[BND] Kane's Beverage News Daily

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday, It's September 22, 2026.

Prepared Cocktails Return to Growth; Value Channels Sole Driver of $ Growth

Prepared Cocktails Beer, Wine, and Spirits (BWS) returned to dollar growth for the week ended Sept. 12 after more than a month of declines, NIQ reports with sales increasing +2.0%, while case volume slipped -1.9%. The rebound reflects continued

Berentzen Execs Urge Vote for Takeover by Sazerac

Sazerac Co. has launched a takeover bid for Berentzen-Gruppe, a German distiller, and Barentzen's CEO says the bid for all of Berentzen's shares at Euro 5.55 (about $6.37) each is "an outstanding opportunity," "very attractive" and recommended shareholders accept it. "The proposed price of €5.55 per share is on a level not seen for over two years. The business combination will present the Berentzen Group with an excellent opportunity to consistently pursue its growth strategy and tap into

Ita Wines Owner Acquires Devona

Kelsey Itameri, founder, owner and winemaker at Ita Wines, acquired Devona. Terms weren't disclosed. Devona is the third winery that John and Molly Abbott have founded. The other two are Abeja and Canoe Ridge Vineyard, both in Washington State. The John Abbott will stay on at Devona as winemaker; over time he will transition to a founding/consulting role. Enrique Itameri will lead direction of the Ita wines. Devona and Ita wines will both be made in the same winery in the future.

Gravitas Acquires Rising Star Wine Group

Gravitas Wine Marketing & Sales, a California fine-wine sales, marketing and distribution company, said it acquired Rising Star Wine Group, a California wholesale wine broker and distributor serving the state’s wine trade since 2003. The acquisition expands Gravitas’ statewide reach, adds veteran sales representatives and brings the company’s sales organization to nearly 30 representatives throughout California. It also adds nine established California wineries and a French import portfolio

B.R. Distilling Ups Allocation of Blue Note Bourbon & Honey Rye Cask Whiskey

Blue Note Bourbon, significantly increased the allocation for its wildly popular Honey Bourbon and Honey Rye Cask Whiskey, which sold out quickly the past two years. “Our third annual Honey Bourbon and Honey Rye Cask Whiskeys, which are crafted in Memphis, are a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into every bottle we produce,” said Chris Crosbie, CEO, B.R. Distilling Co. “Every sip strikes the perfect note between spice and sweetness—finished with soul.” The Honey Bourbon

The Woman Who Changed How Vintners View Yield and Quality

For years, many Oregon Pinot noir producers believed that making high-quality wine required cutting fruit from the vine and keeping yields low. The practice reflected concern about balance, ripeness and Oregon’s reputation for premium wine. But Oregon State University Extension Service viticulture specialist Patty Skinkis kept seeing vineyard crews cut off fruit in late July and early August, even when vines were not carrying unusually heavy crop loads. Skinkis brought together growers, vineyard

It's Not That Simple: Now, Soda, Lemonade, Sports Drinks Linked to Colon Cancer

Here's a new cause for alarm: Those moms who for at least the last 40 years have given their kids fruit juice have been setting their kids up for colon cancer in later life. We don't necessarily believe it's so, but there have been a couple of news reports out there focusing on the role of sugar-sweetened beverages. The latest appeared in West Newsmagazine. "Drinking one or more sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, lemonade and sports drinks every day could more than double your risk of stomac

Deloitte Sees Holiday Retail Sales Rising 4% to 4.8% to Hit $316.1 Billion or More

Holiday retail sales are projected to total between $1.70 trillion and $1.71 trillion during the November 2026 through January 2027 period, representing an increase of 4% to 4.8% from the same period in 2025, according to Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast. In 2025, holiday sales increased by 4.1% in the same period. E-commerce is forecast to grow 7.5% and 8.4% year-over-year during the 2026 to 2027 holiday season. Contributing to overall retail sales growth, Deloitte forecasts e-commerce

'Toasts Not Tariffs' Coalition Urges Trump to Resolve Bev/Al Trade Dispute with Canada

The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, representing 59 national and state organizations across the U.S. beverage alcohol supply chain, sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump expressing appreciation for his efforts to address Canada's restrictions on U.S. wine and spirits products while urging his continued leadership to secure a permanent resolution that restores market access for American producers and protects U.S. hospitality businesses. In the letter, the coalition emphasized the significant

What I'm Reading --

• The IRS Is Cracking Down on a Favorite Way the Ultrawealthy Pass On Money One family fights $736 million gift tax bill on its GRATs while popular trusts proliferate. (Wall Street Journal)
• How to grab double-digit sales growth in the wine and alcohol space Traditional wine sales remain under pressure, but pockets of double-digit growth are emerging across RTDs, alternative formats and occasion-led drinking. Kathleen Willcox examines the data to find out where drinks brands can still win.
• And more . . .

Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. – Joel