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Author Archives: Pia Mara Finkell

With over a decade of experience in communications, Pia has a strong background in wine, beer and food public relations, marketing and promotional strategy. A vice president in CRT/tanaka’s Food & Beverage Practice, Pia oversees public relations, traditional and social media programs, strategic partnerships and program development for various beverage alcohol and food accounts, including the Wines of Rioja, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf and the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers.

Her agency work has helped win various industry awards, including two Bronze Anvils, Silver Anvil, Bulldog Digital/Social (Gold and Silver), PR News Platinum, two PR News Digitals, Clarion, Big Apple, Commonwealth and a Telly. In recognition of her passion and client work, Pia also won the CRT/tanaka annual Whatcanbe Client Award in 2011.

In 2010, Pia created the weekly BuzzBin column called ‘The Booze Bin,’ offering up interesting musings on the beverage alcohol industry and all things booze. Depending on the season, what she’s cooking, and whether or not the Yankees are winning, Pia can be found toasting a glass or pint of something awesome.

The New British Invasion – An Interview with Beavertown Brewery’s Logan Plant

There has always been a “special relationship” between the US and the UK – in everything from politics to music, and most recently, to beer. Good beer. Musically-speaking, the influence moved to the west in several waves. From the first British Invasion (think The Beatles and The Rolling Stones), to the second (on to The [...]

Fresh off the Tap – Three Craft Beer Trends to Watch

Hot off the tails of the Brewers Association Craft Brewers’ Conference, check out these top trends in craft beer, and always remember, it’s five o’clock somewhere.

In Defense of Craft Beer: Feeling the Buzz of a Burgeoning Industry

It’s been one week since the Brewers Association’s annual Craft Brewer’s Conference (CBC) and I am just recovering. I’m sure there is a study on the benefits of craft beer consumption in moderation, but alas, that was not my approach. It is the craft brewing industry’s biggest show, and cooler than any other beverage alcohol [...]

Putting Lipstick on a Pig (Beer)?

I am a cross-drinker – an equal opportunist when it comes to alcoholic beverages. I love wine. I love bourbon. Oh man, I freaking LOVE craft beer. What I’m drinking depends on my mood, the season, who I’m with, how bad my day was, what I’m eating, whether the Yankees won, or perhaps most importantly, [...]

Diluting Your Brand. Literally.

THE BOOZE BIN By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara) I’m a bourbon girl. I’ve never been a huge fan of vodka, gin makes me sort of angry and rum leaves a drumbeat in my skull the morning after. I like a range of bourbons, but Maker’s Mark has always been my go-to with its honeyed flavors [...]

3 Ideas to Drive Online Community Engagement

THE BOOZE BIN By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara) I’ve had engagement on the brain lately. Social media campaign goals might have once focused on growing online communities, but now our focus is mostly on engaging this community. Who cares how many people like you on Facebook if you’re just shouting from the rooftops into the [...]

Massive Shift in Wine Industry’s Most Powerful Voice

THE BOOZE BIN By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara) The blogosphere has been abuzz with chatter and predictions since the most powerful voice (and palate) in the wine industry, Robert Parker, announced this week that he intends to step down as editor-in-chief of The Wine Advocate (TWA) – the powerful wine publication he founded over 34 [...]

‘Mama Needs a Glass of Wine’ and Other Reasons to Market Wine to Women

THE BOOZE BIN By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara) Before becoming one myself, any term modified by “mommy” made me wince. Mommy blogs, mommy marketing, mom(my) jeans. Barf. Now that I have an adorable, bubbly, giggling, non-sleeping baby at home, I’m warily starting to take notice. I find myself secretly reading some of these mommy blogs, [...]

3 Wine Social Media Tools Worth Sipping

THE BOOZE BIN By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara)                   This is my last Booze Bin post before Baby Finkell joins the party, so I thought I’d leave you with some of my favorite wine social media tools and platforms for 2012. Don’t worry though, my much smarter [...]

5 Wine Blogs for 2012

THE BOOZE BIN By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara) With the New Year well rung in and my resolutions still irresolute at best, I thought I’d focus on ways to improve my mind this year. Full disclosure: I am 7½ months pregnant and quickly entering the waddling phase, so delusions of improving my body have flown [...]