SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wine Group, the world’s third largest winery by volume, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a U.S. distribution agreement with Clever Imports, LLC of Palm Beach Florida to represent their portfolio, including the chocolate wine sensation, ChocoVine®. Effective immediately, TWG’s Annuity Brands sales organization within its Velocity business unit will assume distributor management for the ChocoVine® brand. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
ChocoVine® began with a simple insight – consumers love the unique combination of fine red wine and luxurious chocolate. Its creator, Steve Katz, joined forces with DeKuyper of Holland to meld the goodness of cream, the irresistible appeal of Dutch Chocolate and the allure of French Cabernet Sauvignon into a unique treat that has taken the market by storm.
Steven Katz, CEO of Clever Imports, states, “We have watched other beverage brands explode onto the scene and then within a few years die a ‘flash-in-the pan’ death. We asked around the industry to find an innovative company with a similar ‘build for the next 20 years and beyond’ mindset, and this quickly led us one clear answer -- The Wine Group. Their owner/manager structure and philosophy resists short-term gain at the expense of building brands that stand the test of time. TWG is agile, dynamic, and highly consumer oriented,” says Steven. “We have grown dramatically with strong word of mouth endorsements. Aligning with the world’s third largest winery will allow our brand to grow distribution exponentially.“
“This alliance brings together two innovative cultures,” says Ken Lizar, President, TWG Velocity Brands. “When you look at the wine industry’s most innovative new brands, you certainly must include ChocoVine®. We will continue to innovate together, with several exciting new products in the Clever Imports pipeline which we intend to bring to market in the near future.”
About Clever Imports, LLC
Founded in 2005 by beverage industry veteran Steven Katz and his wife Cecile, Clever Imports LLC has pioneered Chocolate-and-Wine into a million case segment in the US with their brand ChocoVine® the clear market leader. ChocoVine® Original, Raspberry and Espresso are available nationally at a suggested retail price of $13 per 750ml bottle.
About The Wine Group, Inc.
The Wine Group, Inc. is a San Francisco based privately-held company that produces such well-known brands as Franzia, Cupcake, Concannon, Big House, Almaden, Corbett Canyon, Foxhorn, Fish Eye and flipflop. Founded in 1981 by a management buyout of the wine assets of The Coca Cola Bottling Company of New York, The Wine Group is the world’s third largest wine producer by volume and the world’s most cost and carbon efficient vintner.