole event. We poured Tequila 3 Amigos Blanco, Reposado, Anjeo and Organic Blanco as well as our 3 Amigos Pineapple Serrano Pepper Margaritas which we have dubbed “Fire & Ice”. Agoston wines both Tempernillo Cabernet and Granacha Syrah. Miami Cocktails pre-introduced themselves with two of their flavors to fawning crowds. We saw so many friends and met so many new people it is hard to capture here.
One of many cool things we participated in was Michael’s Genunie Food & Drink “Farm to Table” brunch sponsored by Whole Foods. This was an amazing organic brunch by Michael Schwartz of MGFD a James Beard Award winning chef and friend. 3 Amigos Tequila was the beverage of choice and we again served our 3 Amigos Pineapple Serrano Pepper Margaritas. MGFD mixologist Ryan created what is now one of our favorite drinks with 3 Amigos
Cocktail Recipes:
“Fire & Ice” 3 Amigos Pineapple Serrano Pepper Margarita
Cut 1 Hawaiian “Gold” Pineapple into chunks (No Core) and blend with 1/2 Cup of Agave Nectar and 2 fresh Serrano Chiles (with the seeds and membranes removed) together in a blender. Once the “Base” has a puree consistency and is flowing smoothly turn off the blender and place in a container.
- 1.5 Ounces 3 Amigos Blanco Tequila
- 4 Ounces Margarita Mix
- 1 TBSP Piña-Serrano Puree
- 1 Scoop Ice
If you would like a little more sweetness you can add Superfine Bar Sugar to the rim of the glass.
The Caballero by Ryan @MGFD
- 2 oz Organic 3 Amigos Blanco Tequila
- 1 Barspoon Roasted Poblano Agave
- 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 oz Red Bell Pepper Juice
- Garnish w/ Cilantro & Bell Pepper slice
Our partnership with POM Wonderful and Iron Chef Marc Forgione was a huge hit at the show. Marc created the “POM Thyme 3 Amigos Margarita” … voted by many as best of show at the event. Marc appeared for Food Network at the POM Wonderful stand prominently pouring 3 Amigos Tequila. Here are a few shots.. and a copy of the recipe:
POM Wonderful- 3 Amigos Tequila -1003_miami_recipe_card
I know we will be back! I hope you will join us next year! And let me know if you try our recipes… they will be a hit with your guests!
January 12, 2012 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Distributors, Napa Smith
Exciting news today for Paddington Brands and Napa Smith Brewery! Entering the Swedish market!
Napa Smith to Launch in Sweden After Organic IPA Wins Monopoly Listing
TOMP Beer, Wine & Spirits appointed exclusive Swedish distributor for Paddington Brands portfolio.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, January 12, 2012 /PRNEWSWIRE/ – Paddington Brands and TOMP Beer, Wine & Spirits announced today that they will partner to bring Paddington’s brand portfolio to the vibrant Swedish market. TOMP will start by launching the Napa Smith craft beer portfolio and in particular the award winning Organic IPA, which will be featured in 100 Systembolaget stores from 2nd of April 2012.
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Paddington Brands, said, “We have a very focused growth strategy with very few international targets – Sweden is one of these. So I am delighted to be partnering with Tommy Olsson and his team at TOMP to launch our brands there. TOMP is hugely respected and the perfect partner for us in what is a tough market to crack. I look forwards to a successful launch of Napa Smith’s beers and a long and fruitful relationship. We could not be more thrilled.”
Napa Smith brews a portfolio of award winning beers in Napa, California. Its portfolio is available in 30 states within the US with plans to be available nationally by early 2012. Sweden will be the first international market. Napa Smith is proud to number Whole Foods, Safeway, Beverages & More, Total Wine, Publix and now Sweden’s Systembolaget amongst its many retail partners.
“We first tasted Napa Smith’s beers 2 years ago and we were convinced that they would be a great addition to our portfolio. So winning the tender and setting launch dates is very exciting for us. Organic products are very important to the monopoly and the Napa Smith Organic IPA is utterly amazing,” said Tommy Olsson, Managing Director of TOMP Beer Wine & Spirits.
“Winning the recent IPA tender into Systembolaget is further testament to the genius of our Master Brewer, Don Barkley, coming as it does on the back of our huge success at the Great American Beer Festival. IPA the hottest segment of the US craft beer category, but many IPAs lack complexity and balance. This is proof that it is possible to brew a benchmark IPA that is drinkable and food friendly,” said Steve Morgan, President of Napa Smith Brewery and Winery. He continued, “In addition our beer is also certified organic, which makes this achievement even more noteworthy. I am confident that Sweden’s exciting craft brewing scene will take Napa Smith to heart.”
About Napa Smith Brewery
Napa Smith Brewery is located at the southern gateway to Napa Valley, just south of the town of Napa. Napa Valley is internationally known as a destination for those individuals who seek the best that life has to offer. Napa Smith is proud to contribute to the Napa tradition of hard work, craftsmanship, and artistry with the introduction of its unique family of beers. It creates its beers using proprietary recipes developed by Master Brewer Don Barkley – the most experienced brewer in the craft brewing industry. Come visit us at our newly opened Brewpub in Napa or on the web at www.napasmithbrewery.com.
About Paddington Brands
Paddington Brands (www.Paddingtonbrands.com) manages a portfolio of owned and agency premier import and craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Paddington owns the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery and 3 Amigos Tequila. It imports a portfolio of beers, wines and spirits including Agoston Wines (Spain), Chase Distillery (UK), Calatrasi (Italy), Gemtree Vineyards (AU), Marisco Wines (NZ). Paddington is headquartered in the Indianapolis, Ind., metro area with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, Calif., and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets.
About TOMP Beer, Wine & Spirits
TOMP is one of Sweden’s leading beer, wine and spirits importers with a portfolio that includes brands such as [yellow tail], Fish Hoek, Chang Beer and their own successful beer, Guldkallan. TOMP operates a national sales force from it base in Orebro. Seewww.tomp.se.
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.
