evian Natural Spring Water is invading Miami during the 2010 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, February 25-28, as a sponsor of the highly-anticipated national event showcasing the talents of the world's most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities.

"The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food festival is the place to discover new cultures and tastes, the perfect way to live young," said Jerome Goure, vice president of marketing for Danone Waters of America, Inc. "We're thrilled to continue the momentum of the highly successful roller babies video within a notoriously vibrant community like Miami."

evian will infuse Live young energy into select festival happenings, specifically through a playful and dynamic presence at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village on February 26, 27, and 28. The evian tent at the Grand Tasting Village will house a digital lounge allowing attendees to stay connected throughout the weekend and a Live young photo booth to virtually transport dancing, posing festival-goers inside the roller babies video for the FIRST TIME. Customized photographs will be available immediately on-site to share via Facebook, twitter or e-mail.

Festival attendees will be encouraged to visit the first official evian U.S. Facebook page to connect and share with a community eager to make the most of their life.

Complimentary evian products will be available throughout the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at the following ticketed events: Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village, Perrier-Jouet BubbleQ presented by Allen Brothers, Dolce Brunch presented by Tiffany & Co., Dim Sum and Disco at the Setai and the Tribute Dinner sponsored by Bank of America honoring Daniel Boulud.

For more information about the evian Live young campaign or Facebook fan page, visit www.evian.us or www.facebook.com/evianus.

About evian® Natural Spring Water

Bottled since 1826, evian Natural Spring Water is the world's #1 brand of premium natural spring water. Every drop takes more than 15 years to filter through mineral rich glacial sands in the Northern Alps, providing perfect purity, uniquely balanced mineral composition and subtle flavor as a product of its unhurried journey.

evian first entered the U.S. market in 1978 and is now accepted as a premium natural spring water for those who like to treat themselves to the very best.

More information can be found on www.evian.us, and www.facebook.com/evianus.

SOURCE evian

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Italy is known for its excellent wines, and a well-chosen wine list is the mainstay of any New York Italian eatery – but at Lusso, an Italian restaurant in SoHo, diners can experience a new flavor of Italian drinking: Italian craft beers. Lusso diners can choose from among 22 Italian-brewed craft beers and microbrews – the largest selection in New York.  

At Lusso, which opened in January 2009, Italian craft beers are typically served in 750mL bottles and range in price from $13 to $34 – comparable to a typical bottle of wine.  

"Many U.S. diners are more familiar with Italian wines, but Italy also offers a fast-growing beer movement," said Mike Carpiniello, Lusso's owner. "Italian craft beers are a unique offering for our customers, and it's a growing trend in New York dining. Beer is the new wine, so to speak." 

Lusso is also at the vanguard of the new trend toward "beer dinners" featuring pairings of menu items and select beers. And while other well known beer-brewing countries, such as Germany and England, have strict brewing guidelines, Italian brewers have no such restriction.  Brewers may use any ingredients growing on their estate, so the flavors and ingredients in Italian beer are often more inventive and unique to their region, making them ideal for pairing with different dinner menus. 

Head Chef Louis Santos is a trained expert in pairing beers with food. Two of the beer pairings include:

• Rex Grue, which is brewed by Birrificio Montegioco and has notes of sweet tobacco, peppers and sage, paired with Lusso's sage-infused veal stuffed with pistachios smoked mozzarella and lardo.
• Genziana saison, brewed by Birra del Borgo with notes of coriander and gentian root, paired with the Branzino whole-grilled sea bass with cerignola olives, capers, grilled lemon and pine nuts and drizzled with olive oil.

"Many New Yorkers are not familiar with the quality and varieties of Italian beers that are out there, but you can have the same kind of diversity of flavors and aromas and food pairings with Italian beers as you would traditionally experience with wine," said Carpiniello.  

Lusso (http://www.lussonyc.com) is located at 331 W. Broadway at the corner of Grand.  

Lusso is a contemporary Italian restaurant in SoHo, New York City, specializing in classic Italian flavors with modern flourishes, and offering New York's most extensive selection of Italian craft beers. Founded in January 2009, Lusso strives to serve as an extension of its guests' homes - with a warm, comfortable atmosphere, the ambiance of a Tuscan wine bar, and a talented, inventive kitchen staff. Lusso is located at 331 W. Broadway at the corner of Grand. Visit Lusso online at http://www.lussonyc.com.

SOURCE Lusso

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Wines of Washington Promotion, an interactive and integrated marketing agency based in Seattle, created special on- and off-premise, traffic building, point-of-purchase floor and end-aisle displays: (http://bit.ly/9srRXU) to celebrate March Washington State Wine Month at grocery stores, convenience stores and wine shops.

Wines of Washington Promotion, working to help increase the brand awareness of Barnard Griffin, developed creative materials based around the winery's tulip theme for this month-long promotion.  

Barnard Griffin is recognized as one of Washington State's most renowned family-owned wineries.  Barnard Griffin is located in Richland, WA. www.BarnardGriffin.com.

In addition, Wines of Washington Promotion develops marketing, advertising, public relations, publicity and WOM activities in support of the winery's wine clubs, affiliations, participations, sponsorships and special events including, WineYakimaValley.com, Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau, Washington Wine Commission, Wine Clubs and Affiliates, AmericanWinery.com, Taste Washington, Experience Washington, and 20something Wine Event as well as the Wine Bloggers' Conference to be held in Walla Walla in June.  The agency has set up a digital countdown clock for this event on its web landing page: www.WOWpromotion.com.

Creating and promoting Crush and Tasting Room events and activities is another area of strength for the agency.  These hospitality and destination marketing activities include: "Wines on the Nines," the "CRUSHtacean Celebration" and many more.  Support includes concepting and copy for the winery's monthly eNewsletters and PR/publicity campaigns.  The agency also creates digital and print merchandising and PR support for remote market winemaker's appearances, winery tastings, winemaker's dinners, chef wine-food pairing events and bottle signings.

The agency has created and placed print and digital advertising for the Barnard Griffin Tulip and Reserve brands in WINE ENTHUSIAST, ExperienceWA Travel Planner, TRI-CITY HERALD'S Escape to Wine Country, WINE PRESS NORTHWEST Magazine, WINO Magazine, MID-COLUMBIAN Magazine, Washington Wine Commission's WINE TOURING GUIDE, WASHINGTON TASTING ROOM Magazine, and SEATTLE WEEKLY.

Past client projects include: collateral for the Prosser Art Walk & Wine Gala and Jones of Washington Wines' eCommerce website and Oenotourism (Wine Tourism) rack cards.

"This is a challenging time for Washington State wines.  While sales are slightly up in some price categories, there continues to be downward pressure on pricing due to consumer concerns over the economy.  We suggest that this is an excellent time for wineries to focus on their marketing foundations and infrastructure so they are poised and ready to take maximum advantage of the inevitable rebound in the marketplace," says Bruce Bieber, Chief Marketing Officer of the agency.

Wines of Washington Promotion's expertise in building and bootstrapping brands with affordable design, marketing and promotion is key to helping winemakers so they can devote the majority of their time to what they do best -- making great wine.

About Wines of Washington Promotion

Wines of Washington Promotion, offers a full range of strategic and tactical touchpoint marketing and design services to wineries and AVA's, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blog and Vlogs, web design, eCommerce wine stores, on- and off-premise promotions, point-of-purchase retail display design and sourcing, label and packaging design, website creative, distributor & wholesaler marketing communications, retail sales collateral, trade communications, public relations and publicity.  

Collateral design elements include wine bottle photography, online digital and print brochures, rack cards, shelf talkers, back cards, easel cards, posters, banners, neckers and neck hangers, wine notes, metal racks, wooden racks, wood barrel displays, special end-aisle displays

The agency provides eMarketing, eNewsletters, eBlasts, wine naming, marketing communications, digital and print advertising, sales promotion, merchandising, production and printing; including on- and off-premise promotion, wine tourism, vineyard and agri-marketing, trademarking, wine copywriting, wine notes, wine tasting booth design, fleet graphics, shopper marketing, account specific marketing, retail & channel marketing & promotion, media promotion, corporate tie-ins, value-added promotions, couponing, sweepstakes & contests, internet, viral, buzz & stealth marketing, special events, mobile, hospitality and destination marketing, festival marketing, and trade promotions.

www.WOWpromotion.com

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/perpetual

Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Bruce.Bieber

3,500 Tweeters follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WINESofWA

SOURCE Wines of Washington Promotion

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The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's "March Gladness" sale of Chairman's Selection™ wines begins online at www.pawineandspirits.com today.

Chairman's Selections™ are wines from some of the world's greatest wine makers, offered at significant savings compared with nationally quoted prices, according to Patrick J. "P.J." Stapleton III, chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

To make room for new Chairman's Selection™ wines arriving this spring, the 36 wines in the "March Gladness" sale will feature additional savings, reducing prices by as much as 70 percent from quoted prices, he said.

"Chairman's Selection™ wines always represent a great value, because our buyers use their expertise and the state's purchasing power to find us excellent wines at terrific prices," Stapleton added. "The additional savings of our 'March Gladness' sale will make these wines pretty hard to resist."

A few examples of wines included in the online-only sale:

• Columbia Crest Walter Clore Reserve 2004, $14.99, discounted from $29.99 (PLCB code 14751); originally quoted at $44.00.
• Luce Della Vite 2004, $39.99, discounted from $58.99 (PLCB code 23621); originally quoted at $80.00.
• Luna Freakout White 2007, $4.99, discounted from $10.99 (PLCB code 18065); originally quoted at $16.99.
• Dutton Goldfield Chardonnay 2006, $12.99, discounted from $24.99 (PLCB code 16539); originally quoted at $35.00.
• Buil & Gine Priorat 2006, $8.99, discounted from $16.99 (PLCB code 26200); originally quoted at $24.00.
• Vine Cliff Cabernet Sauvignon Rock Block 2006, $17.99, discounted from $29.99 (PLCB code 22632); originally quoted at $60.00.

Consumers can find the sale wines by clicking on the "March Gladness" button at www.pawineandspirits.com, said Jim Short, director of marketing for the Liquor Control Board.

"'March Gladness' wines will only be available while current supplies last," Short said. "Once these are gone, we are rolling out exciting new Chairman's Selections™ for spring and summer."

Online purchases must be picked up from a PA Wine & Spirits Store. You must be 21 or older to purchase and consume wine in Pennsylvania.

Media contact: Nick Hays or Francesca Chapman, 717-783-8864

SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

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In a move that signifies a growing commitment to the U.S. marketplace, the Vibrant Rioja marketing campaign announced today the launch of a multi-million dollar trade program to support national sales at all levels.  

"Twenty years ago, less than twenty bodegas imported Rioja wines to the U.S.," said Ana Fabiano, Trade Director of the Vibrant Rioja campaign. "But today, Rioja is one of the most identifiable brands of Spain, with more than 100 distribution channels nationwide. We're as synonymous with the country as flamenco dancing and bullfighting." Fabiano continues, "As a category, Rioja delivers unparalleled quality the trade and consumer can trust. The diversity in today's Rioja – in style and price – is astounding. "

Despite current economic trends, this program will enhance the region's dedication to the U.S. domestic market and provide valuable support to existing and prospective importers and distributors of DOCa Rioja bodegas and their wines.

Over 400 integrated programs make up the 2010 trade strategy, including a point of purchase program, virtual retail program and independent account support. Additionally, momentum continues with successfully integrated retail programs piloted in 2009 that helped create over 20% increase in sales.

"From our end, the program was a rousing success," said Bill Meusgeier, Promotion Director for Crown Wine Merchants. "The events were great, the promotional material was outstanding and the support and education from the people at Vibrant Rioja was excellent. We cannot wait to work with them again."

Results like these validated the trade's trust in the campaign to form mutually beneficial partnerships with the end goal of positive consumer response.  

The point of purchase program will include over 100 participating accounts, as well as a national program with 10 key chain accounts.  The virtual retail program will be available through the www.vibrantrioja.com/trade web site to all third-tier retail trade accounts nationwide.  Additionally, independent accounts that are interested in conducting a Rioja wine program will be provided with resources to assist in the execution.

To learn more about Rioja's trade program, contact Ana Fabiano by phone at (845) 255-2040, by email at AnaFabiano@VibrantRioja.com, or visit www.vibrantrioja.com/trade.

About Rioja

Located in north central Spain, Rioja is considered one of the greatest red wine regions of the world.  Rioja reds are blended predominantly with the indigenous tempranillo grape from one of the region's three sub-zones — Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja, and Rioja Alavesa.  The DOCa of Rioja administers highly sophisticated and stringent quality control in the winemaking process, from viniculture to bottling.  More than 200 brands from Rioja are available for purchase in the U.S.  For more information, please visit www.vibrantrioja.com.

SOURCE Vibrant Rioja

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