Mistletoe and wine

Particularly at Christmas time, consumers will be looking for high quality yet affordable wines that will ensure they impress clients and festive visitors

Brand Central

18 November 2011

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wines An impressive total of 8.7 million cases of wine were sold in Ireland last year, according to the Irish Wine Association. Of this, 47% of the volume share of the market is red wine, 49% white wine and 4% rosé wine. Furthermore, 79% of wine is sold through off-licences and shops.

Great gifts for under €20

United Wine Merchants’ exclusive range of gifting solutions will suit all your customers’ requirements this year. The popular Chilean twin pack from Santiano is back retailing at €13.99 and the Tortoiseshell Bay Australian twin pack makes a return retailing at €14.99; both great value gifting solutions offering great quality. For those wishing to trade up this Christmas the twin pack from one of Rioja’s finest producers Marques De La Concordia is available with a RRP of €19.99.

Great value wines under €6

United Wine Merchants states it has a wide range of wine deals all set to drive sales and deliver great margin opportunity. Two new additions to the portfolio both have a value retail price of just €5.99. Cape Peak from South Africa is sourced from The West Cape growing areas which are producing some of the world’s most outstanding wines. They’re available in an easy drinking Chardonnay and a medium bodied, fruity Pinotage.

Another new addition, the La Umbra range from Romania are a fresh, lively range of high quality, fruit driven wines available at fantastic value. The wines are all single estate, hand-picked grapes, with the range consisting of a Chardonnay, Pinotage and Merlot Rosé, with distinctive packaging.

New and old world favourites

The popular McGuigan Private Bin range is back with a re-invigorated new label. Retailing with a RRP of €6.99, and a firm favourite from Australia, this is a must stock range.

With Italy’s growing reputation, the Parlare Range from United Wine Merchants retailing with a RRP of €5.99 is an exceptional value for money range of wines. Parlare means “to speak” in Italian and these wines are the perfect expression of Italian flavours available in a classic Pinot Grigio and Primitivo. For those consumers wishing to trade up this Christmas, the Chilean Duette range from Indomita offers quality and value. As sales of premium Chilean wine continue to gather pace, this range of wine; consisting of a creamy Chardonnay and a well rounded Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenerre blend, offers superb quality retailing with a RRP of €12.99.

A festive favourite

United Wine Merchants believes the launch of its new Crabbies Mulled Ginger Wine will be a guaranteed Christmas pleaser. The launch follows the success of Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, which has gained national distribution in the take home and on trade, in a bid to remain at the forefront of innovation within the ‘ginger category’.

Crabbie’s Ginger Mulled Wine taps into the consumer’s growing demand for products with quality ginger and spices as their essence and is expected to challenge traditional mulled wine variants with its unique blend of ginger and spices. Crabbie’s Mulled Ginger Wine is packaged in a 70cl glass bottle with an ABV of 12%. Retailing with an RRP of €7.99 in the take home sector.

Fizz gets the party started

A diverse range of festive fizz is available from United Wine Merchants. Its award winning Frizzantes from the Italian Riondo Range have been creating quite a stir lately. The delicate but fruity Pink Frizzante won “The best Charmat method rosé of the year” and the clean pure Prosecco Frizzante was awarded 90 points by Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. Retailing at just €7.99 over Christmas. From Spain, the Marques de Monistrol Range continues to perform very well. With a RRP of €9.99 for the Brut and Rosé these are sure to get the party started. For the more price conscious there is the ever popular Lambrini Bubbly and Pink Bubbly retailing at a RRP of €4.95.

Port offers richness and warmth

United Wine Merchant’s port offering has had a boost with the addition of a range of ports from Fonseca, one of the largest port wine houses in Portugal. This is a top name port house everyone should aspire to try. Fonseca’s has a long established inherited tradition of winemaking skill and knowledge, where the wines have been made by the same family since its foundation in 1822.

The range available for Christmas comes in premium gift packs and includes the Bin No 27 retailing at a RRP of €14.99, the 2005 Unfiltered LBV retailing at a RRP of €17.99 and an Organic Terra Prima retailing at a RRP of €17.99. There will also be an exclusive range of Vintage Ports available for the more premium purchase with bottles ranging from RRP: €35 – €67 presented in attractive wooden gift boxes.

The Croft Port range is back with attractive offerings throughout the range. Croft Pink Port is still breaking the mould for traditional port drinking and boasts an attractive gift box presentation with an even more attractive reduced price point of €12.99. This year the consistently approachable, ready to drink Croft LBV will be presented in a stylish gift box retailing at a RRP of €14.99. For a great value port purchase under €10, the attractively fruit driven Croft Port Triple Crown has an attractive reduced retail point of €9.99

Sparkling shines at Christmas

From Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, Jacob’s Creek Sparkling is a range of great tasting sparkling wines that offers something for every occasion and taste. Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir, Rose and Blanc de Blancs are the perfect wines to accompany a meal, toast any occasion or to celebrate at any time.

Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir has generous citrus fruit flavours which are enhanced with creamy nutty yeast characters providing both richness and structure. This sparkling wine is great on its own or with soft white cheeses.

Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Rose, made from Chardonnay & Pinot Noir has generous red berry and citrus fruit flavours, it finishes soft and round with lingering berry flavours. A great way to finish a meal matching with sweet deserts.

Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Blanc de Blanc is a 100% chardonnay sparkling wine, it has generous lemon and citrus fruit flavours enhanced with creamy characters. This sparkling wine is a great aperitif or perfect gift for someone this Christmas.

Festive fruit-forward wines

Gallo Family Vineyards, distributed by Cassidy Wines, continue to bring choice and value to the off-trade this Christmas, with promotions on a selection of approachable fruit forward wines.

Year on year this perennial favourite delivers a portfolio of award-winning, affordable wines. With a light crisp finish its Sauvignon Blanc offers a bright and refreshing balance of fruit flavours.

Gallo Family Vineyards White Zinfandel compliments festive flavours with hints of dried cranberry, watermelon and fresh cherry. A very versatile match for a wide range of foods including turkey.

Gallo Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, with its aromas of fresh dark fruit and hints of toasted oak, is great with a red onion and goat’s cheese tart, for a tasty vegetarian alternative this Christmas.

Gallo Family Vineyards offers a White Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Sauvignon; the latter being priced at €8.49.

Rising from the mists

With the Irish consumer’s love affair with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc showing no signs of abating, Cassidy Wines has launched Misty Cove Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. Misty Cove Sauvignon Blanc is full of lively aromatic fruit characters with gooseberry, melon and ripe herb notes finishing with elegant and limey acidity. Misty Cove Sauvignon Blanc has a RRP of €12.99 and will be supported with trade promotions.

An international portfolio to be proud of

Michael Barry of Barry & Fitzwilliam claims that the distributor now has probably the most successful prestigious French wines on the market when you take account of the success of Michel Lynch and Guigals wine from the Cote du Rhone.

The Gabriel Meffre range which includes La Chasse du Pape adds to the group’s armoury of French wine and will be heavily promoted this year. Faiveley Burgundy Wines, Jolivet Loire Wines and Preiss-Zimmer Alsace wines complete what Barry & Fitzwilliam believes is now the most outstanding portfolio of French Wine on the market.

From Germany, Blue Nun is still an old favourite and will be heavily promoted by Barry & Fitzwilliam/Allied Wines. A litre bottle will be available for the price of 70cl.

From California, Barry & Fitzwilliam offers the successful Paul Masson and Robert Mondavi Winery ranges. The Woodbridge range will be promoted aggressively.

From New Zealand, the distributor offers the Villa Maria range. The repositioning of its Private Bin Range has seen sales surge in the last six months. Villa Maria is now in the Irish top 20 wine brands for the first time. Meanwhile, Nobilo are a well-priced range of excellent quality wines from both the North and South Islands.

Barry & Fitzwilliam is expecting a big uplift in the sales of New Zealand wine because of the publicity from the Rugby World Cup.

From Chile, Barry & Fitzwilliam offers the quality Monte Gras range. Hailing from Spain, the distributor offers the Beronia Rioja wines from Gonzalez Byass and Raimat from Penedes, as well as the Altozano range. In Argentinean wines, Barry & Fitzwilliam has the Santa Julia/Zuccardi range in its portfolio.

Australian wines

McGuigan wines available from Barry & Fitzwilliam, continue to out perform the market. According to a recent report, McGuigan is now the number one Australian brand in the multiples. The McGuigan Black Label range comprises of a Cabernet/Merlot, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Rose as well as McGuigan Black Label Sparkling Chardonnay and Sparkling Rose. The range will have strong above the line marketing support for Christmas, particularly in the national press with a major emphasis on Neil McGuigan’s award at the IWC awards as the “Best white winemaker in the world” and “Winemaker of the year” at IWSC awards. McGuigan will be adding a Semillon Blanc to the range just in time for Christmas.

The great Thomas Hardy legacy lives on today at The Hardy Wine Company. Quality, flavour and character remain the cornerstones of its contemporary wines. Hardy’s will be backed by a press campaign and the major emphasis will be on the promotion of Hardy’s Stamp litres for the price of 75cl. The Hardy’s Bin Range will be used as a promotional price offering.

Champagne and sparkling wines

Barry & Fitzwilliam has three Champagnes to bring to the party. Starting with Pol Roger which has a “to die for” rosé.
Charles Heidsieck is the premium champagne from the Heidsieck house. The company also produces the fashionable and contemporary Piper Heidsieck Grande Marque Champagne. Both Charles Heidsieck and Piper Heidsieck have won numerous awards.

Codorniu, which has a range of styles for every pocket continues to perform very well in the sparkling category and will be heavily promoted for the party season.

Port and sherry

Barry & Fitzwilliam has a strong line up in the fortified wine sector. The company represents Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry, Croft Original Sherry, Tio Pepe Sherry, Cockburns and Taylor’s Port.

Care and attention deliver top results

The McKenna labels have been redesigned so that the bottles now have increased shelf standout, therefore heightening brand awareness.

Since its launch in February 2009 the McKenna Collection has quickly become one of the prominent wine brands on the Irish market. The new McKenna Collection visuals and the attention focused on the quality of the wine has ensured each vintage is better than the previous vintage.

The Sauvignon Blanc delivers ripe citrus aromas on the nose and the palate is dry and crisp with zesty fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon is an intense ruby red colour with well defined varietal fruit characters on the nose. The palate shows rich, ripe berry flavours and good balance.

Both the Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are fantastic value and are also available in twin packs making them the perfect Christmas present.

Wines to go wild for

Wolf Blass Wines from Edward Dillon & Co have a superb range of high quality and affordable wines. It’s been a great year for the brand first established in the Barossa Valley in 1966; with their wines winning top awards as well as praise and plaudits at home and abroad. In September, President’s Selection Chardonnay 2010 won the Gold Medal for Best New World White Under €20 at the National Off Licence Association Awards in Dublin. This medium to full-bodied Chardonnay has aromas of peach, melon and a hint of oak. It is a great food wine but can also be enjoyed as an aperitif. The recommended retail price is €16.39.

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from premium South Australian fruit. It has become an internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning wine, which at €11.69, delivers way above its price point.

However it was the Yellow Label Chardonnay 2009 which created a big stir this summer when more than half of Master of Wine candidates took it for white burgundy.

This year’s Wolf Blass Christmas packs include both these wines. The Presidents Selection Gift Pack features the Gold Medal Chardonnay as well as a Shiraz at a recommended retail price of €33.99. The Yellow Label Twin Pack contains the aforementioned Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon at €23.29.

The gift of celebration

As the world’s leading champagne house, Moët & Chandon presents its flagship champagne, Brut Impérial in a limited edition gold gift box this Christmas. Retailing at €42.69, this makes a great gift to bring along to any festive event.

The flagship of Moët & Chandon since 1989, Brut Impérial is the most accomplished expression of the Moët & Chandon range. Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial distinguishes itself by a bright fruitiness, a seductive palate and an elegant maturity. Brut Impérial reflects the diversity and complementary aspects of the three champagne grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay and the richness of the region’s best vineyards.

For more information on Moët & Chandon, contact Edward Dillon & Co on 01 8193300.

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