Exton English fizz wins distribution in Italy and US

Exton Park Vineyard in Hampshire’s South Downs has become the latest English wine to jump on the export bandwagon, securing distribution deals with importers in the US and Italy.

A shipment of Exton Park will make its way to Modena, following a successful trade mission to Italy which resulted in a listing with family-owned importer Premiere Italia, following feedback from customers to its annual trade tasting.

The reaction by Italian trade customers to its English sparkling wines was “phenomenal”, according to Kit Ellen, Exton Park’s sales and marketing manager.

“We were mobbed at the tasting because everyone wanted to try this new, emerging wine sector that is on everybody’s lips,” he said.

“The following day, I went out with the sales force and gained our first listing – O.W. Renato in Merano, Trentino Alto-Adige. What’s more, the restaurant will be serving Exton Park wine as the aperitif at the major O.W. spring/ summer event with fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo, and later on at the Mini Merano Wine Festival in Munich and Vienna. That’s really crossing the frontiers. Selling English sparkling wine to Italy – what a turn up for the books”.

In the states, specialist distributor Primrose Fine Wines will be selling Exton Park’s Brut Reserve, Blanc de Noirs and Rose NV, together with its Blanc de Blancs 2011, targeting high-end restaurants and boutique retailers in New York State.

“This is exactly where we want to begin in the US,” added Ellen. “It is always important to establish and hold the premium ground, particularly for a single estate like ours, where production is limited due to our policy of low yields and top quality.

“Obviously this is the start of our relationship with the States. We also have a longer term goal to target the West Coast , where the demand for this fashionable sparkling wine grows daily.”