December 20, 2010 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Distributors, Pelican Brands
Pelican Brands Will Import La Piazza And Allora Brands, Crafted By The Mineo Family In Collaboration With Calatrasi
Carmel, IN, USA – November 10th, 2010 – Pelican Brands, Calatrasi, and the Mineo Family announced today the formation of a long-term strategic partnership for the U.S. market.
The Mineo Family represents the alliance between Calatrasi, a leading Italian wine producer, and 500 individual Sicilian growers. Italian wine is the number one imported wine category in the US.
Calatrasi produces nearly one million cases of wine annually and controls more than 1,100 hectares (2,700) acres in Sicily, Puglia and Tunisia. Over the last 10 years, Calatrasi has reinvested over $14 million on improvements to the quality and value of their wines. In 1998 Calatrasi created the D’istinto brand in co – ownership with BRL Hardy; the project achieved 300,000 cases in UK, becoming the number one Italian brand in UK.
Pelican Brands, Calatrasi and the Mineo Family announce their long-term strategic partnership with two co-owned brands, La Piazza and Allora. These wines are crafted from grapes grown in the Sicilian hills by the individual growers, who bring the harvest to Calatrasi winery to make the best wines from that region. The La Piazza brand will also be launching a Pinot Grigio from the Veneto in early 2011.
Maurizio Miccichè , Owner of Calatrasi and founder of Mineo family Vineyards said, “We have been looking for some time at the various options for entering the U.S. market. Our patience has paid off, as we have found our long-term partner in Pelican Brands. We share Pelican Brands passion, energy, innovation spirit and long-term commitment to quality.”
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands said, “Maurizio and I instantly connected with our shared passion for the wine business and vision for the future. Calatrasi and Mineo are the perfect partners as we build out our wine platform in the U.S. market.”
La Piazza wines are fresh and rich wines that go well with any dish. The range includes 2 white wines, a blend of Catarratto (an indigenous grape varietal of Sicily) and Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio and a red wine, which is a blend of Merlot and Nero d’Avola (an indigenous grape varietal of Sicily).
The Allora wines feature full-body, solid structure, fully represent the terroir of the Mediterranean area. The Allora range includes Viognier, Grillo (indigenous grape varietal) and Nero d’Avola from Sicily and Primitivo (Zinfandel) wine from Salento.
Franco Bernabei, Chief Winemaker of Calatrasi and Mineo Family Vineyards
Franco Bernabei has 30 years of winemaking experience in Italy, as winemaker for some of Italy’s most prestigious estates in Tuscany and Veneto. Over the years he has earned major awards and high praise from Robert Parker to the Wine Spectator. He said about the new partnership “I believe that our wines will be a success in the U.S. market because they are crafted with the U.S. wine consumer’s palate in mind.”
“We have already tasted over 50 national chain buyers, prior to launch, on La Piazza and Allora to great acclaim. Their response has been tremendous, giving us a strong sense of urgency to get these wines into the U.S.” Arthur Massolo, EVP of Business Development for Pelican Brands
In the near future, Pelican Brands, Calatrasi and Mineo Family will launch a Super Premium brand for the On and Off- trade.
Maurizio Ghiori, CEO and Managing Director of Calatrasi and creator of Mineo Family Vineyards, said, “I strongly believe in the project and I think that Pelican Brands is the ideal partner for us. I believe that Calatrasi, Mineo Family and Pelican Brands will have great success in the U.S. market with La Piazza and the Allora brands.”
NOTE: Posted last month, we are very excited with our partnership with Maurizio and the whole Calatrasi team. These wines are an amazing value and in this market will out perform many long established brands.
October 5, 2010 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2010 Event, Brand Management, Pelican Brands
Hi, back to back posts on 3 Amigos – but it is really exciting. Making our amazing tequila relevant to consumers and partnering with NASCAR venues like PIR is fun. The 3 Amigos 125…. oh yeah! More to come!
Smoke
For Immediate Release:
October 5, 2010
3 AMIGOS NAMED OFFICIAL TEQUILA OF PIR; WILL SPONSOR NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST FINALE IN PHOENIX ON NOV. 13
PHOENIX – (PHOENIX) – Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber today announced 3 Amigos Tequila as the Official Tequila of PIR. In addition, 3 Amigos will sponsor the season finale for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in Phoenix on Nov. 13 – the 3 Amigos Tequila 125.
“3 Amigos Tequila is a quality product that’s all about good times and fun – making it a perfect match with Phoenix International Raceway and NASCAR fans,” Sperber said. “The product’s local roots make our new partnership even more exciting.”
Known as “Your Arizona Family Tequila,” 3 Amigos Tequila was founded by Arizona resident Santiago Gonzalez and his family in 2007. The product is made from agave grown at his family’s farm in Mexico. The tequila is distilled and bottled in Mexico before being brought to the United States for distribution.
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands and Chairman of The Paddington Corporation – the global brand manager for 3 Amigos – echoed Sperber’s excitement about the new partnership.
“3 Amigos Tequila is an amazing, 100 percent agave, hand-crafted tequila that can go head-to-head with Patron and Don Julio and is uniquely priced to give amazing value to our consumers,” Wallin said. “We are very excited to announce the 3 Amigos’ partnership with Phoenix International Raceway and NASCAR. This sport has the greatest fans and we know they will enjoy getting to know 3 Amigos as we expand our distribution nationwide.”
The 3 Amigos Tequila 125 – a race that will be part of double-header action at PIR on Nov. 13, following the NASCAR Nationwide Series WYPALL* 200 – will offer race fans unprecedented West Series garage access. Teams from the K&N Pro Series West will qualify for the 3 Amigos Tequila 125 on Thursday, Nov. 11. After qualifying, the entire West Series garage will move into PIR’s interactive midway for the West Series Garage Open House from 12-5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.
As part of this first-ever midway garage open house at PIR, all fans in attendance that day will have an opportunity to see K&N Pro Series West cars up close and will be able to interact with teams and drivers. All PIR patrons will also be able to take in the official pre-race inspection process, autograph sessions, driver/team Q&A’s and more. PIR Season Ticket holders will be granted early entry to the open house at 11:30 a.m. There will be amazing 3 Amigos “Trackaritas” all day.
Tickets for the 3 Amigos Tequila 125 are available now by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or visiting www.phoenixraceway.com.
About The Paddington Corporation
The Paddington Corporation has a rich history in the branded spirits business. Today’s Paddington Corporation is a brand marketer, incubator and instigator. Its first brand of this century is 3 Amigos 100% agave hand crafted tequila. www.paddingtonbrands.com
About Pelican Brands
Pelican Brands was formed to nurture and build brands in the global beverage alcohol space. Our portfolio includes incredible hand crafted wines, spirits and beer including Thailand’s #1 export, Singha Beer. Pelican Brands’ team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. www.pelican-brands.com Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN, and offices in the United Kingdom with a sales team covering the U.S. market. http://Facebook.com/pelicanbrands/ , http://twitter.com/pelicanbrands/ and www.pelican-brands.com
About 3 Amigos Tequila
Tequila 3 Amigos is your local Arizona family tequila. Tequila 3 Amigos originated in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico. Tepatitlan is located in the region of Los Altos de Jalisco (highlands of the state of Jalisco). Los Altos red rich soil, incline land produces the finest Agave Azul Tequilana Weber. Tequila 3 Amigos is a young company with deep roots going back generations involving growing and maintaining blue agaves for some of the finest tequila companies. Tequila 3 Amigos came into the market with the experience and confidence that they can do better. Tequila 3 Amigos holds a high standard of making a quality tequila – “Quality is our Signature”, taking pride in exercising the best agricultural practices by growing and maintaining their blue agave organically, and harvesting their own agave at its prime ripeness, producing a tequila of the finest quality embodied with flavor and aromas pleasurable to any palate. Tequila 3 Amigos offers 4 tequilas to cater to every taste. 3 Amigos Blanco is double distilled, highlighting the true taste bouquet of blue agave and natural aromas. 3 Amigos Reposado is rested in charred white oak barrels for eleven months, allowing the blue agave flavor to come through, along with the oak of the 11-month resting period. 3 Amigos Anejo is aged in oak barrels for two years, leaving a smooth, flavorful, and distinct taste of agave and wood, with a vanilla and caramel finish. 3 Amigos Organic Blanco is the newest addition, providing an ultra smooth tequila that embraces the true flavor of ripe and pure organic blue agave. http://3amigostequila.com/html/casa.html
About Phoenix International Raceway
Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including four-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on November 14, 2010 in the Kobalt Tools 500. Tickets for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.
Contact
Paul Corliss, Director of Communications
Phoenix International Raceway
623-463-5613
pcorliss@phoenixinternationalraceway.com
– PhoenixRaceway.com –
October 4, 2010 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2010 Event, Brand Management, Distributors, Pelican Brands, The Paddington Corporation
Really pleased to share this announcement – a deal I’ve worked on for well over a year coming together. Paddington Corp – one of my companies has partnered with 3 Amigos Tequila and appointed Pelican Brands as importer. More on this soon. It will be huge!
Smoke
FOR RELEASE Monday 4 October 2010
Media contact:
Megan Hochstetler
001-317-574-6407
The Paddington Corporation Announces A Joint Venture with 3 Amigos Tequila To Market Their Award Winning, 100% Agave, Hand Crafted, 3 Amigos Family of Tequilas
Paddington Also Announces The Appointment of Pelican Brands As The Exclusive U.S.
Importer Of 3 Amigos Tequila
Indianapolis, IN USA – October 4, 2010 –
The Paddington Corporation today announced the formation of a JV with the Gonzalez family to market 3 Amigos Tequila globally. In addition, Paddington announced the appointment of Pelican Brands as the exclusive US importer for 3 Amigos.
Known as “Your Arizona Family Tequila,” 3 Amigos Tequila was founded by Arizona resident Santiago Gonzalez and his family in 2007. The tequila is made from agave grown for generations at his family’s farm in Mexico. The tequila is hand crafted and distilled and bottled in Mexico before being brought to the United States for distribution.
Santiago Gonzalez, CEO of 3 Amigos Tequila stated, “This is an exciting day for the our family, business and for the community. The Paddington Corporation has tremendous resources as a marketer of distilled spirits. Together with Pelican Brands, we have a national sales platform. This will allow our family to continue to focus on growing the best Agave on our farms and making the best tequila while we grow 3 Amigos.”
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman of The Paddington Corporation and Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands said, “Partnering with the Gonzalez family enables us to turn 3 Amigos into a national tequila brand rapidly. We were amazed with the incredible quality of 3 Amigos tequila and quickly decided we could grow it tremendously. With Paddington Corporation as Brand Manager and Pelican Brands as importer and national sales manager, we have the perfect combination to make this roll out happen in record time.”
3 Amigos be available at fine bars and retail stores with a national rollout in 2011.
About The Paddington Corporation
The Paddington Corporation has a rich history in the branded spirits business. Today’s Paddington Corporation is a brand marketer, incubator and instigator. Its first brand of this century is 3 Amigos 100% agave hand crafted tequila. www.paddingtonbrands.com
About 3 Amigos Tequila
Tequila 3 Amigos is your local Arizona family tequila. Tequila 3 Amigos originated in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico. Tepatitlan is located in the region of Los Altos de Jalisco (highlands of the state of Jalisco). Los Altos red rich soil, incline land produces the finest Agave Azul Tequilana Weber. Tequila 3 Amigos is a young company with deep roots going back generations involving growing and maintaining blue agaves for some of the finest tequila companies. Tequila 3 Amigos came into the market with the experience and confidence that they can do better. Tequila 3 Amigos holds a high standard of making a quality tequila – “Quality is our Signature”, taking pride in exercising the best agricultural practices by growing and maintaining their blue agave organically, and harvesting their own agave at its prime ripeness, producing a tequila of the finest quality embodied with flavor and aromas pleasurable to any palate. Tequila 3 Amigos offers 4 tequilas to cater to every taste. 3 Amigos Blanco is double distilled, highlighting the true taste bouquet of blue agave and natural aromas. 3 Amigos Reposado is rested in charred white oak barrels for eleven months, allowing the blue agave flavor to come through, along with the oak of the 11-month resting period. 3 Amigos Anejo is aged in oak barrels for two years, leaving a smooth, flavorful, and distinct taste of agave and wood, with a vanilla and caramel finish. 3 Amigos Organic Blanco is the newest addition, providing an ultra smooth tequila that embraces the true flavor of ripe and pure organic blue agave. http://3amigostequila.com/html/casa.html
About Pelican Brands
Pelican Brands was formed to nurture and build brands in the global beverage alcohol space. Our portfolio includes incredible hand crafted wines, spirits and beer including Thailand’s #1 export, Singha Beer. Pelican Brands’ team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. www.pelican-brands.com Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN, and offices in the United Kingdom with a
