Portable wines
San Antonio Winery announced that its semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Stella Rosa wines now are available in single-serve, 8-ounce aluminum bottles. The sleek European design features a re-sealable, twist-off cap allowing consumers to drink wine anywhere, anytime, the company says. “We wanted to create something special in advance of our 100th anniversary, and we’re excited to introduce a whole new way to enjoy Stella Rosa,” said Anthony Riboli, fourth generation winemaker, in a statement. Available for Stella Rosa Black and Platinum varieties, the aluminum bottles are rolling out across the country throughout the year.
A sipp of flavor
Sipp Eco Beverage Co. LLC launched Sipp Sparkling Organics in 10.5-ounce slim cans. The cans will be sold in cases of 12 and in singles. The suggested retail price for a single can is $1.49. “The decision to expand to cans came about through inquiries from several foodservice accounts,” said Chief Executive Officer and Founder Beth Wilson-Parentice in a statement. “We are very excited about the launch. This line will further extend our reach into bars, restaurants and other foodservice establishments, including natural vending companies that prefer cans over bottles. For consumers who love Sipp and want to enjoy our flavors at a lower price and lower calorie format, the slim cans are the perfect option.”
Commemorating Indy
To celebrate the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka released two commemorative, limited-edition bottles. Fuzzy’s first is a 750-ml commemorative glass bottle that pays homage to the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and past Indianapolis 500 winners. The second bottle is available in a 1.75-liter size and contains a specially created vodka that has been filtered through charcoal and lava 100 times, it says. The 750-ml bottle has a suggested retail of $24.99 and the 100-times-filtered 1.75-liter bottle retails for $100.
A centennial celebration
In celebration of its 100th birthday, the Southern soda brand Grapico announced the launch of a new campaign, vintage-inspired packaging and a real-sugar version, which will be available in glass bottles. The new packaging and real-sugar product hit store shelves in Alabama, western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle in April. The work of Alabama-based o2ideas, the new branding touts the grape soda as “A Southern Thing” and embraces the quirks and eccentricities that make the region, and Grapico, unique, the company says.
Packaged to sell
Around the Bend Beer Co.’s Puffing Billy American brown ale launched in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles for the first time. Named after a legendary steam locomotive, Puffing Billy presents a label that fits into the Chicago-based startup brewery’s existing profile with an imaginative steampunk-inspired design, the company says. “It took us about a year to get Puffing Billy to where it is today, and what makes us most excited about bottling the beer in six-packs is having the chance to share it,” Founder Dan Schedler said in a statement. “It’s really different than what’s already out there — it’s very approachable for a dark beer and is smooth-drinking.”
Patriotic pride
Svedka Vodka released its new limited-edition Stars & Stripes bottle. The limited-edition packaging is available in 1.5-liter bottles. The 40 percent alcohol-by-volume vodka is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $19.99. “We look forward every year to releasing a new Limited-Edition Party bottle for the summer season. This year’s limited-edition red, white and blue bottle of 80-proof vodka is a perfect compliment for summer entertaining, whether it be a BBQ, rooftop party or poolside bash,” said Vicky Arcos, brand director spirits at Constellation Brands US, in a statement.
American celebration
Budweiser is taking its longstanding tradition of patriotic packaging even further this summer by replacing “Budweiser” with “America” on the front of its 12-ounce cans and bottles. The brand also is modifying Budweiser’s iconic label to add copy that is central to American history, including phrases from the Pledge of Allegiance as well as lyrics from “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” On shelves nationwide through the election in November, Budweiser’s new look serves as the focal point for its summer-long campaign — America is in Your Hands — which reminds consumers to embrace the optimism upon which the country was first built, it adds. The America cans and bottles also star in the brand’s new national TV spot, which premiered June 1. The brand also unveiled new cans and bottles featuring a magnified view of the Statue of Liberty’s torch, inspired by Team Budweiser, the brand’s six Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. On shelves through mid-September, the Torch packaging will be available in 16- and 25-ounce cans, along with 16-ounce aluminum bottles.
