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Waitrose to lists cricketer Sir Ian Botham’s new wine
UK supermarket Waitrose is to list cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham’s new wine range, which comprises two easy-drinking and two more premium wines from Australia.
The two collections – the easy-drinking All-Rounder collection and more premium The Botham Series – will be available exclusively from the UK retailer from 1 February (RRP: £7.99 – 10.99).
The All-Rounder comprises a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 made from parcels across South East Australia, including 30% fruit from Coonawarra, and a Chardonnay 2017 from vineyards in South East and Western Australia, including 30% grapes from Margaret River.
The Botham Series represent “pivotal moments” in Botham’s cricketing career and are sourced from smaller parcels and exclusive vineyards. It comprises two wines the Botham Series 76 Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2017, celebrating Botham’s debut for England, and the The Botham 80 Series Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, which is named after his world record-breaking century and 10 wickets in 1980.
As well as the new Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon listed in Waitrose, Botham has already released a top-tier range entitled Sir Ian Botham, which is available in independent wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd (RRP: 42.50) and comprises a 2017 Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, a 2013 Old Vine Shiraz from Barossa Valley and a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra.
Botham partnered with former Accolade Wines CEO Paul Schaafsma, who founded Benchmark Drinks last year, on the project to launch the wine range, having been a brand ambassador for Accolade-owned Hardy’s as part of the Aussie wine brands’ sponsorship of the English cricket team in 2014-2017.
Speaking exclusively to db at the launch of his collection in London last August, the cricketing legend said he “hated” the term celebrity wine, pointing out had worked with experience winemakers to craft the wine himself according to what he likes to drink.
Last year he and Schaafsma told db he has ambitious plans to extend the wine range with a Provencal rosé, and three Spanish reds from Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Priorat and revealed that he was working on launching an English sparkling wine, priced at £45 a bottle.