4,000 Brits back NZ winemaker’s first vintage

A New Zealand winemaker has fulfilled a lifetime ambition of creating his own wine label following a crowdfunding campaign involving 4,000 UK wine drinkers.

Dominic Maxwell will launch his own brand after 12 years making wine in New Zealand (Photo: Greystone Wines)

Dominic Maxwell, who has previously made wines for Greystone and Muddy Water in New Zealand, as well as winning New Zealand’s Winemaker of the Year award in 2011, appealed to Majestic-owned online retailer Naked Wines to support him in his ambition to create his first solo vintage through crowd-funding.

The winemaker plans to produce 4,000 cases of wine for backers who invest in his wines now. In return, customers will receive a 48% discount off his Waipara own-named wine, which will be delivered before Christmas, a statement from Naked Wines said.

The crowd-funding campaign is set to commence on 28 April 2016.

As well as being an online wine retailer, Naked Wines acts as a crowd-funding platform offering wine drinkers the opportunity to buy exclusive wines at preferential prices, in exchange for supporting independent winemakers. 

Naked Wines has supported independent winemakers from all across the globe since its launch in 2008 through customer funding initiatives. However the Maxwell crowd-funding campaign is unique, the company said, in that it offers customers the option of receiving all of their money back if they do not like the wine or if they change their mind.

“I have always wanted to create my own wines and the past 12 years has given me the training and experience to create a quality wine under my own name,” Maxwell said.

“I am delighted Naked have agreed to support me in this adventure. I can’t wait to get started making this vintage and I hope all those that fund me will love these wines!”

“Dominic Maxwell is a truly talented winemaker,” Eamon Fitzgerald, MD of Naked Wines UK, added.

“He has made some incredible wines for some amazing brands and we are absolutely delighted to be part of the next step of his journey while also giving Naked Wines customers the chance to experience some amazing wines for brilliant prices.

“At Naked we believe talented winemakers should have the freedom and time to make wines that inspire.

“By giving our passionate wine drinkers this amazing chance to fund a winemaker is a win-win situation: customers get a full experience of helping a talented young Kiwi achieve his life ambition in return for some amazing wines for brilliant prices, and even a money-back guarantee if they don’t like them.”

Set up in 2008, Naked Wines was bought by Majestic plc for £70 million in April of last year. Its customers, or ‘angels’ contribute in £20 each month which is then invested in a wine producer in return for exclusive deals on their wines and wholesale prices.

The company now counts more than 300,000 ‘mature’ angels – people who have been customers for more than four months – within its ranks. They support more than 100 independent winemakers in 14 countries.

Naked Wines’ sales for the year ended 31 March 2015 were £81m, the company said.