New products that couldn’t launch at ProWein due to coronavirus

Despite ProWein’s cancellation due to the ongoing threat posed by coronavirus (Covid-19), business in the trade goes on, even though the show on this occasion has not. Here’s db’s rundown of products that were due to be launched at ProWein this week and the alternative plans producers are having to make to showcase them.

Digital seems to be the way forward, as producers scamble to get their new launches in front of customers and clients, but as one exhibitor said, “We’re working with our clients as best we can – by video conference and email – to try and keep things moving forward, but when your business revolves around meeting and tasting together, it’s very hard.”

Another told db agreed that the whole industry would be suffering the consequences of the outbreak, which necessitated a more efficient model moving forward.

Another producer noted frankly, “the cancellation of ProWein leaves a large hole in many brands’ budgets, not just spend budgets, but revenue budgets. We have signed new clients in different markets at each of our previous appearances at ProWein which have been vital to our short term success, so to see the loss of revenue disappear is a bitter pill to swallow.

“We absolutely support the reasons for the show to be cancelled – the risks are simply too high, but the reality is that it dramatically impacts our business and many others I’m sure.”

He also argued that given the carbon footprint created by people moving towards one place, there might well be an argument that “perhaps the time of the virtual wine show is almost upon us?”

Aresti Chile

The past year has seen Aresti research the Deep Curicó Valley to present exclusive and unique wines under its Aresti Trisquel Series range – it was set to present its findings at ProWein however, due to the cancellation it is planning trips to present its wines to its main importers on a one-to-one basis, as well as sending samples.

It will also be showcasing its recently relaunched Espiritu de Chile brand – comprising the Explorador, Intrépido and Viajero ranges, which are designed to appeal to outdoors-loving consumers, including two blends made from Chile’s ancient and heritage varieties. The Intrépido Patrimonial Reserva Blanco is a white blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscat, from the Curicó valley, along with the Intrépido Patrimonial Reserva Tinto, a red blend of Carignan, País, and Cinsault from the Maule valley appellation. 

Winemaker Juan Ignacio Montt said these two new blends would give new prominence to Chile’s heritage grape varieties, many of which were among the first ones brought to the country.

“By blending ancient and more ‘modern’ grape varieties we seek to continue to promote Chile’s living spirit of diversity and quality,” he said.

Beefsteak Club Ehrmanns Wines

UK-based Ehrmanns is launching a new Organic Reserve Tannat from Argentina’s Cafayate Valley, which it says has “great potential” in the market.

The wine is produced in partnership with the family-owned Bodega Nanni, using a blend from selected vineyards at very high altitudes in Salta Province’s Cafayate Valley. Here the dry and sunny climate is conducive to organic viticulture, and the Reserve Malbec is made from handpicked grapes grown on deep sandy-loam soils, the company said. “Care is taken at every stage of the winemaking process, resulting a in a complex Tannat with smooth tannins and notes of cassis, chocolate, tobacco and spice from oak.”

“We think that Tannat from Argentina has great potential, especially as a partner for food. Much work has been done to soften the tannins of this thick-skinned grape, but we are seeing wines of deep colour and concentrated fruit which are still approachable in mouthfeel and structure,” a spokesman said.

The company has developed a couple of other wines that will now be revealed to the UK market later in the year.

Casa Vinicola Bosco Malera 

Prosecco producer Casa Vinicola Bosca Malera is keeping its focus primarily on environmental sustainability and product traceability with the launch of an organic line, comprising a Prosecco DOC extra dry and a Pinot Grigio Venezia DOC. Both varieties come from Treviso and Venice province, and represent the company’s effort to move towards more sustainable viticulture.

Due to the show cancelation, it is sending samples to all of its customers that showed an interest in the lines.

“Unfortunately, it’s not like a face-to-face wine tasting, but it’s the only chance we have right now,” the company said, adding that it would be shown to the pubic directly at the London Wine Fair in June, which is currently still scheduled to go ahead.

Fraternity Spirits

Artisanal brand incubator Fraternity Spirits will be introducing a host of products, including new labels of its Mezcal Perro de San Juan family range, its first Mezcal Espadin 40% ABV, and a Nobushi Japanese Whisky, alongside its Tequila and rum family brands Corralejo Family and Ron Prohibido.

Gusbourne Estate

The English sparkling wine producer has launched a new wine, Blanc de Noirs 2016, the first vintage that utilises a significant proportion of fruit from its West Sussex vineyards in the blend, and the first release of a wine that it hasn’t produced since 2011.

Vineyard manager Jon Pollard said the 2016 was an “exceptional” vintage, similar to that of 2008, in yielding very fine fruit that was high in sugar and acid. Winemaker Charlie Holland said he as soon as he had tasted the first pressings in 2016, the team were excited to produce a Blanc de Noir, and the intention was to produce one more regularly – but only in years when the Pinot Noir had achieved suitable ripeness. 

Jonathan White, head of marketing at Gusbourne Estates told db that while “unfortunate” the cancellation of ProWein had been expected and although Gusbourne hasn’t made any large-scale alternative arrangements to showcase its new launches yet, it had been able to continue conversations with existing and new partners who it was planning to spend time with at the fair online.

“We are confident that it won’t disrupt our plans too much, although it is of course a shame and we value meeting in person where possible, so we look forward to ProWein returning in 2021,” he said.

Rascallion Wines 

The young South African wine company is launching its new varietal range, the ‘With Love from the Cape’ Collection aimed at general retail and the on-trade, as well as the latest vintages from its Word and Vinyl Collection.

Managing director Ross Sleet told db that when the team had heard that the show had been first postponed and then cancelled, they ramped up a planned corporate social responsibility announcement and focus, and put in place plans to send the wines that we would have showed at ProWein to various existing and new customers.

“DHL have been very busy for us as samples have literally gone out East and West from our base in Stellenbosch,” he said.

Susana Balbo Wines

Argentine wine producer Susana Balbo Wines is launching two new wines,  a terroir-oriented organic Malbec and an orange Torrontés fermented in terracotta amphorae.

With the Torrontés, Susana wanted to go back to her origins in Cafayate, in the Valles Calchaquíes in the Salta province in northwest Argentina, where the knowledge of the variety and the use of terracotta amphorae, allows her to show how this variety was made forty years ago.

The wine is made using grapes from Altamira, and remains in contact with the skins for a long time, giving it a delicate orange colour. “Aromas of white peach, orange peel and jasmine and a spicy and voluminous palate, it is a transparent, elegant and persistent wine, which redefines the unique personality of the house Torrontés,” the company said.

It is also releasing the first grape-based, non-alcoholic natural beverage from Argentina, called Envero, which taps into the growing health trend for no and low alcohol alternatives.

“This product was conceived as an option for anyone who wants to enjoy the wine lifestyle but want to reduce their intake of alcohol, and also for parents who want healthier beverages for their kids, or for pregnant women,” the company said.

Trivento, Vina Concha y Toro

Leading Argentine wine brand Trivento has launched an innovative white Malbec, a white wine obtained by a light pressing of Argentina’s emblematic red variety, that gives a clear liquid with aromas of cherry and raspberry, green apple notes and marked acidity on the palate.

The new style of the already well-known Malbec variety is likely to have a strong impact on social media, a company spokesman said, having been born out of a collaborative hackathon-style project to benefit the company’s social education programme for disadvantaged kids in Mendoza. Around 420 winery collaborators were involved to generate ideas and pool their expertise under the leadership of the winemaking team and project leader, winemaker Maximiliano Ortiz. The challenge was to make an attractive and fruity blanc du noir, a white wine made out of a red variety – and the popularity of Malbec made it an obvious choice.

“In the near future it will be an important wine in Trivento’s portfolio,” a spokesman told db.

Viña Santa Rita

The South American wine producer has been working on a host of new products in recent months. It has upped its focus on canned wines with a new line under its Santa Rita label, comprising a Rita Blanco, Rita Sparkling and a Rita Red (to join the original Rita that launched last year) , and Chilean Carmen label, comprising the Wave Series by Carmen Sauvignon Blanc and Frieda Kahlo Series Rosé, in both a can and a bottle. It is also launching a new Reserva and Gran Reserva tier for its Medalla Real, including a Limarí Chardonnay and Syrah along with a Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon and a sparkling wine under its Carmen label, Amaranta. Other new products include Cabernario No. 8, a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Alto Maipo crafted from ungrafted, dry-farmed vines planted in 1964, and Cigar Box Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from vineyards in both Chile and Argentina, and new range Ataluvia, sourced from a single vineyard in Gualtallary, Mendoza, and Malbado, a Malbec from Mendoza.

Weingut von Winning

Germany wine producers Weingut von Winning usually use the trade show to present an extensive range of its wines at the fair, with its dry, complex and salty Rieslings as the primary focus, along with its Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. This year it is excited to release its 2018 GG (Grosses Gewachs, or Grand Cru) Rieslings – the latest in its eight-strong GG line up, which includes wines from Deidesheim (Grainhübel, Kalkofen, Kieselberg, and Langenmorgen) and Forst (Ungeheuer, Pechstein, Jesuitengarten, and Kirchenstück) – and the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc 500, which is a selection of the best 500l french oak barrels. As other producers are doing, the company is sending samples and conducting online meetings and tastings following the cancellation.