Mentzendorff boosts premium Australian wine range with Kilikanoon

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 01 July, 2014

Mentzendorff is looking to ramp up its premium Australian wine offering and has taken on distribution of Clare Valley's Kilikanoon as a first step.

Formerly distributed by Thorman Hunt in the UK, Kilikanoon recently won the James Halliday Australian Winery of the Year award.

Mentzendorff managing director Andrew Hawes said the move "forms part of a strategic shift in emphasis for us towards authentic, premium regional Australian brands".

Mentzendorff says the time is right for these wines in the UK given the change in consumer tastes, stronger currency and developments in the Australian market, and is looking to continue to add to its portfolio.

Hawes added: "Mentzendorff has long had strong links with premium Australian producers, beginning with the Bollinger family association with Brian Croser's Petaluma. During the last turbulent decade we have been rightly more cautious in appointing agencies yet, at the same time, have managed to build strong business for Barossa Valley's Turkey Flat, and an ultra-premium presence for Brian Croser's Tapanappa.

"Kilikanoon joining our portfolio alongside Turkey Flat, Tapanappa and Michel Chapoutier's Domaine Tournon wines from Victoria marks a key moment in our strategic objective to build a complementary collection of the very best regional wine producers in Australia. We are thrilled to be working with all at Kilikanoon and look forward to the exciting projects to come," Hawes said.

Mentzendorff Mentzendorff adds Kilikanoon to its listThe new addition of Clare Valley winery Kilikanoon is the first step in expanding its premium Australian portfolio, says Mentzendorff managing director Andrew Hawes.

The winery was founded in 1997 in Penwortham in South Australia's Clare Valley. It made 25,000 bottles in its first year, but now exports to over 25 countries. Its estate includes the Golden Hillside, comprising Mort's Block, Covenant, Walton's and Attunga, as well as the Tregea vineyard in the cooler Skilly Valley.

"Even before Kilikanoon was established in 1997, I had long held the vision of creating my own range of unique, terroir driven, premium wines. Being born and raised in the region and of a grape growing and winemaking family there, the Clare Valley seemed the obvious place to get this idea rolling," said Kilikanoon owner and winemaker Kevin Mitchell.

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