Media Room

Charles Communications Signs Golden Star Tea and Brix Chocolates

San Francisco February 2009 - Charles Communications Associates, LLC. announced the addition of two new clients to its diverse portfolio of consumer brands for 2009. Golden Star Tea, and Brix Chocolates have tasked Charles Communications for their public relations efforts for its strategic insight and ability to steer brands to the right media and consumer groups both online and off.

"We are extremely excited to be promoting two such tasty and truly unique products outside our mainstream portfolio of wine & spirits," said Kimberly Charles, founder of Charles Communications Associates, LLC. "Both companies were initiated by imaginative, and forward thinking people and that's a perfect fit for our firm. We appreciate being acknowledged as experts in the field of fine food and beverage."

Please click here for the full press release.

Kimberly Charles of CCA participates in the 2009 Trend Think Tank

On November 18, 2008, Kimberly Charles of Charles Communication took part in the 2009 Trend Think Tank to discuss trends in beverages for 2008 and 2009. Here are her thoughts:

Economic Effects on Consumption of Wine and Spirits
The recession has undoubtedly had an effect on how people choose to spend their money. Today, high price wine and spirits are being indulged by the glass and not by the full bottle at restaurants. Restaurants and retail outlets are also offering less well known wine and spirits from Greece, India, China and other parts of the world that may be easier on the wallet but still pack a punch in terms of quality.

Internet's Impact on Wine Consumption, Knowledge and Accessibility
One cannot ignore how the internet has affected our lives' today. The internet has become a tool for people to not only obtain knowledge about wines and spirits, but also actively participate in the spreading and the shaping of the knowledge as well whether it may be via participation in wine or spirit clubs, chats, forum or etc.

Spirits Are Lifting
There's been a resurgence on the parts of mixologists, bartenders and consumers to bring back the distilling techniques of the past. Consumers are also more adventurous nowadays when it comes to trying new and different kinds of spirits such as Square One Vodka, which is an organic rye vodka.

Overarching Beverage Trends for 2008
Key words when it comes to beverages today are "green" and "small." Beverages with labels such as green, fair-trade, and/or organic are popping up more and more today whether it be on wines, beers, sodas, spirits, juices, teas or coffee. Portions are also getting small, but varied at the same time; restaurants and wine bars are offering smaller but more diverse tasting flutes of various kinds of wines and spirits and pairings.

Popular Spirits of 2008
Five spirits that were popular in 2008 were absinthe, small batch whiskey, tequila, gin and rum. Absinthe, which became legal to import to the United States for the first time in 95 years, have been flying off the shelves! People today are also learning to appreciate fine tequila more, and the same goes for gin, rum and whiskey as well.

Rise in Popularity of Sake
Sake is starting to become more recognized in the United States, and sommeliers are calling it the "next big thing." SakeOne, a sake maker based in Oregon, is introducing sake to the American audience and dispelling the antiquated notion that sake can only be paired with Japanese food. The world of fine dining is also embracing sake as well.

Wine Bars
Wine bars are popping up in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and themes as well. Some wine bars are going as far as to specialize in or focus on one region of the world or one varietal. Pairings of wines with various kinds of foods are also becoming popular as well.

Beverage Trends for 2009

This past November our own Kimberly Charles was invited to speak on the top trends in dining, design and drinks for 2009 at the San Francisco Trends Think Tank. In case you missed this event, we wanted to be sure you had access to this great resource. Overall, the top trends to watch for in beverages next year are all about green (as in eco-friendly AND budget-friendly). Here are some highlights:

Going Green "Organic, Biodynamic, Fair Trade and Sustainable offerings are continuing their upswing. It’s becoming more of a standard than a specialty..."

Alternative Packaging "Tasty affordable wines are showing up in trendy, modern designed boxes, tetra paks, aluminum bottles and light weight glass..."

Raise the Wine Bar "It has been said that 'Wine Bars are the Coffee Bars of the 2000s.' Wine Bar concepts are exploding around the country..."

Corpse Revival "Obscure, once forgotten spirits are coming back due to high cocktailians mixing it up across the country. Spirits and liqueurs such as..."

Here Come the Millennials "This of the most influential groups to affect the world of beverages... Many are price resistant, well-traveled, internet savvy..."

So get a glass of your favorite beverage, and sit back for a look see into the crystal glass of 2009. Visit All The Swirl to read the full presentation, engage in conversation and watch some live video. You can also download the trends here.

Look at all the people that want to be “in” on the trends!

Metromix Phoenix:
2009: The future of drinking and dining

Arizona Central:
Hospitality professionals lean toward simple

Charles Communications in the News

Here is what's going with Charles Communications lately. Read on or click on the links below to find out more about our line of work!

7X7 Holiday Issue
Photo of Kimberly Charles and Andrew Freeman

Vinography
Tasting Notes for Indian Wine: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

ThisNext
Interview with Kimberly

Industry Education
Empowering Full Circle

We Have Good Taste
Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition Names 10 Best

Pick of the PR Bunch
New PR Purveyors Offer Options