Old School Vineyards in Napa, Crocker Estate in St. Helena, Arroyo Lindo Vineyard in Sonoma, Wente Vineyards in Livermore, and The Mushroom Farm in Pescadero will be testing zero-emission tractors under a $1 million grant to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District from the state’s Funding Agricultural Reduction Measures for Emission Reductions, or FARMER, program.
Monarch Tractor received $80,000 and Solectract by Ideanomics received $514,688 to develop the battery-operated tractors.
The new bottle for Phillips Distilling Co..’s UV Vodka changes label colors when exposed to UV sunlight. It can be found nationally at grocery, liquor, wine and convenience stores.
Phillips will also be test marketingCubist, a vodka whose bottle is specifically designed to store in the freezer. Thermochromatic technology activates the bottle to turn blue at or below zero degrees Celsius.
UV Vodka is being marketed with a new tagline, “Bring the Light,” to drive the connection between UV and sunlight. According to CTI research, sunlight-activated ink drives purchase intent for 64% of consumers. Each of the brand’s colorful bottles is American-made, naturally flavored and distilled four times.
After the test marketing in Minnesota and Arizona, Cubist is expected to have an expanded launch in 2022. Consumer insights show that vodka drinkers prefer vodka ice cold and many store it in their freezer to serve at a more desirable temperature.
Phillips is the first distillery to create a vodka from start-to-finish that is specifically designed to store in the freezer. When the vodka is at its most perfect temperature — at or below zero degrees Celsius — the thermochromic technology activates the bottle to turn blue which notifies the drinker it’s ready.
QR codes on advertising and point-of-sale materials will link to a video that demonstrates how the label transitions in the freezer along with additional product information. According to Phillips Distilling Company research, 75% of consumers believe Cubist™ is unique from other vodkas. Cubist™ will be available in a 750ML sleek bottle and retails for $24.99.
In a bid to upend the traditional flavored whiskey category, Phillips will relaunch its cult classic, Revel Stoke, in September with a new tagline “Stoke Your Wild.” This will be the largest integrated marketing and brand repositioning effort in the company’s history, aimed at “Zillennial” men ages 21-34 years old who live life on their own terms.
New irreverent flavor names such as “Nutcrusher Peanut Butter,” “Hotbox Cinnamon,” “SonofaPeach,” and “Lei’d Roasted Pinneapple” will be the talk of the on-and off-premise categories. Bold packaging and labels will be high-energy and personality driven and more in line with today’s independent whisky drinker.
Out-of-home billboards will run in September and October in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa to drive awareness and trial. Additionally, Revel Stoke will bring the brand to life through guerilla-style chalking events in key cities during football season. The campaign will also feature several digital components including social media, Instacart, Spotify and “text to save” offers via PayPal and Venmo.
Another brand category leader, Prairie Organicᴿ Spirits — the No. 1 selling organic spirits brand of premium vodkas and gin — has launched a new ad campaign titled “Prairie Spirit.” The campaign targets “The Ecopolitan,” a 30-something urban dweller, who is socially connected and cares deeply about the environment and is looking to uncover new ways to preserve the planet.
The campaign created by Space150 features out-of-home billboards, :15 and :06 second TV spots featured on YouTube and Connected TV and paid social content displayed on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Prairie Organic Spirits also will have heavy digital support and a “text to save” offer via PayPal and Venmo.
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Eneregy Star program to develop energy-saving tools and resources for distilleries. One key initiative is an Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) benchmarking tool, which will enable distilleries to secure Energy Star certification for production facilities.
As the spirits industry upholds environmentally friendly practices and consumers demand higher sustainability standards, DISCUS’ partnership with Energy Star will help the industry understand best practices related to efficient energy in distilling facilities and beyond.
Energy Star has developed tools for over a dozen other industries, which are used to help companies in those sectors benchmark performance and earn recognition.
In order for the EPI benchmarking tool to work as intended, DISCUS is issuing a survey and seeking responses from a variety of production facilities that operate in different conditions and climates across the country to help distillers understand how facilities compare to others of similar size and operation. The questionnaire was developed by Energy Star and will be administered by Duke University. Survey responses are due by Saturday, August 24.
“The careful stewardship of the environment and natural resources is essential for the U.S. distilled spirits industry, due to the very nature of our agriculturally-based products,” said Chris Swonger, president and CEO of DISCUS. “We look forward to the launch of this EPI benchmarking tool for distilleries to secure nationally recognized certification for production facilities and overall cost-savings for their businesses.”
Thirty-five percent more California vineyards used the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing in 2016-2020 to guide their operations, a just-released report says. That represents a 45% increase in acres, a 60% increase in wineries and a 58% increase in cases produced using sustainable principles since 2016, a just released report says.
“These practices improve resource efficiency and wine quality, reduce risks and, in many cases, reduce costs, while contributing to a healthier environment, stronger communities and vibrant businesses,” said Allison Jordan, executive director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
The 2020 report shows that 2,300 vineyards representing 262,000 winegrape acres used the 3rd edition Code to evaluate and improve their practices since 2016. The data show that a majority have adopted sustainable practices for water and energy efficiency, pest management and soil health, among other areas, as detailed below:
CALIFORNIA WINERY DATA
The 2020 report shows that 230 wineries that produce 262 million cases used the 3rd edition Code to evaluate and improve their practices since 2016. A majority are adopting sustainability practices for energy, water and their overall business, among other areas.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY DATA
The livelihood of California vintners and growers depends upon the health of the environment and local communities. The 2020 report shows that a vast majority of the state’s vintners and growers are taking action to protect wildlife, positively contributing to their communities and encouraging employees to become engaged in enhancing sustainability.
Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma (CBAO) and Oklahoma Agritourism launched the state’s first Craft Beer Trail.
The Trail incluswa 60 Oklahoma craft breweries inh five distinct regions – Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest and Southeast. The trail gives Oklahoma a unique sector in the agriculture industry. Breweries have also partnered with the Made in Oklahoma program and Made in Oklahoma Coalition.
Branding, developed by Brian Welzbacher with beerisOK.com, hones in on finding your craft and the use of a compass to navigate your way across the trail. Inspired by the Southwest
with the colors, Welzbacher. also incorporated the four elements of brewing in the design including the hop cone pointing north, three arms representing barley chaff and four small dots that are representing the yeast surrounded by water.
“Our craft beer industry continues to grow in Oklahoma with an economic impact of $700 million a year,” said CBAO executive director Tabbi Burwell.
“As we develop this trail and continue to push for more tourism in taprooms, a craft beer trail only helps put our state on the map after years of pushing for modernization.”
In addition to 30,000 printed maps being distributed to all nine welcome centers across the state, trail information and maps can be found on www.craftbeerok.com and can also be requested through TravelOK.com.
