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On September 17th, 2024, Empire Distributors, Inc. of North Carolina customers and trade members were invited to our annual Trade Tasting for the Charlotte area! The 2024 Charlotte Trade Tasting brought together many of Empire’s brands with retail & on-premise beverage buyers from across the Charlotte, NC area. Read on to get a recap at some of the suppliers & brands that attended the event and their featured items available in the Charlotte, North Carolina market.
About Red Bull: Red Bull Gives Wiiings to People and Ideas. This has driven us – and all we do – since 1987. Today, Red Bull operates in over 170 countries, selling more than 12 billion cans annually and growing! Above all, our people remain the essential ingredient in bringing the Red Bull brand to life.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Red Bull Original, Red Bull Original Sugarfree, Red Bull The Red Edition Sugarfree Watermelon and Red Bull The Red Edition Watermelon
About Jackson Family Wines: Jackson Family Wines, based in Sonoma County – in the heart of California’s wine country – is one of the few family-owned and operated winery groups of its kind. Founded in 1983 with a focus on artisanal wines of distinct character and quality, Jackson Family Wines’ portfolio of wineries includes Kendall-Jackson, La Crema, Freemark Abbey, Murphy-Goode, Stonestreet, Matanzas Creek and Cambria (plus many more!), as well as a collection of luxury wineries such as Cardinale, Lokoya and Verite.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Bootleg Red Blend, Cambria “Katherines Vineyard” Chardonnay, Carmel Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc, Diatom Chardonnay, Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Il Fauno Di Arcanum, Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands Chardonnay, La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, La Crema Sauvignon Blanc, La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, La Crema Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Penner Ash Pinot Noir and Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon
About Kobrand Wine & Spirits: Kobrand proudly takes to market a distinguished portfolio of hand-selected brands representing virtually every major wine region of the world and its finest specialty spirits. Family-owned since its founding in 1944, Kobrand attributes its success to a single guiding principle that describes the people, products, and relationships behind it: quality. This commitment to quality woven through Kobrand’s evolution also drives its strong commitment to innovating compelling and relevant new products.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: AIX Rosé, Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon, Cakebread Chardonnay Napa Valley, Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, Dom Carneros Sparkling Rosé Pompour, La Chapelle Hermitage Rouge, Paul Jaboulet Parallèle 45 Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc, Paul Jaboulet Parallèle 45 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge, Rebellious Sauvignon Blanc, Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon and Taittinger Brut
About Filthy Foods: Filthy Foods presents the only line of truly premium drink garnishes made specifically to be served with alcohol. For decades, oily, salty, salad olives have been re-purposed to garnish premium drinks. Filthy provides a delicious, balanced and memorable alternative that complements premium alcohol by not masking the subtle flavors of the cocktail, while adding to the overall drinking experience.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Filthy Black Cherry, Filthy Bloody Mary, Filthy Bloody Mary Mix, Filthy Blue Cheese, Filthy Foods Black Cherry, Filthy Foods Blue Cheese, Filthy Foods Filthy Pickle, Filthy Foods Onion, Filthy Foods Pepper, Filthy Foods Pimento, Filthy Foods Pitted Olive, Filthy Foods Red Cherry, Filthy Foods Stuffed Pickle, Filthy Margarita Mix, Filthy Paloma, Filthy Pimento, Filthy Pitted Olive and Filthy Red Cherry
About Demeine Estates: Demeine Estates is a family-owned producer, importer and marketer of the world’s finest wines based in the heart of Napa Valley, California. A leader in luxury wines in the U.S., Demeine Estates sets the standard in exceptional marketing, fine wine sales, and distribution services. Founded by The Lawrence family and Carlton McCoy Jr., and led by President Philana Bouvier, Demeine Estates’ curated portfolio consists of both premium family-owned domestic and international producers who represent exceptional wines anchored by quality viticulture.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard, Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard, Heitz Lot 91 Cabernet Sauvignon, Ink Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, La Chablisienne Le Finage Chablis and Legras & Haas Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru
About Rodney Strong Vineyards: Rodney Strong Vineyards is a family-owned wine company committed to crafting world-class wines that capture the essence of Sonoma County. Rodney Strong farms 11 sustainable-certified estate vineyards and produces wines from Sonoma County’s finest appellations. The winery was founded in 1959 by Sonoma County wine pioneer Rod Strong as the 13th bonded winery in the county. Led by the Klein family since 1989, Rodney Strong Vineyards is a family of passionate people committed to crafting premium wines, great experiences and delivering a vision for sustainability in Sonoma County.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Davis Bynum “River West” Chardonnay, Davis Bynum Pinot Noir, Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Rodney Strong Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rodney Strong Symmetry and Rowen Red Blend Sonoma
About Precept Brands: Precept Brands is one of the fastest-growing wine and spirits companies in the United States, with a unique portfolio representing American wine regions throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and New Mexico. As trailblazers in American winemaking, we offer the best quality-to-price wines of any producer in the country, with critical acclaim to match. Comprised by a combination of owned vineyards, estates and passionate employees, we are uniquely poised as an industry leader and trusted partner.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Browne Cabernet Sauvignon Forest Project, Browne Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon, Gruet Brut, Gruet L’Orangerie Spritz, Gruet Rose, Pendulum Red Blend, Primarius Pinot Noir
About Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Quality, integrity, people, community and sustainability. These are not just words, but a cultural lifestyle and commitment at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Our mission is the same as it has been since Sierra Nevada started in 1980 with a humble hand-built brewhouse – to produce and market the finest ales and lagers possible and to do it responsibly. Today Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is America’s longest-running craft startup, and boasts the number-one best-selling craft brand in the country—the legendary flagship, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Hazy Little Thing, Hop Splash Citrus, Hop Splash Sparkling Hop Water, Oktoberfest, Pale Ale, Strainge Beast Mimosa, Trail Pass N/A Golden Ale and Trail Pass N/A IPA
About Vinattieri 1385: We are the bridge between the Antinori family and the American wine lovers, ensuring that the family’s wines continue to create moments of meaningful connection, memories, and joy to countless individuals in the United States. We believe that every sip of an Antinori wine tells a story—a story of heritage, innovation, and uncompromising dedication to excellence.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Bramito della Sala, Il Bruciato, Peppoli Chianti Classico DOCG, Prunotto Barolo DOCG, Santa Cristina Cabernet Sauvignon, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay and Villa Antinori Rosso Toscana IGT
About Moët Hennessy: Moët Hennessy, the Wines and Spirits Division of LVMH, regroups twenty-seven Maisons, many of which have been around for centuries, while others are just starting their journey. Our vision is to lead the future of luxury Wines and Spirits from nature to communities.
Product(s) at Trade Tasting: Chandon Garden Spritz, Chateau d’Esclans Rock Angel, Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel, Joseph Phelps Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, M by Minuty, Minuty Prestige, Moet & Chandon Imperial, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Veuve Clicquot Rose
Reach out with any questions you may have to see just how responsive, knowledgeable and downright friendly an Empire Representative can be.
