Liberty Wines to distribute Sogrape in the UK

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 16 January, 2017

Sogrape and Liberty Wines have announced they will be partnering with the hopes of expanding the Portuguese company's presence in the UK, specifically the premium on-trade.

As of this month, Sopgrape and Liberty Wines - both of which remain independent, family-run companies - will be teaming up, so that Sogrape's wines will be distributed in the UK by Liberty Wines.

Sogrape currently owns 18 wine estates across five countries and includes premium brands such as Sandeman Ports, Finca Flichman from Argentina, Chateau Los Boldos from Chile, Framingham from New Zealand, Casa Ferreirinha and Quinta de Azevedo from Portugal, and Bodegas LAN from Spain.

Rolando Borges Martins, Sogrape board member, said that Sogrape is hoping to expand its presence in the UK on-trade with the new agreement, adding: "Liberty Wines is our partner of choice in the UK, which is one of our four priority markets and where some of our key brands are reaching double-digit increase in sales.

"We have decided to make this move now, from a position of great strength, and are looking forward to seeing our quality wines gaining greater visibility and representation, notably in the premium on-trade".

David Gleave, MD of Liberty Wines added: "We have a shared belief in quality from vineyard to glass, which is reflected in the strong performance of each company. We are honoured that the Sogrape Board is entrusting us with growing sales of their wines in one of the world's leading wine markets and we are delighted to be working more closely with Gonçalo Sousa Machado, the managing director of Sogrape UK."

Over the past 20 years, Liberty Wines has developed from a start-up with a team of four people to become a leading wine distributor of quality wines in the UK.

Liberty Wines' range of premium wines includes Allegrini from Italy, Montes from Chile, Peter Lehmann and Shaw + Smith from Australia, and Greywacke and Tinpot Hut from New Zealand, as well as Charles Heidsieck Champagnes.

Established in Portugal in 1942 with the launch of Mateus Rosé, Sogrape is now led by the third generation of the founder's family and has expanded its production internationally to four other countries.

Liberty Wines will showcase Sogrape's wines at its annual portfolio tasting at The Oval, London tomorrow (January 17).

The wines will appear in Liberty Wines' February pricelist.

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