MARKETING NEW PRODUCTS: Neutral Ground

Coinciding with db’s green issue, carbon neutral winery Grove Mill releases its 2006 Sauvignon Blanc in the UK

Product name: Grove Mill
Contact details: Paragon Vintners, +44 (0)20 7887 1800
As of its 2006 vintage, Grove Mill is now accredited as a carbon neutral winery, claiming to be the first of its kind. The first wine in the UK will be its 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (rrp £8.99), with a carbon zero neck tag to advertise its achievement. The New Zealand producer achieved this accreditation from the Landcare Research programme by reducing emissions and then offsetting its remaining emissions (about 312 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year) via a local 640-hectare wildlife sanctuary. Grove Mill’s CEO, Rob White, explained that the accreditation “focuses us on energy efficiency and also eliminates the polluting effects of ‘food miles’.” Grove Mill also produces a Pinot Noir and a Riesling (£14.99 and £9.99 respectively).

Product name: Schweppes Designer Barware
Contact details: Coca Cola Enterprises, +44 (0)8457 227 111
British designer Michael Young and Schweppes have collaborated to produce new limited edition premium barware. Consisting of curved glasses, ice bucket, tongs, ice trays and swizzle sticks / muddlers, only 250 sets were produced, exclusively on sale through Selfridges. The intention is to inspire “ordinary people to learn how to make and enjoy better drinks at home”. Consultant mixologists Ben Reed and Tony Congiliaro provided industry expertise for the project. A number of insights have inspired the design of this functional barware. For example, thicker glass bases ensure that a drink stays cooler for longer, and a drainage tray delays melting of ice in the ice bucket.

Product name: Harviestoun
Contact details: Chris Miller, Harviestoun, +44 (0)7968 697 019
Harviestoun’s entire range of beers has been repackaged, in both the on- and off-trade. This distinctive range of beers – including Bitter & Twisted, Old Engine Oil and Schiehallion – will now also include a simple taste description on the label or pump clip. The imagery for Bitter & Twisted also now features Harvie, the fieldmouse that lived in the shed where the brewery was originally located. The bottle labels will also feature a note about the history of the brewery and the inspiration behind the beers’ names. The bottled range has an rrp between £1.59 and £1.79.

Product name: Palandri Cheer Pack
Contact details: Palandri Wines (Europe), +44 (0)20 8878 1459
Palandri is responsible for the latest development in wine packaging, the Cheer Pack. The fully recyclable container is made from plastic and aluminium foil, and can be made in any size between 187ml and 1 litre. The Cheer Pack is the result of 18 months of research – it will first be exported to Canada, but there are plans to make use of this packaging elsewhere. In addition to being recyclable, the Cheer Pack is resealable. It can also be flattened to reduce landfill space, an issue of particular concern to the Canadian government.

Product name: The Goatfather
Contact details: Liberty Wines, +44 (0)207 819 0333
The latest addition to the Goats Do Roam range, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot with Italian varietals Barbera and Primitivo, is appropriately dubbed The Goatfather. The new wine is available in the UK in restaurants and in specialist wine outlets. The Goatfather 2005 has an rrp of £7.99. The estate on which The Goats Do Roam range is produced, Fairview Estate in Paarl in South Africa, also produces 60% of South Africa’s gourmet cheese, as the largest breeder of dairy goats in Africa. Other wines in the range include Goat Roti, Goats Do Roam In Villages, Bored Doe and Goat Door.

Product name: VALT
Contact details: Ricky Christie +44 (0)141 204 5665
VALT is the first single malt Scottish vodka, using what its producers claim is a unique batch distillation process. The super-premium vodka is made using Scottish malt barley, the same used for whisky distillation. VALT is scheduled for a worldwide launch early this year, aimed at both the on- and off-trade (rrp £30), and targeting 21-40 year olds. The vodka has been produced by two Scottish businessmen who met as school boys in Glasgow. Part of the distillation process, which involves copper pot stills, is kept secret. Sales director and co-founder Ricky Christie believes that this is: “the most sophisticated distillation process the drinks industry will have seen. We like to think of it as the equivalent of keyhole surgery for the drinks industry.”

Product name: Austins and Six Foot Six
Contact details: John Armit Wines, +44 (0)20 7908 0600
Australian producer Austin’s will soon be launching new packaging for its eponymous range. Known as a Pinot Noir specialist, the 2005 vintage is the first wine in new livery (£12.95), with a Chardonnay, Riesling and Shiraz following in the next few months. An official launch for this range is scheduled for April this year. Another range produced by the Victoria-based winery is Six Foot Six, consisting of a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a Shiraz Viognier (rrp £9.95).

Product name: Monin Blood Orange
Contact details: Bennett Opie, +44 (0)1795 476 154
The latest flavour in Monin’s range of premium syrups is Blood Orange, a deep red syrup designed to add not only flavour, but bright colour to cocktails. The company intends it as an alternative to orange flavoured syrups, and can be used in a variety of cocktails. Monin, which has been producing cocktail syrups since 1912, now boasts a range of over 90. The range is distributed in the UK by Bennett Opie, which also manufactures a range of delicacies and organic products.

© db January2007