Product News 28th April

Anakena exclusive - The Co-op has launched a new wine from Chilean producer Anakena exclusively to its stores.

Product News 17th March

Hitting the slopes
BlueRidge, the Bulgarian wine that allegedly launched a thousand haircuts, has been given a new look by Ehrmanns to mark its appointment to handle the brand.
Ehrmanns says that the labelling has been changed to project much stronger values'.

Product News

Going Dutch
Vermeer is a new chocolate cream liqueur from Holland. A blend of Dutch chocolate, vodka and cream, Vermeer was developed by Skyy Vodka founder Maurice Kanbar.
The product is named after Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, and the bottle features Vermeer's most famous work, Girl with a Pearl Earring, as well as the artist's signature.
Bottled at 17% ABV, Vermeer will retail at 14.99 for 70cl. Lovers of the product apparently include actor Steven Berkoff, who described the drink as a dangerously delicious tipple'.

Voyage of Discovery

Discovery Wines has launched a range of Australian wines: Discovery Bay. The first releases will be a Shiraz/Cabernet and a Colombard/Chardonnay.

Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky

AMRUT is the Indian Single Malt Whisky, which is taking the UK by storm. It was the star of the show at Whisky Live in London and it is now enjoying growing sales both in Britain and Europe.

Domaine de Rimauresq highlighted for innovation and difference' at Vinexpo.

Domaine de Rimauresq, Provence has been selected as one of Vinexpo 2005s discoveries' by an international team of journalists. The R' Rimauresq Ros 2004 was one of only ten wines chosen out of tens of thousands as the most innovative and different in the show, adding to a raft of awards and accolades collected by the estate.

Take it slow

Seckford Agencies has launched the new Slowine range from the Paul Cluver Estate in Elgin, South Africa.
The range comprises the 2005 Chenin/Sauvignon Blanc (RRP 6.99); the 2005 (Pinot Noir) Ros (6.99); the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (7.99); and the 2004 Merlot (7.99).

Bitter lemon:

Fever-Tree range:

Product news: Silver star

Pommery has designed a new look for its POP 20cl bottles. Silver POP, which is packaged in a limited-edition reflective bottle, is exclusive to Selfridges and will retail for 9.99. It accompanies the blue and fuchsia-pink (ros) versions.
Sara Hicks of Vranken Pommery Monopole (which owns the brand) says: Silver POP has been designed to add a festive dimension to a brand that's already fun and funky!'

L-P spreads its wings

Laurent-Perrier has released its latest vintage, the Brut Millsim 1997. Described as concentrated, fine and rounded' by the company, the Champagne is a 50:50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and Cte des Blancs.

Chilean equality

Equality is a new Fairtrade brand from Chilean producer Las Lomas. The range of wines consists of two 2006 whites - a Chardonnay/Viognier and a Sauvignon Blanc - as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon ros, and two 2005 reds: a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Cabernet/Carignan/Carmenre blend. All wines will be bottled under screwcap.

Mount Gay memorial

Maxxium UK's Mount Gay Rum is launching a limited-edition blend to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Sir Francis Chichester's epic solo circumnavigation of the globe aboard Gipsy Moth IV. Distilled in Barbados, just 120 bottles of the sugar-cane brandy blend have been bottled and labelled.
A spokesman for Maxxium said: Renowned for its strong sailing heritage, Mount Gay Rum has been a long-standing sponsor of the Gipsy Moth IV project, supporting its restoration and launch back into deep waters.'
The Limited Edition Sugar Cane Brandy blend will be used as gifts to dignitaries on the Gipsy Moth IV's impending new global journey. Further bottles will be auctioned off at Bonhams auction house to raise funds to further support the Gipsy Moth IV project.

Xoriguer Gin

Nearly 300 year-old Mahon gin, named Xoriguer about 100 years ago, is one of only two gins in Europe to have a specific appellation - or EU designation of origin - meaning it can only be made on the island, according to a specific distillation process.

Pinot for Crossings

Marlborough estate The Crossings has added a Pinot Noir to its range of wines available in the UK.
The 100% estate-grown wine (Willow Flat and Medway River vineyards) is from the 2004 vintage and is available from Hayman Barwell Jones with an RSP of 10.99.

Colombard from Calvet

Calvet, best known in the UK for its Bordeaux wines, has released a Colombard from the Ctes de Gascogne under its Limited Release label.

Housing the French

Housing the French
Winery Exchange has teamed up with the Co-op in an effort to bring French wines back into the loop with The Frenchhouse range from the Languedoc.
The new wines are focused on the young at heart', and the packaging is bold and contemporary. Paul Bastard, wine-development manager for the Co-op, comments: The Frenchhouse concept is an imaginative one, and the wine is sourced from a family operation of scrupulous process, blended to our specifications and overseen by flying winemakers who know what is needed to succeed in the UK market.' From January 2006, two wines from the range will be available: The Frenchhouse Grenache/Mourvdre and Chardonnay. Both will retail for 4.49 in more than 2,000 Co-op stores across the country.

New packaging for Fetzer's Pacific Bay

Fetzer Vineyards has repackaged its Pacific Bay wines. Created by Barlow Doherty, the new design follows the new Fetzer family look, which was launched earlier in the year'. In addition to new labels, the range has moved to Nomacork synthetic cork.
Produced exclusively for the European market, the range currently consists of a Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio; White Zinfandel; Merlot; and Cabernet Sauvignon, all priced at 4.99. Main stockists include Sainsbury's, Co-op, Morrisons and Asda.

Churchill's on table

Churchill's Port has launched a new table wine - Churchill Estates - from the 2003 vintage.
Oenologist Joo Brito e Cunha says the company started experimenting with making a table wine from the grapes of its main quality quinta (Quinta da Gricha) in 2002, with the main objective to find a house style. We achieved a result, and with 2003 we are starting to introduce our wines worldwide.'
The wine is produced from Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, with eight months ageing in a mix of new and old French oak, and the alcohol sits at 13.5% ABV. It is thought that the retail price will be e12-14, although a UK price is yet to be decided.

Festive Fladgate

The Fladgate Partnership is releasing special wooden gift cases and chic black cartons' in time for Christmas.
As well as boxes and cartons for the majority of its brands, the Port producer - whose brands include Taylor's, Croft, Fonseca and Delaforce - has also launched a special A Century of Port' case, featuring bottles of Taylor's 10, 20, 30 and 40 Year Old Tawny.