Thierry's expands New Zealand wine range

UK wine importer Thierry’s has expanded its New Zealand portfolio and taken on the new ultra-premium Tiki range from McKean Estates in Marlborough’s Wairau Alpine Valley.

The company is also launching its own Four Ships label, in conjunction with Marlborough-based Wairau River Wines as well as another label, Mistletoe Bay, from the Marlborough region.

 “We have been looking for the right New Zealand producers to collaborate with for some time now and we are delighted to be adding the Tiki, Four Ships and Mistletoe Bay ranges to our portfolio,” comments Thierry’s buying director, Dominique Vrigneau. “Despite the tough economic conditions, New Zealand has managed to grow its market share in the UK consistently. Brand New Zealand, and in particular, brand Marlborough, both have an extremely strong consumer franchise. This is a very exciting time to be involved in New Zealand wine with the 2009 vintage promising to be the best vintage ever for consistent quality across all the varietals.”
 
The ultra-premium Tiki range, which includes a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, is produced from three single vineyards in Marlborough’s Wairau Alpine Valley - River Terrace, Te Puke Iti and Rewa - each with its own unique characteristics. The marked diurnal difference in the Alpine Valley results in grapes of exceptional character and elegance. The Tiki is a symbol of the adventurous Kiwi spirit – a talisman to the Maori people who regard it as a powerful good luck charm and symbol of fertility.  McKean Estates’ Marlborough vineyards, which provide all the fruit for Tiki wines, are managed sustainably and the winery is hoping to receive its Sustainable Wine New Zealand (SWNZ) certification in the winter of 2010.
  
Wairau River Wines in the Rapaura region of Marlborough was established in 1978, and is one of only three New Zealand wineries to have achieved a CarbonZero certification and one of just a handful of carbon neutral wineries in the world. Wairau River Wines is committed to sustainable vineyard practices and various environmental projects.

Wairau River Wines is represented in the UK by Ellis of Richmond in the on-trade.

1 January 2010 - Felicity Murray