Top drinks supplier changes and partnerships: February

Sarah Jessica Parker x Invivo

American actress Sarah Jessica Parker, famous for playing Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, has announced that she is launching a wine range in collaboration with New Zealand winery Invivo.

Due to launch this summer, SJP worked alongside Invivo’s founders, Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron, to develop the range, which includes a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a rosé.

“I’m a true wine lover and love including wine in family dinners and occasions with friends, so this is a very exciting and fun project for me. I’m looking forward to every stage of the creation
process,” Parker said. “I intend to be very hands-on throughout, as I am with all my endeavours, and could not be partnering with a better brand than Invivo.

“I’m looking forward to traveling to New Zealand to see where the grapes grow and the wine is made. The boys even brought me a pair of gumboots, which, they assure me, are the height of Kiwi vineyard fashion,” she added.

Highland Park x David Coulthard

Last month, Former Formula 1 racing driver David Coulthard partnered with Highland Park single malt Scotch to create two special edition whiskies, including a hand-signed, bespoke single cask expression, in support of Scottish charities.

The single cask bottling, Highland Park Saltire Edition 1, and special edition Saltire Edition 2, are both 13 year old whisky’s inspired by Coulthard’s 13 Grand Prix victories.

A percentage of the proceeds from the sales of both whiskies will go towards supporting charities in Dumfries, giving back to the region that helped David during the early years of his career.

David’s Formula 1 career also inspired the design of the packaging with the saltire logo from his helmet, based upon the national flag of Scotland, featured on the label alongside his signature.

Coulthard personally selected the whiskies during a trip to Orkney.

Playboy x Lot18 

In an unusual partnership last month, Playboy launched a branded red wine in partnership with US retailer Lot18 to mark its 65th year – a milestone that was reached in 2018.

While the source of the wine was not named, the ‘Playboy California Red Wine’ is a Californian red blend described as “robust and intriguing” with “ripe, luscious flavours of cherry and dark fruits are laced with vanilla and spice” on the palate with “well-integrated toasted oak nuances on the finish”.

Released ahead of Valentine’s Day, the 13.9% wine features a label depicting the iconic Playboy Bunny Costume, designed by Playboy illustrator and designer, Katie Bailie.

The limited edition wine is available exclusively through LOT18.com at US$25 a bottle.

Berkmann Wine Cellars x Château Minuty

Last month, UK importer and distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars added Provence estate Château Minuty to its rosé portfolio to satisfy “rapidly growing consumer demand” for premium rosé.

Since it was acquired by Gabriel Farnet in 1936, the Matton-Farnet family have revamped the estate, earning Côtes de Provence ‘Cru Classé’ status in 1955. Now in control of third generation owners Jean-Etienne and François Matton, the producer grows varieties such as Tibouren, Rolle and Grenache and harvests exclusively by hand.

Berkmann Wine Cellars’ purchasing director Alex Hunt MW commented: “Anywhere that’s anywhere in Provence these days features Château Minuty’s exquisite rosés. Berkmann Wine Cellars is the champion distributor of Provence rosé and this is a great new string to our bow.”

Château Minuty’s Co-Owner François Matton added: “We at Château Minuty are immensely proud to be entering into this new partnership with Berkmann Wine Cellars. Being a family-owned and run company like ourselves, we share very similar values.

“Like us, Berkmann Wine Cellars are a leader in their field. They have proven their ability to build brands in the UK drinks industry, particularly in the on-trade, which is the natural positioning for Château Minuty wines.”

Wright Brothers x Brew By Numbers 

London-based seafood restaurant chain Wright Brothers announced that it has teamed up with Bermondsey’s Brew By Numbers to release a stout made with Lindisfarne oysters.

The businesses, which collaborated last year, are once again partnering on a beer that will be served in all Wright Brothers restaurants and at Brew By Numbers’ tasting rooms in Bermondsey and Peckham.

The 5.4% ABV oyster stout, which is brewed with the shells, liquor and flesh from oysters sourced from Lindisfarne off the coast of Northumberland, one of the oldest oyster farms in the UK.

The beer will be launching in March. To welcome its arrival, Wright Brothers will be taking its oyster cart to the Brew By Numbers tasting room in Bermondsey from 5pm to 9pm on Friday 1 March and from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 2 March. The beer will be available alongside freshly shucked Prestige and Lindisfarne oysters for £2 each or three oysters for £5.

Wright Brothers has branches in Borough Market, Soho, Spitalfields, South Kensington and Battersea Power Station. The stout has an RRP of £5.50 per 440ml can.

Roberson Wine x Simpsons Estate

UK fine wine merchant Roberson has partnered with Kent-based winery Simpsons as it launches four new still wines following an “incredible” harvest last year.

The four wines are all named after interesting local roads that surround the vineyards and winery in Barham, including Gravel Castle Chardonnay, Derringstone Pinot Meunier, Railway Hill Rosé made with Pinot Noir, and Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir.

The wines, which will be distributed through Roberson, will be joined by a Roman Road Chardonnay later in the year, which will be aged for 12 months before release.

Ruth Simpson, co-owner of Simpsons Wine Estate said that 2018 was “an incredible year for us at Simpsons Wine Estate and we’re thrilled to be working with the team at Roberson Wine to launch our new premium still wines.

“We are both quality-driven, family businesses that are passionate about English wine, so we share many commonalities. Roberson Wine has a fantastic list of prestige customers in the wine world and we look forward to introducing our exciting new wines to their exclusive client base.”

“Simpsons’ Wine Estate is just the partner we’ve been looking for,” Talya Roberson, MD of the eponymous retailer, said.

“Their still Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are produced from Burgundian clones grown in chalky soils and sit perfectly alongside our award-winning portfolio of great wines from France and California. We are looking forward to introducing them to the trade this spring.”

Inverarity Morton x Sea Change

Last month Scottish importer Inverarity Morton took on the UK distribution of ‘Sea Change’, a new ecologically-minded wine brand aimed at ocean conservation that has been commended by Sir David Attenborough.

Developed by 10International, the range actively supports ocean conservation with 25 euro cents from the sale of each bottle being donated to Plastic Oceans UK and Sea-Changers, two charities geared towards raising awareness of the problem of plastics in the ocean and supporting beach clean-ups and conservation efforts.

Furthermore, no plastic was used in the finished product, the bottles are lightweight to minimise emissions, the cork (Nomacorc Select Green) is made from plant based polymers and fully recyclable, no capsule covers are used to cut down on waste further still and the lables are made from a mixture of grape waste (15%) and material from FSC-certified forests.

The range was voted ‘Best Green Launch’ by the drinks business at its recent Green Awards.

The wine range itself so far comprises a red and white wine, a Chardonnay and a Negroamaro.

Bancroft Wines x Glaetzer and Château de Berne

UK distributor Bancroft Wines added Barossa Valley winery Glaetzer to its growing Australian portfolio, and will become its exclusive agent in the UK from mid March.

Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley.

As we expand our Australian portfolio, we are carefully seeking out producers who are the absolute benchmarks of their appellations,” said Bancroft Wines CEO Jon Worsley. “Glaetzer has long represented the pinnacle of terroir-driven, quality focused Barossa winemaking, and we couldn’t be prouder to work with Ben and his team.”

Bancroft has also entered into a partnership with Provence estate Château de Berne, becoming its exclusive agent in the UK. Château de Berne has 500 hectares of land, of which about 130 hectares are vineyards.

The estate uses around ten grape varieties to blend its wines which include: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Sémillon, Ugni-Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Rolle and Mourvèdre. All rosés are fermented in ultra-modern stainless-steel tanks and top cuvées are matured in oak barrels. Bancroft will be distributing a selection of five premium rosés across the on-trade, off-trade and national retail channels.

Liberty Wines x Kanaan Winery and Mandrarossa

Liberty Wines added two new wines from Kanaan Winery in Ningxia, China, to its portfolio. Kanaan Winery was established in 2011 by owner Wang Fang, daughter of Wang Feng Yu, a pioneer of viticulture in Ningxia. Liberty will be listing the winery’s Riesling and its flagship wine called Pretty Pony – a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend.

Commenting on the new additions, managing director of Liberty Wines, David Gleave, said: “Kanaan impressed us with the pristine, fruit forward, rounded character of their wines. They are not only very well-made but are highly drinkable and are a perfect fit for our portfolio.

Liberty Wines has signed a deal with Sicilian producer Mandrarossa, with its wines set to be available through the distributor from 1 March. Founded in 1999, the producer’s vineyards are located in southwestern Sicily and are planted with 32 different grape varieties including Nero d’Avola, Grillo, Grecanico, Zibibbo, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc.

Managing director, David Gleave, commented: “We are very excited by the addition of these outstanding value Mandrarossa wines to our portfolio. And we feel they are only at the beginning: Giuseppe Bursi, who is an agronomist, understands exactly what is required to push quality ever higher. With a great record of environmental awareness, including one of the largest solar energy installations in the Italian winemaking sector which provides 15% of their power, we share many of their values. The Mandrarossa wines are their most impressive contribution to Sicilian wine.”

Birra del Borgo x UK on-trade 

AB InBev-owned Italian brewery Birra del Borgo has launched its LISA lager on draft into the UK on-trade. First unveiled in February 2018, LISA stands for ‘Lager Italiana Semplicemente Attraente’ or ‘Lager Italian Simply Attractive.’

The beer is brewed using Senatore Cappelli wheat grain from Puglia and flavoured with Italian orange peel. To celebrate its on-trade launch, the brewer teamed up with Italian food brand Crosta & Mollica, offering customers a complimentary pack of tarallini alongside a pint of LISA at selected venues.

Leonardo di Vincenzo, founder of Birra del Borgo, said: “Following LISA’s unprecedented 2018 sales growth in Italy, we’re incredibly excited to bring this perfect sessionable lager to the UK, as well as a touch of classic Italian aperitivo culture.

“We strongly believe that the genuine simplicity of Italian style and culture can be expressed also through beer, creating a new standard of quality and originality. Our premium beer – one that harks back to Italy with its distinctive Senatore Cappelli wheat – presents a refreshing choice for those who wish to explore flavour and expect quality.”

Aldi x Vicente Gandía Grandes Vinos

UK discounter Aldi has partnered with Spanish producer Vicente Gandía Grandes Vino to launch a sparkling Chardonnay-saké blend, a low-alcohol tipple that it claims is first of its kind on the UK market.

The Sandara Chardonnay- saké is a blend of Chardonnay from Valencia and traditional rice wine from Japan, which Aldi claims taps into the growing trend for Japanese flavours in the UK.

The retailer claims it is the “perfect introductory drink for those looking to explore the Oriental, the innovative and the unusual”, which is ideally paired with Asian, or Asian-fusion food, and drunk as a light aperitif .

Clocking in with an ABV of 5.5% (RRP: £2.79), the hybrid wine is also targeting the health conscious consumer as the demand for no- and low-alcohol continues to grow.

Aldi UK’s managing director of buying Julie Ashfiel commented: “Our wine buyers are committed to offering Aldi shoppers the very latest in wine innovation, and this Chardonnay-saké is no exception. Combining Mediterranean wine making with a Far East tradition, this trend-setting sparkling wine is the first of its kind, and we’re thrilled to be the first UK supermarket to stock this on our shelves.

Bibendum x Cubitt House 

UK distributor Bibendum was appointed sole wine supplier for London-based dining group Cubitt House last month. It will now supply the group’s five sites, helping to create a wine list that mirror’s Cubitt’s farm to fork philosophy.

Producers due to feature at Cubitt House locations include Prophets Rock, Creation, La Dama and Jean Perrier. Bibendum’s fine wine team has also secured exclusive parcels of wine for the group, while the supplier will also provide training for staff and help to design the wine list itself.

Tony Gualtieri, managing director of Cubitt House commented: “We are really passionate about who we work with and wanted a supplier that can help instil the passion for the product with our team, as well as bring to life the products with our guests. With food, we invite our suppliers to talk direct to our teams and our guests to tell the amazing stories around what makes the product so great. I really felt that Bibendum would be able to do the same, carefully selecting key suppliers to work with from around the world, using their training resource to make our staff passionate, and to bring the product to life with our guests by inviting winemakers to come to our pubs and meet them”

James Stoddart, business channel director for premium groups at Bibendum added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Cubitt House on their wine list. They are a hugely respected group within the hospitality industry and working together to support the premiumisation of their wine list is an amazing opportunity for us and our producers.”

St-Rémy x Waitrose and Matthew Clark

French brandy producer St-Rémy entered into distribution contracts with Waitrose and Matthew Clark last month. Made using grapes sourced from vineyards in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Beaujolais, the Rhône, the Loire and Languedoc-Roussillon, the brandy is looking to increase its market share in the UK.

The St-Rémy XO will be available in 274 Waitrose locations across the UK (RRP £22).

John Vine, spirits buyer at Waitrose said: “We are proud to welcome St-Rémy’s award winning XO Brandy to our established portfolio of premium spirit brands. St-Rémy offers consumers a unique point of difference being that their brandy is made using 100% French grapes. We hope that this will be the beginning of a lasting relationship with the brand.”

Lowlander Beer x James Clay

Dutch brewery Lowlander entered into a distribution partnership with James Clay in the UK last month, hoping to increase its exposure in the market.

The botanical beer brand was responsible for a recent zero-waste campaign which recycled Christmas trees to brew a Winter IPA. The brewer now hopes to roll out a similar scheme in the UK in 2019. The brewer will also introduce two low-ABV botanical infusion beers to the UK which will sit alongside its existing four-strong line-up.

Lowlander’s Frederik Kampman, said: “We’re delighted to be introducing our range of great tasting beers to the UK. Unusually our beers are botanically brewed, using similar herbs and spices to those used to make Genever and gin. We believe the time is right to bring our refreshing beers to a wider UK audience familiar with the botanicals in gin as well as lovers of craft gin and James Clay are the perfect partners to help us achieve our ambitious goals.”

“James Clay is known for supplying the world’s best beers from the worlds best brewers. The interest in botanicals in gin means the time is right to be talking about a new style of beer with some exciting botanically brewed low ABV expressions in the pipeline.”

Terralta Tequila x Chopin Exports

Terralta Tequila has entered into a distribution agreement with Chopin Exports in the UK which will see its blanco, 110 proof blanco, reposado, anejo and extra anejo be available across the US from 1 May.

The Tequilas range in price from US$49 to $229 a bottle. The producer uses hand-picked agave and the same natural yeast strain that it has developed for the past 80 years.

Chuck Kane, COO of Chopin Imports, said: “Terralta is exactly the type of brand we strive to work with – a family-owned company that its founders personally supervise each step of the farm to bottle process. They are innovative while staying true to the traditional way of making tequila.”

“Whether it is agave selection or bottling, Felipe [third-generation tequila producer, Felipe Camarena] is laser-focused on extracting the most flavour out of the best ingredients to create a superior spirit. We are excited to have Terralta Tequila as our newest partner.”

Gruppo Montenegro x E&J Gallo 

E&J Gallo Winery was named the exclusive US importer for Italy’s Gruppo Montenegro, whose portfolio includes the Italian spirits Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo and Vecchia Romagna Brandy.

Gruppo Montenegro was founded in 1885 by Stanislao Cobianchi, and today produces brands including Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo, Vecchia Romagna Brandy, and Rosso Antico Vermouth.

Select Aperitivo was created in 1920 in Venice, and is made from a selection of 30 botanicals and a key ingredient in the classic Venetian Spritz cocktail.

“As a privately-owned Company, we are honored to partner with the Gallo family and appreciate their commitment to compete in the luxury spirits business.

“With this partnership, we look forward to unleashing the full potential of our portfolio in the US,” said Marco Ferrari, CEO of Gruppo Montenegro.

Gruppo Montenegro joins Gallo’s US luxury spirits portfolio, which includes The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch portfolio, Diplomático Rum, Jura Single Malt Scotch, Argonaut Brandy, and Germain-Robin Brandy.