Wine Industry Report

Don Sebastiani & Sons International Wine Negociants recently announced the expansion of their new sales division, The Other Guys, with the addition of two new wines –
Plungerhead and Hey Mambo.

“These are the first of several new wines we’re planning to add to The Other Guys portfolio this year,” said August Sebastiani, managing director of the division. “Our flagship wine, le bon vin de la Napa Valley, has been very well received since its introduction just last September and we are very excited about the prospects for this emerging division of our company.”

Plungerhead is a 2004 Zinfandel from the Dry Creek appellation. It’s a classic, spicy, old-vine Zinfandel, tempered with a little Petite Sirah, Sebastiani said. The bottle sports a closure called ZORK from Australia. The polymer T-top was nicknamed the ‘plunger-head’ closure at the winery – that eventually inspired the brand name.

“These wines reflect our generational philosophy to focus on appellation wines,” Sebastiani said. “When my great-grandfather, Samuele, first started in the wine industry more than 100 years ago, he made bulk wines and concentrate. My grandfather, August, focused on wholesale bulk wines and generic retail jug wines, and my father emphasized varietal wines. As fourth-generation Sebastianis, my brother and I want to direct our attention to making appellation-specific wines. Plungerhead is a perfect example. We
consider Dry Creek Valley to be the finest appellation in the New World for Zinfandel. This is a wine for true Zin devotees – the kind that wear their ZAP membership on their sleeves. As my brother said, it’s a wine with character, made for characters.”

Hey Mambo (Vintage 2004) is described by Sebastiani as a sultry, Cal-Ital wine made in the style of a 21 st Century Super Tuscan. “It’s robust and spicy, yet sensual, just like the mambo dance, so we decided to call it Hey Mambo,” he explained. “When we developed the label, we envisioned late-night trattorias in New York’s Little Italy and cafés in San Francisco’s North Beach – red and white checkered tablecloths and the whole scene. The wine pairs beautifully with black truffle risotto or veal saltimbocca,” he said. Hey Mambo also features a ZORK closure.

Plungerhead is currently available in the California market and Hey Mambo will be released this spring. Both wines have a suggested retail price of $14 and will be distributed nationwide.