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Sovio returns to UK: LIWF 2008

Published:  23 July, 2008

Sovio's winemaker, the semi-sparkling product banned by the Food Standards Agency last year for using spinning-cone technology, will launch four new ranges of low-alcohol wine in the UK at the London International Wine Fair.

PLB Wines, which will distribute two of the four Californian ranges, Touchstone 8 and Piano, claims consumers do want higher alcohol wines. But it but agrees the wines need careful marketing.

"It's all very well the trade saying we need lower alcohol wines," said Paul Shelton, responsible for trade marketing at PLB. "We need to stop driving the message you shouldn't be drinking so much and make wines that consumers want but happen to be better for you."

Winemaker Scott Burr said: "My goal is to make wines that are flavourful and happen to be lower in alcohol."

Both the Touchstone 8 and Piano California-produced ranges have an alcohol level of 8% and remove alcohol using a spinning cone.

Wine must be at least 8.5% abv in the EU, but a bilateral agreement between the United States and the EU means wines as low as 7% can be defined as wine and spinning cone-treated wines can be sold in the United Kingdom.

At 11am each day, winemaker Scott Burr will be holding a 30-minute seminar on spinning-cone technology on the PLB stand (F60). The four low alcohol wines will be available to taste.

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