Connoisseur Estates expands its sales team

UK wine agency Connoisseur Estates has appointed Tom Barton as its new sales manager for the South of England, responsible for sales of its premium portfolio to wholesalers and independent retailers.

Barton has over 10 years’ experience in the UK wine and spirits trade, including sales roles at Codorníu, Berkmann, PLB and working in the vineyards of Spain and Australia.

Stuart George has just joined the team to develop the key Central London retail sector. George brings almost 20 years of wine experience to the role having started out with Haynes, Hanson and Clark in the Cotswolds, then worked wine harvests in Italy, France and Australia before settling in London 11 years ago.

Commenting on the latest additions to his team, Connoisseur Estates’ director Andrew Steel says: “I am delighted to welcome Tom and Stuart to Connoisseur Estates to help sell our growing portfolio of premium quality wines from around the world’’

The appointment forms part of a growth strategy for 2016 for Connoisseur Estates who recently announced a new agency agreement with Kono NZ from New Zealand, including their premium brands Tohu from the Awatere Valley and Aronui from Nelson.

In other news, Connoisseur  Estate has also announced a new agency agreement for Tohu Wines from New Zealand. Tohu is part of Kono NZ, one of New Zealand’s largest premium food and beverage companies. The shareholders of this Māori owned business all descend from the original four Māori tribes from the top of the South Island and their primary focus is the management and sustainable use of ancestral lands always guided by a set of traditional Māori values which are as relevant today as they were in the past.

Tohu is the group’s premium wine brand and was launched in 1998 as the world’s first Māori-owned wine company. The winery and main vineyard is located in Marlborough’s stunning Awatere Valley famed for producing wines with intense fruit flavour and elegant minerality. The Tohu estate range consists of single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir with a UK RRP from £13.99. Their limited production Reserve range includes an oaked Sauvignon Blanc, Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs and Noble Riesling.

Connoisseur Estates also represents boutique producers such as Oldenburg Vineyards from South Africa, Gauchezco Wines from Argentina, Château d'Anglès from La Clape, France and Champagne Autreau amongst others.

13 February 2016 - Rebecca Sterritt Paragraph Publishing, content manager