Akvinta Vodka announced its Mediterranean vodka is now available in the U.S. market. Akvinta is triple distilled and filtered through a patented quintuple filtration process, which consists of five filters: birch charcoal, marble, silver, gold and platinum. The product is packaged in a clear bottle to highlight that the vodka contains sparkling spring water from Dalmatia. Akvinta is available in 750-ml. and 1-liter bottles.
Solaire by Robert Mondavi added Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, a new varietal, to its line. The varietal joins Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay and a Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. Ninety percent of the grapes are from the Bianchi Bench Vineyard along the California coast. The wine was released to on-premise accounts for a suggested price of $10 per glass.
PepsiCo added Aquafina Plus Vitamins 10 Cal to the Canadian market. The product is a low-calorie, vitamin-enhanced water sweetened with a stevia extract. Aquafina Plus Vitamins 10 Cal is available in Black and Blue Berry, Acai Fruit Punch and Tropical Cherimoya. A bottle retails between $1.89 and $1.99 in Canada. The company says it expects the product to launch in major U.S. markets in the coming months.
Ito En created Teas’ Tea Naturally Sweet, a flavored tea intended to appeal to consumers making the transition from sweetened to unsweetened tea, the company says. The product carries 8 grams of cane sugar and 40 calories per serving. Teas’ Tea is available in Teas’ Tea Blueberry Green, Teas’ Tea Citrus Black and Teas’ Tea Mango Oolong. A bottle retails between $1.25 and $1.49.
Drink Tea Zazz introduced TeaZazz Sparkling Tea, an iced tea that combines the carbonation of soft drinks with the health properties of tea, the company says. TeaZazz is available in Peach Tea, Green Tea Lemon, Green Tea Mint, Original Tea, White Tea Orange/Mango and White Tea Kiwi/Strawberry varieties. The 20-ounce bottles retail between $1.69 and $2.09.
El Grado Spirits LLC unveiled El Grado Tequila, tequilas made from Blue Weber Agave plants. El Grado Tequila is available in El Grado Blanco, with agave flavors and hints of fruit and pineapple; El Grado Reposado, which adds vanilla and caramel fragrances; and El Grado Anejo, with flavors such as honey, butter and caramel. The products are packaged in a French-made bottle featuring a glass-topped closure. A 750-ml. bottle retails between $45 and $50.
New Belgium Brewing introduced Ranger IPA, a year-round India Pale Ale. The beer features Simcoe, Chinook and Cascade hops complemented by pale and dark caramel malts to bring out the hop aroma and flavor. Ranger IPA is named for New Belgium’s Beer Rangers, who serve in 26 states ensuring New Belgium beers are available in their local markets. The beer retails for $7.99 and is offered in most states where New Belgium is sold.
Tenaya LLC, Chicago, introduced MADE, a certified organic, all-natural line of beverages that combine green tea and fruit juice with floral and herbal extracts. Available in eight varities, MADE contains organic tea, organic fruit juice, organic cane sugar and natural flavors. The beverages are created and bottled aseptically and require no refrigeration during shipping and storage. MADE’s flavors includes Strawberry Mojito, Strawberry Lemonade, Blackberry Peach, Blueberry Lemonade, Cranberry Limeade, Pomegranate Lemonade, Pomegranate Mojito and Raspberry Peach.
Izze, a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo, reformulated its Izze Esque line with 25 percent pure fruit juice as well as sparkling water. The new option now contains 50 calories and 11 grams of sugar, which are all from fruit juice, in each 12-ounce bottle. The line includes in Sparkling Black Raspberry, Sparkling Limon and Sparkling Mandarin. Izze Esque is available individually for $1.39-1.69 per bottle or $4.99-$5.49 for a four-pack.
Maker of acai berry juice-based nutritional and energy drink products, MonaVie, Salt Lake City added MonaVie (M)mÅ«n daily defense. Pronounced “em-mune” the product is a blend of 19 fruits and the ingredient Wellmune, which is formulated to optimize the body’s natural defenses and support the immune system. Four ounces of MonaVie(M)mÅ«n delivers 250-mg. of Wellmune as well as superfruit juice acai and maqui.