Letter From the editor

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US POSTAGE PAIDST PAUL MN

PERMIT NO 7150

Johnson Brothers Liquor Company1999 Shepard RoadSt. Paul, MN 55116-3210

WINE & SPIRIT

NEWS JOHNSON BROTHERS

W I N E & S P I R I T

NEWS

I N T H E S P O T L I G H T

651-649-5800 www.johnsonbrothers.com Questions? Email: info@johnsonbrothers.com1-800-723-2424

Happy New Year!

The year 2007 is off to a big start with some great promotions to entice your customers. There are plenty of exciting events going on right here in the State of Minnesota during the month of January, and hopefully we will get some snow for all of our outdoor enthusiasts.

Some of the most exciting sports action will take place this month, including the NFL playoffs and culminating with the Super Bowl. To help with all of the parties that will take place is a fantastic rebate on some of Minnesota’s best selling spirit products, including RonDiaz Spiced Rum, McAdams Canadian, and Petri Brandy.

Read on for more information and have a great month!

News From the Vintage Division

As we start a new year, some things remain the same...the consistency and popularity of Rosemount wines for example! “The prestige wine of Australia,” produces a selection of fine wines that reflect the riches of the Australian climate and an unswerving dedication to winemaking quality, innovation and style. This month’s spotlight is on the four Rosemount Diamond 750ml blends. Traminer-Riesling is a delightfully crisp wine without the overly sweet characters of many Rieslings. Cabernet-Merlot is a lush, full-flavored red wine which reminds one of a bowl of cherries with soft tannins.Shiraz-Cabernet is full of ripe blackberry fruit with spicy undertones which provides a smooth and fruity, soft-finishing red wine.Shiraz-Grenache has deep raspberry and cherry fruit-flavors that are enhanced by exotic spice and pepper characteristics.

Get the details of this month’s fantastic 750ml blend promotion from your Vintage Sales Representative.

News From the Spirit Division

Three Olives Vodka presents a rush of flavor – Three Olives Pomegranate Vodka. Award-winning, ultra-premium Three Olives combine the sweet and sour taste of ripened pomegranates with their top-rated, quadruple-distilled, quadruple-filtered vodka for a drink that is exceptionally delicious. Three Olives Pomegranate Vodka is the newest and hottest addition to the Three Olives line.

News From the Gallo DivisionMattie’s Perch of Australia is the perfect brand to feature this January.

Consumers continued to flock to the Australian section in 2006, shown in the category’s 12% growth. Mattie’s Perch wines feature luscious fruit forward flavors with hints of vanilla and caramel from the use of oak aging and are a superb value that your customers are sure to appreciate. Mattie’s Perch is available in Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet-Shiraz, and White Shiraz and come in 750ml and 1.5L bottles. Ask to see the colorful packaging and point of sale that are sure to make Mattie’s Perch “bonzer!” (outstanding) in 2007!

Few brands have seen the success and longevity that Carlo Rossi has experienced over the decades, and things just keep getting better. Carlo Rossi 5.0

liter boxes have been a hit with consumers since their launch in September 2006. Varietal wines continue to push the growth in the box wine category which is why Carlo Rossi Boxes are available in Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, and White Zinfandel. Take advantage of a valuable mail-in rebate offer on Rossi Boxes this month to continue the growth of this iconic wine brand.

News From the Diageo DivisionJanuary is play-off time and what better spirit to bring to your football parties than Smirnoff Twist. Smirnoff Twist flavors are excellent chilled straight or in your favorite mixed drink. With 10 flavors to choose from you can’t go wrong with Smirnoff.

Also, don’t forget about Captain Morgan Tattoo. This great alternative to Jagermeister tastes great chilled or with your favorite energy drink.

Make your January Super!We are starting the year off with a fantastic promotion tied around the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl to help stimulate incremental sales.

The multi brand Rebate will offer your consumers extra savings on one to four bottles of our great tasting, value priced, and strong selling products just when the credit card bills hit from the holidays. Display and promote some of Minnesota’s best selling spirit products for a “Super Start” to your New Year’s sales.

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V O L U M E X X I I , E D I T I O N 1

I N T H E S P O T L I G H T

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PHILLIPSW I N E & S P I R I T

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INTRODUCING . . . CHALK HILL WINERY Sonoma County, California

The true essence of Chalk Hill is its estate, a unique corner of California wine country. Here, proprietors Fred and Peggy Furth both preserve the nature of the land and honor it by producing wines that reflect its exceptional qualities.

Inspired by his memory of hillside vineyards in Germany and his determination to preserve the natural contours of the land, Fred pioneered vertical planting on the slopes of Chalk Hill in 1974.

Chalk Hill is an estate in the old-fashioned sense, combined with a contemporary exploration of modern viticulture. In their determination to produce the greatest wines in the world, the Furths look to tradition and innovation for guidance. “We are supporting an ongoing Chardonnay clonal trial that is comprehensive in its scope, in terms of international clones, and dedicated to producing wine from each clone and terroir,” which is described comprehensively as, “soil, drainage, subterranean water, rain water, sun strike and relative humidity.”

ESTATE CHARDONNAY

Minerally and sleek! Call it Cali-Chablis. An enormously complicated wine with oak, lees and underlying peach custard and spicy mango cream flavors that finish long and dry.

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ESTATE BOTTLED CABERNET SAUVIGNONOak, toasted and spicy, plays an important role in the flavor of this wine. Extracted layers of flavor with concentrated texture. Estate-grownBordeaux varietals frame and enhance the Chalk Hill Cabernet. The wine boasts perfumed aromas of black currants, blackberry jam, with hints of lavender, mocha and star anise. Rich and expansive with velvety tannins, this wine is LUSH and is worth cellaring.

ESTATE BOTTLED SAUVIGNON BLANCBalanced and intense, the Sauvignon Blanc from Chalk Hill expresses the uniqueness of the land. Both rich and elegant. Lush aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle and exotic spice are met by a vibrant band of tropical fruit and mineral flavors. Classic!

ESTATE BOTTLED MERLOTAged in barrel for 21 months and blended with additional Bordeaux varietals that amplify the voice of the estate, Chalk Hill Merlot brims with red currants, earthy plum, mocha and cigar box aromas. The sweet mid-palate punctuates the silky, supple, seductive texture that lingers through the finish.

ESTATE BOTTLED PINOT GRIS, NORTH SLOPEThe North Slope of the Chalk Hill estate is the highest, coolest block of the vineyard. The wine has delicate floral aromas and exotic fruit with roundness and length. The wine offers up perfumed aromas of lychees, honeysuckle, jasmine and hazelnut. Moderately weighty flavors of lime, toasty vanilla, shortbread and even a little crème broûlée.Ask your Wine Merchants salesperson for pricing and availability of the extraordinary wines from Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards.

HENDRY RANCH WINERYThe Hendry Vineyard is situated on the bench lands between the Napa Valley’s Carneros and Mt. Veeder viticultural districts. Thin stony soils and gently sloping terrain formed from ancient stream terraces produce high quality fruit at low yields. The 115 acres of vineyard are divided into 49 separately managed blocks. These divisions reflect George Hendry’s efforts to recognize unique terroir and to match root, variety and clone to the regions to which they are best suited.

Block 7 Zinfandel 91 points Wine Enthusiast

“When Hendry Zin is good, which it usually is, it’s very good, and so it is with this ripe, flashy but balanced wine. Block 7, in particular, is as dependable as Zin gets. It’s so delicious in jammy cherry, blackberry and cocoa flavors, yet dry and crisp, with that sip-me-again quality that quickly empties the bottle.” S.H.

2005 Pinot GrisNectarine and lime peel hint at the mouth watering acidity of this lightly floral wine. In the mouth, nectarine repeats, with citrus and citrus peel, mineral and tea. It has refreshing acidity and a richness of texture. There are rose petal and delicate mineral notes on the finish.

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NEWS FROM THE REGAL WINE DIVISIONBolla wines represent true Italian passion for life. For more than 120 years, Bolla has been producing authentic, quality wines in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Bolla is now proud to release two new varietal wines in both 750ml and 1.5L. Bolla Riesling is a refreshing, delightful

wine made from handpicked grapes from the mountainous region of Northern Italy. This wine is well-balanced and fruit forward with a hint of sweetness and spice. Bolla Pinot Noir is a versatile, elegant wine made from handpicked grapes, again, from the mountainous region of Northern Italy. This Pinot Noir is well-balanced and fruit forward, with a light ruby color and jammy flavors of black cherry and raspberry.

NEWS FROM UBI ON DIAGEO BRANDSWith holiday parties and football play-offs just around the corner, now is the time for the Jose Cuervo pre-mixed cocktails. Jose Cuervo Authentic Margaritas are the number one pre-mixed cocktail in Minnesota, with the new Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita a close second. Without

having to break out the blender, there is no better way to enjoy a margarita made with Jose Cuervo.

NEWS FROM THE PREMIER WINE DIVISION

With all of the wine brands (both new and old) that the consumers had to choose from in 2006, the “big hitters” still showed positive growth. Brands like Sutter Home, Folie a Deux, Inglenook, Lindemans and Cook’s all had a banner year, thanks to year ‘round

promotions, positive ratings and the support at retail. These wines continue to produce better wines with each year that passes and the consumer stays with wines they are comfortable with. We are looking forward to another outstanding year with these category leaders in 2007! We

think you will like the exciting programs we are lining up for a year of fast turns and solid profits at retail. January is a very strong month at retail, with all the football parties that happen. Sutter Home is a “no brainer” for the floor this month for the crowd pleasers! And believe me, sparklers still sell in January. Cook’s Champagne, America’s favorite, will give you the fast turns at the register this month.

NEWS FROM THE SPIRIT DIVISIONWith the launch of Phillips Union Whiskey, we set out to eradicate any hint of historic whiskey harshness and create a whole new generation of whiskey lovers who are into smooth flavor and mixing adventures. There are unique differences between the whiskies of the world and the characteristics of Phillips Union Whiskey - which is, in our humble opinion, the best thing to happen to whiskey since the shot glass. The straight whiskey is an artful marriage of high quality Kentucky bourbon and Canadian whisky. And if smooth wasn’t enough, along comes Phillips Union Cherry made from the finest cherries available. And last, but not least, Phillips Union Vanilla with an unbelievable nose and taste of the finest vanilla.

News from the Prestige Wine Division PRESTIGE BRANDS SCORE BIG IN WORLD WINE COMPETITION

The 2006 World Value Wine Challenge results are in. Luccio Moscato d’Asti scored 89 points, a Silver medal and “Highly

Recommended”. Starling Castle Riesling scored 86 points, a Silver medal and “Highly Recommended”. 2005 Conquista Malbec scored 84 points and a Bronze medal.

The Luccio Moscato d’Asti tastes of ripened apples and apricots in a refreshing burst of bubbles. Pair with fruits, desserts, cakes and any other dolce used in toasts for any occasion.

The Conquista is soft, mouth-filling and perfumed. A ripe tannin backbone holds flavor layers of blackberries and blueberries, wild plums and hints of mocha and spice.

Intended for rich, spicy meat dishes to include grilled meats and vegetables, stews, rich pastas and mature cheeses.

Starling Castle Riesling has a bright golden hue, the nose is fresh with a touch of citrus and pear and semi-sweet fruit flavors. Matches with salads, fruits, light cheeses and desserts. Starling Castle is just sweet enough to bring out the best of spicy Asian cuisine.

These three medal-winning wines represent excellent value to the consumer and can be great January “stackers” for all retail stores. Ask your Phillips Representative for new “medal-winning” deals.