Winebits 742: Grocery Outlet, lawsuit, non-alcoholic alcohol

This week’s wine news: Good news for Grocery Outlet and its cheap wine, plus another wine lawsuit and more buzz about non-alcoholic alcohol

• Grocery Outlet: High gas prices may be benefiting Grocery Outlet, the Wine Curmudgeon’s favorite supermarket that he hasn’t shopped in. Regular readers know about the chain’s heavily-discounted wine prices; Layla Kasha, senior vice president, chief marketing officer and chief new store growth officer for Grocery Outlet, told Supermarket News that hard times usually bring new customers to her company. The podcast doesn’t specifically mention wine; rather, it focuses on the company’s methods that allow it sell $15 and $20 wine for $8. Which it does a lot.

• Another lawsuit: The WC has long been fascinated by wine-related lawsuits, and this one is a doozy. The president of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, whose brands include Josh Cellars, is being sued by its president, Tom Steffanci. The lawsuit claims that the company is withholding royalty payments from Steffanci. The lawsuit is quite complicated, including details about holding companies, tax consequences and — my favorite — the legal discovery process. It also raises an intriguing question: How can all these people work with each other if there is a lawsuit?

• No alcohol: How about fake booze where the key ingredient is apple cider vinegar? That’s the “secret” behind Jukes Cordialites, which offers red, white and rose versions of non-alcoholic wine. The product is made with a variety of herbs and spices, as well as the vinegar; the idea is that it’s concentrated, and can be diluted with water. The WC, always willing to take one for the team, wants to know: Should I ask for a sample and review it?