As we look forward to the long-awaited return to trade, we wanted to introduce you to some of the exciting new wines we've added to our portfolio. Despite the unprecedented challenges of 2020, our wine buying team has been working hard to find wines that hit the ever-changing consumer trends and, more importantly, wines that we absolutely love.
Raise the Bar
There’s no use denying it, making money with wine can be tricky - to put it mildly. The need for balance, between popular varieties and more valuable ones, can make building a wine list a minefield. But with one eye on strategic selection and the other eye on your customer's needs, there’s plenty of space to find value in your wine offering. Here are some wines from our new range that we think can thread that needle and help you raise the bar and your wine profits.
Balfour Blanc de Noirs 2018
According to the 2020 Wine GB Industry Report, £5.5 Million of English wine was sold in 2019, up 58% from 2018 and well-outperforming volume increases (+36%). This reveals a significant opportunity to trade up customers from prosecco or cava to a homegrown alternative. It’s not hard to understand the growth of English wines. Considering both the increasing interest in provenance among young consumers and early adopters, and the drive towards sustainable ‘low mileage’ produce.
The Kentish Balfour Blanc de Noirs is a wine of yin and yang. The traditional ripe Blanc de Noir flavours of red apple and blackcurrant combine with citrus, and oyster shell characteristics to produce a wine of wonderful tension, vibrancy and complexity. Sophisticated and classy, this Traditional Method wine is nonetheless an approachable introduction to the world of English Sparkling and the perfect accompaniment to a plate of fresh oysters.
Bottega Prosecco Rosé DOC Spumante Brut
You may have noticed that prosecco has a new snazzy-looking cousin making the rounds. Pink or Rosé Prosecco has been given the go-ahead by the Prosecco DOC consortium, meaning that producers can start to make and sell pink fizz under the label of prosecco. This is great news for producers like Bottega and for venues who can sell a new and exciting form of prosecco. Demanding a slightly more premium price point, this new style carries the powerful brand recognition of prosecco while hitting the trend for all things pink.
The Bottega Prosecco Rosé DOC is a mesmerising bright pink mother-of-pearl colour with fine persistent bubbles and a distinct flavour of apple, white peach and wild strawberries. Fresh and delicate, it makes a brilliant addition to your by-the-glass list; something novel that speaks to the feeling of celebration at the end of a long winter and national lockdown.
Order Bottega Prosecco Rosé DOC Spumante Brut
A Brave New World
Many of the wines new to our portfolio have come from the New World. With little or no travel possible for most consumers this year, these wines offer the chance to explore new regions and varieties without ever leaving their table.
Santa Rita Bougainville Petite Syrah, Maipo Valley
In 1991, Santa Rita planned to import some Syrah vines from the United States, but due to the grape’s shortage at that time, they opted for the lesser-known Petite Sirah, sometimes known as Durif. With 18 months of ageing in new French oak barrels, the wine has aromas of black fruits with sweet spice, hints of smoke and balsamic notes. On the palate, there’s smoke, chocolate and spice with a long finish.
This wine is the perfect example of how experimenting with region and variety can produce magic. Creating a uniquely New World proposition that will excite consumers looking to try something a little different but still familiar.
Luis Felipe Edwards Macerao Orange Wine, Itata Valley
One of the hallmarks of New World producers is that, without restrictive rules around the region, production, and variety, they are free to explore new techniques and play around with styles. This fabulous orange wine is crafted in the Itata Valley and produced from Moscato. The trademark hue comes from the grape skins and seeds being kept in contact with the juice for an extended period. The result is a rich and textured wine with zesty aromas of peach and white flowers, stone fruit on the palate, and a hint of honey. A great wine for pairing with spicy foods or for customers that love German Riesling or Italian Moscato.
Impact – Wines with a conscience
The movement towards ethical consumption is more than just a fad. It has become a crucial part of how consumers across all categories make purchasing decisions. This year we’ve further extended our already extensive range of organic, biodynamic, sustainable and vegan wines as part of our commitment to understanding and managing our impact on communities and the earth.
Chateau Maris Zulu
Described by the Wine Spectator as one of the five most sustainable wineries in the world, Chateau Maris is truly in a league of its own when managing its environmental impact. They began farming biodynamically in the early 2000s. Since then they have earned an almost overwhelming number of environmental certifications. Most impressively, in 2016, they became the first winery in Europe to receive the all-encompassing B Corporation award, which takes a wholistic view of every part of the business, from ecological costs and the supply chain to social and charity work. This certification can only be kept through constant improvements and an annual assessment of environmental impact. This winery is the perfect option for environmentally conscious customers, especially those who also eschew sulphite use.
While maintaining a philosophy of low intervention, the winemakers at Chateau Maris don't compromise on freshness and purity. Le Zulu is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon; it's lively and fruity with just a touch of saline zest that rounds out the full and balanced palate.
Order Chateau Maris Le Zulu Rouge
Pink Flamingo Rosé, Sable de Camargue
The fruit for the delightfully named Pink Flamingo Rosé is grown on old Grenache vines in the phylloxera-free vineyards of Sable de Camargue. These grapes are truly indigenous to the area in a way few other producers in France can claim. The resulting wine is the truest expression of the Grenache grape possible, with intense berry flavours and a glorious freshness on the palate.
During the winter months, thousands of sheep are let loose into the vineyards to feed on the grasses and help naturally ‘cultivate’ the land. The wines are both 100% organic and suitable for those following vegetarian diets. The Pink Flamingo Rosé makes a great alternative for lovers of more restrained and elegant Provence-style rose who are keen to try out something new.
Bodegas Arraez Vividor, Utiel-Requena
Described by winemaker as the most "Thug" wine of the Arraez range, this 100% Bobal wine spends 4 months in American and French Oak. It has an intense garnet colour with aromas of fresh red berries and floral and balsamic notes. The playful label design features tattoo motifs that speak to the producers unfussy, down to earth and contemporary approach. The winery has been built to high sustainable standards and uses solar panels to gather all the energy required for winemaking - minimising the carbon footprint. They grow their vines without chemicals and use water that is filtered and re-used.
Delicious wines with characterful design, tick. Ethical winemaking with a commitment to minimising their impact, double tick. There’s nothing not to love about this innovative third-generation winery.
View our full Wine List for 2021/2022 here.
We’re on hand to help you make your wine list a success, with everything from marketing support to staff training. And remember, Guest Checkout is now live on our website so you can shop some of our top selling wines without creating an account.
About the author
Gabrielle Hutson
Gab found a love for wine (and spirits and beer and coffee!) during her years on the hospitality scene around Australia. The desire to dip her toes into a bigger wine and hospitality industry drove her to London and today she writes, reads and talks non-stop about wine for Matthew Clark's website and social channels.
