Wine & Spirits

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American distilled spirits exports broke new records in 2013, crossing the $1.5 billion threshold, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), New York. This growth was driven by premium bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, which exceeded the $1 billion mark for the first time, it reported at its annual briefing for Wall Street analysts.

Freixenet USA will introduce its first kosher sparkling wine available in the United States in March.

Diageo plc, London, reported interim financial results for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2013. Following 2.2 percent growth in the first quarter, net sales grew 1.8 percent in the first half of the fiscal year, supported by 4.6 percent growth in North America, the company reports. Sales in emerging markets also were up 1.3 percent, but were negatively impacted by weakness in China and Nigeria, and sales in Western Europe were down 1 percent, continuing the improvement trend seen in the first quarter.

Edrington Distillers Ltd. added Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to its portfolio.

Diageo expanded its Smirnoff Sorbet Light vodka line with the addition of Pineapple Coconut.

Norwalk, Conn.-based Diageo purchased super-premium tequila brand Peligroso from California-based Peligroso Spirits Co. LLC. This announcement comes three weeks after the company announced a joint venture with rap artist and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs to acquire the luxury tequila brand DeLeón.

Silicon Valley Bank, a provider of commercial banking services to the innovation sector and the wine industry, released its “Annual State of the Wine Industry Report,” which forecasts growth of U.S. wine for 2014 but a decline in future years.

McGah Family Cellars introduced the two newest vintages of its estate wines: the 2011 Scarlett Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2012 1070 Green Sauvignon Blanc.

Restaurant Sciences LLC, a Newton, Mass.-based firm that tracks food and beverage sales throughout the North American foodservice industry, reported that single-malt Scotches grew 3.1 percent in U.S. dollar sales and 3.6 percent in case volume sales in the three months ending November 2013 versus the same three-month period in 2012.

Phillips Distilling Co. added UV Sriracha to its flavored vodka portfolio, marking the 20th flavor for the brand.