Hallgarten Druitt plugs "embarrassing" gap in Australian portfolio

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 28 July, 2016

Specialist wine importer Hallgarten Druitt & Novum has taken over distribution of most of Hallowed Ground's Australian producers, significantly expanding Hallgarten's premium Australian offering.

The move sees 61 wines from 10 leading Australian wineries added to Hallgarten's limited existing Australian portfolio which currently consists of Berton Vineyard and Larry Cherubino.

Hallgarten's managing director Andrew Bewes said this is something the company has been looking to rectify for some time.

"We have long been searching for the right partners in Australia to complement both the quality and regionality of the rest of our portfolio," he said, adding: "It has been an embarrassing gap which we've been looking to fill. But as we have a 70% crossover of our customer base, it's been a really easy transition - a dream really."

Hallgarten is now looking to drive forward the new wines into the off and on-trade - the second of which has traditionally been a hard nut to crack at the premium level.

"It's tough in the on-trade with Australia above entry level and everyone has really tried in their own ways to crack the premium sector. But we shouldn't take this out of context as all premium in the on-trade is quite tough. Over a certain price point, the British public reverts back to France and Italy.

"The exception is individual wines, like Malbec and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which have really broken through. But other than that you start struggling to find examples over £45 which sell really well."

Hallgarten is now planning to invest in training and instilling confidence into sommeliers and bar staff to sell Australian fine wine.

The new wines joining Hallgarten's portfolio are: Clos Clare, Eden Road, Fox Gordon, Laissez Faire, Lake Breeze, Ocean Eight, Paringa Estate, Teusner, Ravenswood Lane and Ulithorne.

Hallowed Ground was established in 2010 by Amelia Jukes and Elodie Cameron to bring premium wines from small volume, family run estates to the UK market.

Amelia Jukes said: "The move to Hallgarten will enable these exceptional wine estates to become part of a broader range of wines and increase the opportunities for listings and exposure for Australian fine wine."

Jukes will be working closely with Hallgarten's head of buying Steve Daniel and portfolio director Jim Wilson to continue to promote these producers and their wines going forward.

Bewes added: "Hallowed Ground has done an exceptional job of establishing these producers in the UK and we are delighted at the prospect of working with them to further build upon their successes."

The wines will be available to order from August 1.

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