News

November 23, 2009 -- Benson has expanded its digital and social media team to manage increasing client work with two new hires in November. Previously with ESPN and more recently, PJ Wine in New York, Brandy Hauman provides webmastering, email and analytical services for clients. Brett Van Emst spent 12 years in advertising and marketing for companies such as Sanford Corporation in Chicago; Foote, Cone and Belding in New York City; and more recently with ad agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners. At BSSP he was Senior Project Manager for clients including Greyhound, Sun Microsystems, Priceline.com, and RadioShack, managing print, digital, social media and broadcast campaigns at the award-winning agency.

July 1, 2009 -- Benson is proud to contribute to the 2009 Wine Blogger Conference Scholarship Fund, allowing a select group of recipients to attend the annual wine blogger gathering July 24-26 in Santa Rosa.

April 1, 2009 -- Jessica Engel and Michelle Fleming have joined Benson Marketing Group as account coordinators in the agency’s offices in New York and Napa Valley.Previously, Engel was an on-premise sales consulting at Eagle Eye Imports in Michigan, working with top restaurants to build creative wine lists as well as organize and promote wine events. Engel is obtaining a Masters degree in International Marketing and Management in the Wine Sector from the University of Paris X Nanterre/OIV (Organization International de la Vigne et du Vin).

Fleming brings more than a decade of wine industry PR and direct marketing experience to the agency, most recently at Jackson Family Estates and Kendall-Jackson Winery.

January 1, 2009 -- Benson Marketing Group has been retained by Interloire and the Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins du Centre, the two associations representing the wine producers, grape growers and negociants of the Loire Valley, to conduct a three-year marketing campaign in the United States. The account team will include staff members from the agency’s offices in New York City and Napa, California.

The campaign has a budget of 2.6 million Euros and includes a broad spectrum of programs and services including public relations, promotions, digital media, advertising, research and more, as well as maintaining a Loire Valley Wine Bureau in New York City.

The Loire Valley is France’s third largest AOC wine producing region. It is located in the geographical heart of France, offering excellent, affordable wines in all styles: red, white, rose, sparkling, dry, off-dry and sweet. The Loire Valley is home to well known appellations such as Sancerre, Vouvray and Muscadet, and is considered to yield the definitive expression of important grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

 February 23, 2009 -- Vine Connections (www.vineconnections.com), which importsthe largest portfolio of boutique, super and ultra-premium Argentine wines in the United States, as well as an impressive selection of premium Japanese ginjo sake, has initiated a national trade and consumer communications program with Benson Marketing Group.

Last summer, Benson Marketing Group completed a survey of its Enews Monitor subscribers to gauge interest in receiving news headlines from the world of spirits. Feedback was overwhelming positive, so the agency launched the new Spirits module of Enews Monitor in September.

The Spirits Enews Module features news headlines covering the global spirits industry, including trend stories, new product announcements, personnel changes, M&A and other relevant news. Click here to subscribe, or unsubscribe at any time.