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Vanquish Wine moves into Mayfair
This year’s db drinks company of the year, Vanquish Wine, invited press to its new premises in the heart of London’s Mayfair for the first time this week.
The site on Dover Street has double the floor space of the operation’s former Soho office and includes a modern room for masterclasses and events.
The company appears to be building on the successful launch of its brand management division last year.
The initiative, headed by Jenny Gardener, has seen Greenall’s gin join St Nicolas Abbey rum and Pandor absinthe at the luxury drinks specialist.
In particular, the company is helping with the development of the gin company’s new Bloom label, targeted at women, and more masculine Berekley Square brand extension.
Meanwhile, new to the Vanquish London on-trade distribution arm are Jenssen Cognac, a Swedish-owned brand with XO quality level brandy upwards; Lucid Absinthe from the US; Dictador solera rum from Columbia, and Angel Champagne, which is backed by American pop singer and songwriter Mariah Carey and has an RRP that starts at £640 for the Brut NV.
The latter label, with a “platinum finish”, is remarkably similar in appearance to the Armand de Brignac brand from Cattier Champagne, which Vanquish championed in the UK market from its launch.
Interestingly, Richard Brierley, head of the Vanquish fine wine division, spoke positively of the prestige cuvée Champagne market in top end London nightclubs during the first half of 2009.
He recalled that Cristal Rosé was in high demand, as was the aforementioned Armand de Brignac.
Bearing in mind the Cattier prestige cuvée’s ostentatious packaging, with its gold, silver and shiny pink bottle (depending on style), it would appear – at least among the wealthy club-going consumers – that conspicuous consumption is back.
However, Brierley did ponder over a glass of Château d’Esclans, another brand that’s new to the distribution business, “Would the Champagne [Armand de Brignac] sell as well if the product was not as good?”
Patrick Schmitt, 22.07.2010