Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Diageo Honors Leading Supply Partners at Second Annual Diageo North America Supplier Awards

Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 - 8:20 am
NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, the world's leading beverage alcohol company, honored materials, packaging and service delivery partners at its second annual Diageo North America Supplier Awards on October 4. Over 130 guests were in attendance representing more than 35 key suppliers.
David Cutter, President Americas Supply said, "Working with World Class Suppliers is a key element in ensuring Diageo delivers on quality, innovation, service and value to its customers. Diageo North America's Supplier Awards is one way that we can recognize the great contributions of our supply partners."

The awards program was launched to recognize suppliers who delivered outstanding results against all of Diageo North America's Supply and Procurement metrics or achieved breakthrough performance in Diageo's fiscal 2012. Suppliers were recognized in nine award categories including the coveted Supplier of the Year Award.
Each of the unique categories represents the different ways Diageo's suppliers have significantly contributed to its business objectives. Below are the categories and winners for the 2012 Diageo North America Supplier Awards:
                                                      

Supplier of the Year                       CCL Labels
Quality Excellence                          Grain Processing Corporation
Service Excellence                          Pratt Industries           
Value Creation                                 Moosehead Breweries
Collaboration Excellence                   Spear Label Company
Innovation Excellence                        LiDestri
Breakthrough Performance                Berry Plastics Corporation
Distinguished Honors – Special Projects Perrier (Fowler) and J. Benton Construction
Emerging Markets Supplier Excellence        Textile USA – Vietnam

About the Diageo North America Supplier Awards

The Supplier of the Year Award category represents suppliers who exemplify brilliant performance, excellence and execution in all areas of quality, service, innovation, breakthrough performance, and value creation, exemplifying the attributes Diageo looks for in its strategic supply partners.

The Quality Excellence Award is given to one of Diageo's suppliers that have demonstrated outstanding performance in quality of materials and service; process capability improvement, utilizing root cause problem solving techniques, schedule adherence performance, and helped us improve our overall equipment effectiveness as a result.

The Service Excellence Award is given to a supplier that has reliably delivered materials to Diageo on time and in full through robust capacity and production planning processes while improving lead times. The suppliers nominated in this category have demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness in the face of a challenging forecasting environment, and offered outstanding levels of partnership and service.

The Value Creation Award is given to the Diageo supplier who has demonstrated a deep commitment to a continuous improvement culture while driving year over year cost reductions and overall value.  Value

The Collaboration Excellence Award is given to a supplier who has demonstrated a deep commitment to resolving material or service issues in collaboration with our conversion site teams utilizing robust root cause problem solving methods. Suppliers recognized in this category have also helped Diageo to meet its social responsibility goals on safety, environmental and sustainability.

The Innovation Excellence Award is given to the supplier who has demonstrated brilliant execution of new Diageo product offerings. By working in partnership with Diageo, this supplier has shown breakthrough performance and speed to market despite demanding timelines.

The Breakthrough Performance Award is given to a supplier who has faced challenging performance goals and demonstrated tremendous improvements in both service and quality, enabling improved success for Diageo.

The Distinguished Honors – Special Projects award is given to the supplier who has delivered a significant and critical project on time and on budget with exceptional leadership and delivered creative ideas that deliver value to Diageo.

The Emerging Markets Supplier Excellence Award is given to a Supplier who is located in an Emerging Market and has demonstrated superior quality, service, responsiveness, value and outstanding corporate citizenship in their communities.

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.   

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/22/4929414/diageo-honors-leading-supply-partners.html#storylink=cpy

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Wine Spectator Announces:

The New World Wine Experience - October 18 - 20 Los Angeles


Registration for the weekend includes the Thursday and Friday evening Grand Tastings, the Friday and Saturday daytime sit-down conducted tastings, seminars, and luncheons, and the Saturday evening black-tie Grand Award Banquet.
• $1875 per person. CLICK HERE to order tickets

DAY ONE
Thursday, October 18, 2012

EVENING
6:30 pm*–10:00 pm • Grand Tastings

The New World Wine Experience begins with the Grand Tastings. This is the first of two nights to taste wine from more than 200 prestigious New World wineries from California, Oregon, Washington, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile and beyond, that have been selected for excellence by Wine Spectator's board of editors. Each winery has been asked to pour one great vintage throughout the two nights of tastings—a wine rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator. This is a rare opportunity to meet the owners and winemakers who will be pouringtheir wines. These walk-around events are considered among the most educational and enjoyable features of any Wine Experience. Click here for a list of participating producers
*6:30 pm - 7:30 pm is reserved for Complete Package registrants and other people in their party for whom they have purchased tickets.7:30 pm is the admission time for people who are not coming to the entire weekend and have purchased Grand Tasting tickets only.

DAY TWO
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

MORNING
Part I 9:00 am–9:15 am

"Welcome and Preview of the New World Wine Experience," Marvin R. Shanken, editor & publisher, Wine Spectator.

Part II 9:15 am–9:45 am • Krug Champagne Tasting
A rare opportunity to taste four exceptional vintages of Krug Champagne, hosted by Olivier Krug, director of this legendary Champagne house. The Champagnes are:
  1. Krug Brut Champagne 2000
  2. Krug Brut Champagne Grande Cuvée NV
  3. Krug Brut Rosé Champagne NV
  4. Krug Brut Champagne Collection 1989

Part III 9:45 am–10:00 am • Wine Star No. 1: Penfolds Grange
Throughout the weekend there will be individual presentations of benchmark wines from some of the world's greatest wine producers, each a celebrity in the world of wine. The first wine star presenting a wine is Peter Gago, winemaker.

Part IV 10:00 am–10:40 am • Biodynamic Wines Tasting
An exploration of this controversial philosophy through four great wines from around the world, presented by their producers. The wines are:
  1. Araujo Syrah Napa Valley Eisele Vineyard 2009
  2. Bodega Noemía de Patagonia Río Negro Valley 2009
  3. Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac 2009
  4. Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Alsace Turckheim Clos Jebsal Sélection des Grains Nobles 2001

Part V 10:40 am–10:55 am • Wine Star No. 2: Château d'Yquem
Presenting the second wine is Pierre Lurton, CEO and managing director.

Part VI 10:55 am–11:20 am • Subtle Australia
Who knew the Aussies could be subtle? You will, as Matt Kramer, columnist, Wine Spectator, shows you the kinder, gentler side of great Aussie reds and whites, with not a Shiraz in sight.

Part VII 11:20 am–12:00 pm • New Perspectives on California Rhône Reds
A tasting of ground breaking wines from four women who have added their own unique qualities to this rising-star category. The winemakers are:
  • Anne-Marie Failla, Failla Wines
  • Annie Favia, Favia Wines
  • Jordan Fiorentini, Epoch Estates
  • Helen Keplinger, Keplinger Wines

LUNCHEON 12:00 pm–1:30 pm
A gourmet lunch sponsored by the Washington State Wine Commission. In this informal tasting venue, you'll have the opportunity to taste a variety of top-scoring wines from Washington State and determine your own food-and-wine pairings. You'll enjoy a special menu designed to highlight these wines.

AFTERNOON
Part VIII 1:30 pm–1:45 pm • Wine Star No. 3: Maison Louis Jadot

Pierre-Henry Gagey, president, will present the third wine in the wine star series.

Part IX 1:45 pm–3:00 pm • Wine Spectator's Top 10 Tasting
A tasting of the 2011 Top 10 wines as selected by the Wine Spectator board of editors and published in the December 31, Top 100 issue—an annual highlight. Each winery owner or winemaker will comment on his wine. The wines are:
  1. Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009
  2. Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2008
  3. Domaine Huët Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Première Trie 2009
  4. Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino 2006
  5. Dehlinger Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008
  6. Baer Ursa Columbia Valley 2008
  7. Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 2008
  8. Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 2006
  9. Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude 2009
  10. Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2009

EVENING
6:30 pm*–10:00 pm • Grand Tastings

A second opportunity to taste the wines and meet the owners and winemakers from more than 200 specially selected wineries all of whom have been asked to pour a wine rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator. Click here for a list of participating wineries.
*6:30 pm - 7:30 pm is reserved for Complete Package registrants and other people in their party for whom they have purchased tickets. 7:30 pm is the admission time for people who are not coming to the entire weekend and have purchased Grand Tasting tickets only.

DAY THREE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

MORNING
Part I 9:30 am–9:55 am

The first public showing of the video judged to be the 2012 winner of Wine Spectator's video contest.

Part II 9:55 am–10:15 am • Wine Star No. 4: Château Margaux
The fourth celebrity wine star presenting a special wine is Corinne Mentzelopoulos, owner.

Part III 10:15 am–10:50 am • Blind Tasting
Test your tasting skills along with a surprise expert panel as we taste four wines blind.

Part IV 10:50 am–11:10 am • Wine Star No. 5: Sine Qua Non
Manfred Krankl, owner and winemaker, is the fifth star on the program, presenting one of his top wines.

Part V 11:10 am–12:00 pm • Food and Wine Tasting
Back by popular demand, the Wine Experience is again the stage for our "Four Chefs"— starring José Andrés (Bazaar, Los Angeles), Emeril Lagasse (Emeril's, New Orleans), Wolfgang Puck (Spago, Los Angeles) and Charlie Trotter (formerly Charlie Trotter's, Chicago). These extraordinary culinary artists will once again each prepare an exciting dish which will pair with another chef's wine selection. Thomas Matthews, executive editor, Wine Spectator, will choose the second wine for each dish. You decide who made the best choice.
'Four Chefs'— starring José Andrés (Bazaar, Los Angeles), Emeril Lagasse (Emeril's, New Orleans), Wolfgang Puck (Spago, Los Angeles) and Charlie Trotter (formerly Charlie Trotter's, Chicago)

LUNCHEON 12:00 pm–1:30 pm
Napa Valley Vinters have selected a variety of interesting, high-scoring wines for this gourmet luncheon. You will have the opportunity to taste and compare these wines in an informal setting with a California cuisine themed menu.

Afternoon
Part VI 1:30 pm–3:00 pm • The Best of Italy Tasting

A tasting of top wines from the country's major wine regions—great vintages presented by the owner or winemaker.
  1. Antinori Toscana Tignanello 2008
  2. Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo Riserva 2006
  3. Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista 2007
  4. Ferrari Brut Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2001
  5. Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto 2007
  6. Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa 2008
  7. Jermann Venezia-Giulia Vintage Tunina 2009
  8. Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 2003
  9. Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 2008
  10. Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2008

EVENING
GRAND AWARD Banquet

The Grand Award Banquet, the crowning event of the weekend, is a lavish black-tie evening with special wines, great food and star entertainment. It is the culmination of a weekend filled with new wine experiences and new wine friends.

ENTERTAINMENT
Midtown Men, our entertainment, is an exciting group that will fill the room with sound and energy. They are the four stars from the original cast of Jersey Boys—J. Robert Spencer, Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard. Backed by a sensational band, they are an exhilarating act that will have you singing and dancing to songs from the show as well as other groups' styles
Midtown Men - They are the four stars from the original cast of Jersey Boys—J. Robert Spencer, Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard

6:30 pm Champagne Reception

7:30 pm The Annual Grand Award Banquet

HIGHLIGHTING THE EVENING
Wine Spectator will present the 2012 Distinguished Service Award to Nicolás Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina. He is a man who has helped Argentina raise wine quality and earn recognition on the world stage, bringing it fully into the New World of wine. In recognition of his accomplishments, he will be honored.
Wine Spectator will recognize the 2012 Grand Award winning restaurants, so honored for having the greatest wine lists in the world.
Wine Spectator will present the award to the producer of the No. 1 wine from its Top 100 as announced in the December 31, 2011 issue — Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009.

Tickets for the Banquet may be purchased only by Complete Package registrants for their guests, and by members of the wine industry.
$1875 per person. CLICK HERE to order tickets
Important Notice: The New World Wine Experience is sponsored by the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation, which underwrites scholarships and grants to students pursuing careers in the wine industry. Attendance is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Event sponsor reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant. Must be 21 or older to enter.
Cancellation Policy: COMPLETE PACKAGE-A full refund is available until July 1, 2012. After that date, until September 15, there is a $500 per person cancellation fee. After September 15 there are no refunds. GRAND TASTING AND BANQUET TICKETS—Fully refundable until October 8. After that date, there are no refunds for any tickets. Registrations and tickets may be transferred to another person at any time.
For questions, e-mail: events@mshanken.com

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

William Grant & Sons in Los Angeles

The Balvenie hosted over 400 Scotch aficionados tonight for an evening of incredible whiskeys, hors d'œuvres, Champagne, mini-desserts, great coversation and lots of fun.
Brand Ambassador Loren Cousin pictured here with 2 fun NewYorkers
and Andrew Weir, U.S. Brand Manager The Balvenie.
 
The officers of the Los Angeles Scotch Club meet monthly.   
Tonight they were really loving their 15 year old Scotch.
 
Swedish Super-Model and her German filmmaker boyfriend, Patrick.
 CBB Editor Fred Karger along with Lorne Cousin.  Incredible evening Lorne!
 
 
Revelers Cody and Nick lapping up the Single Malt in the VIP Lounge.

Lorne Cousin welcoming all the guests to the Smogg Shopp, the Über Cool
event space where tonight's tasting and party took place.