Opopop, 10 Barrel Brewing Collaborate on Summer Snack Bundle
Denver-based Opopop, creator of Flavor Wrapped Popcorn Kernels, and Bend, Ore.-based 10 Barrel Brewing have produced Poppin’ on Cloud Wine, an exclusive brand collaboration that offers customers a delicious and thirst-quenching limited edition summer snack bundle.
The Pop & Bubbles Bundle will be sold exclusively at 10Barrel.com and can only ship to Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho (21+ signature required). The summer snack bundle includes one 320g bag of Opopop’s limited edition Pickle Monster, an eco-friendly Opopop silicone popcorn popper, and two cans of 10 Barrel’s new Sparkling Rosé. MSRP $35.
“The moment we paired 10 Barrel’s newly released Sparkling Rose with Opopop’s Pickle Monster, we knew we had created something special for our customers. These two flavors go so well together. Like any good Summer hit, they just taste like Summer 2022,” said Sarah McDowell, Opopop president.
Opopop’s Pickle Monster delivers a bold taste and is the perfect blend of tartness, salt and dill. This pairs perfectly with 10 Barrel’s Sparkling Rosé (13.5% ABV) which includes a blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and merlot grapes with a nice dry finish.
“Our new sparkling wines helped us kick off everyone’s favorite season, and then we took it one step further by adding a light and zesty popcorn to pair,” said Emily Koziel, merchandising & sourcing manager at 10 Barrel Brewing. “We couldn’t be more excited than to team up with Opopop, to help us elevate our summer slogan, Seriously Casual.”
For more information, follow @opopopco @10barrelbrewing on all social platforms.
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Amber Beverage Group Taps Ruslan Romanenko as CFO
Amber Beverage Group has appointed Ruslan Romanenko as group chief financial officer. Romanenko is a senior financial executive with over 25 years of experience in the industry and becomes part of the ABG executive board.
Before joining ABG, Romanenko worked as chief financial officer at Nemiroff, one of the leading vodka producers in Ukraine. Prior to this, he held similar executive roles at companies that included TerraFood, Bunge, and Philip Morris Ukraine. As well as being an experienced financial manager, Romanenko is able to develop and lead large multicultural finance and accounting teams.
“I am thrilled to have been appointed to this key role by Amber Beverage Group,” Romanenko said. “This global company, which has operations in several countries, will bring interesting and exciting new challenges where I can use my experience to help drive further growth. I am already enjoying my new environment as this role entailed a move from Kyiv to Riga. I am especially proud to join a company that has been offering so much practical and financial support to the people of Ukraine.”
Amber Beverage Group is a rapidly growing global spirits company, whose products are found in millions of households and venues across the globe. ABG’s core brands are Moskovskaya Vodka, Rooster Rojo Tequila, KAH Tequila, The Irishman Whiskey, Writers’ Tears Whiskey, Riga Black Balsam, Cross Keys Gin and Cosmopolitan Diva.
ABG produces, bottles, markets, distributes, exports, and retails a comprehensive range of beverages of which it owns more than 100 and is responsible for marketing and distributing 1,300 third-party drinks brands, spanning everything from premium vodka and sparkling wines to specialty Mexican tequilas and Irish whiskey.
The company has grown from its original core production business in the pan-Baltic region established in 1900, to a global spirits industry player that unites around 2,050 employees in almost 20 companies including Austria, Australia, the Baltic States, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
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Washington Wine Industry Launches Sustainable Certification
“From pest and disease management to sustainable water management, prioritizing worker health and safety and tracking various inputs, this program is environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable,” said Sustainable WA Program Manager Katlyn Slone.
Red cheat grass blooming between vineyard rows, Ambassador vineyard, Red Mountain AVA, Washington
Sustainable WA is the first certified sustainability program built specifically for Washington vineyards. To achieve certification, growers must commit to sustainable viticultural practices and pass a third-party audit to ensure operations meet established standards. After initial certification, Sustainable WA vineyards require an audit every three years during which continual improvement must be shown.
“Sustainable WA is built on the tenet that sustainability is a journey and is dedicated to ongoing evaluation and continual improvement,” Slone said. “It takes a rigorous and balanced look at all pillars of sustainability without leaning too heavily on one. Balance is the priority.”
The program offers certification for vineyards with plans to add certification for wineries in the future. Wineries may utilize the Sustainable WA logo on wine labels to signify the wine is made with certified grapes.
“Data shows the demand for sustainable products to be high,” said Steve Warner, president of the Washington State Wine Commission. “This program is imperative for the future of Washington wine not only to ensure healthy, productive vineyards and wineries for generations to come, but also to remain relevant in the global marketplace.”
Sustainable WA is two decades in the making. The Washington wine industry created an educational sustainability program called Vinewise\Winerywise over 20 years ago, to be intentionally scalable for certification. In 2019, an industry committee made up of 40+ Washington growers, vintners, and marketing professionals built upon the existing program to create Sustainable WA alongside leading sustainability consultant SureHarvest. This year, a small group of volunteer growers participated in a Beta test to provide feedback before full launch.
“Sustainability is part of our culture and our nature. It’s remarkable witnessing the past 20 years from educational tools to a statewide program,” said Vicky Scharlau, executive director of Washington Winegrowers. “Sustainable WA was built entirely for this industry and by this industry. We are excited for the full launch this summer.”
Sustainable WA is a collaboration between the Washington Winegrowers, the Washington State Wine Commission, the Washington Wine Industry Foundation and the Washington Wine Institute.
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