Les Dauphins goes global

Southern Rhône brand Les Dauphins has extended its scope beyond the UK following an international launch at Vinexpo last week.

The brand is the creation of co-operative Les Cellier des Dauphins, the Rhône’s largest producer, which operates 13 wineries and works across 18,000 hectares to account for 30% of the region’s total AOC production.

Originally launched in the UK in 2011, Les Dauphins is currently listed in Asda, Tesco and Waitrose. In 2012 it expanded into Germany, but used Vinexpo as a platform to reach a wider audience.

As part of this ambition, the brand has added a white and a rosé to its range, which will sit alongside its existing “reserve” entry point and Côtes du Rhône Villages. For the UK it also produces a special edition Châteauneuf du Pape, which is made exclusively for Tesco.

Each of the wines in the range is a traditional southern Rhône blend based on Grenache – Grenache Blanc in the case of the white.

Describing Les Dauphins as “the most exciting wine brand France has produced in more than a decade,” area export director Nicole Talec explained: “It captures the joie de vivre of the vibrant ‘Roaring 1920s’ in Paris, a time when the wines of the Dauphiné region became very popular due to their fruit-forward and easy drinking style.

“With a unique concept, premium quality wine and eye-catching packaging, Les Dauphins offers significant international opportunities.”