Marketing

Australians still top the wine list

Over the last 12 months, Australian wine was exported to 121 destinations with the majority of distributors recording volume growth, claims the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.

With Australian wines occupying five places out of the top 10 best-selling wines in Ireland the Irish have developed quite a taste for Oz wines. In fact nearly one in every four bottles of wine sold here emanates from Australia.

 

 

Wine Australia in Dublin

Wine Australia’s Annual Trade Tasting in Dublin recently was met with renewed energy for the category as 26 producers showcased their wines at the Royal Hibernian Academy.

With more than 200 wines under the spotlight, the tasting celebrated the regional heroes of Australia’s 65 wine regions.

A sell-out Masterclass set the scene for the day as Australian wine expert John McDonnell and Wine Australia’s Chair Brian Walsh explored two of the country’s iconic varieties: Chardonnay and Shiraz. Guests were impressed with the highlighted wines, prompting many to visit the respective tables for further discussions.

Two Focus Tables featuring Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon stood in the centre of the room.

Gourmet food samples were created by Naomi’s Kitchen and added a further dimension for guests interested in experimenting with a variety of food and wine matches.

Wine Australia’s General Manager, Market Development, Stuart Barclay, who joined the team at the event, said that there’s a strong enthusiasm for Australian wines in Ireland as evidenced by the feedback at the tasting.

“There was a great energy at our Annual Trade Tasting in Dublin, with the event providing an ideal platform for new conversations around Australian wine,” he said.

“The tasting was well-attended by key press, buyers and the on-trade who were impressed by our range of wines. The Masterclass and Focus Tables worked well and inspired extended discussions at our exhibitor tables while the buzz in the room clearly hinted at a new confidence in the category.

“Wine Australia looks forward to hosting future events with equal vibrancy in the future.”

At the 2016 Annual Trade Tasting in Dublin Wine Australia will expand the event to include a consumer session in the evening.

 

[Yellow Tail]low

[yellow tail]

[yellow tail] is the little Australian wine brand that grew from its humble beginnings in 2001 to be one of the world’s leading and most recognisable wine brands.

It also features as one of Ireland’s top five Australian wine brands.

The Casella Winery that created it continues to be 100% family-owned at the heart of this world-leading winery based in Yenda, just outside Griffith, New South Wales.

The family emigrated to Australia from Italy in the mid-1950s and knew they wanted to share their wines with family and friends in their new home. Now, Casella Wines can be enjoyed in over 40 countries around the world. To this day Casella Wines is Australia’s largest family-owned winery; by combining a passion and understanding of the Italian heritage with a relaxed and modern Australian attitude Casella creates brands that have wide appeal.

[yellow tail] was created with a simple philosophy in mind: to be a great wine that everyone can enjoy on any occasion. In 2013, Casella Wines bottled its one billionth bottle of [yellow tail] wine.

Pinot Grigio is Ireland’s favourite [yellow tail] white varietal. This wine has long-lasting citrus and passion fruit flavours with a hint of tropical sweetness that will leave your mouth watering for more.

Shiraz is Ireland’s favourite [yellow tail] red varietal. A soft and juicy texture on the palate, flavours of ripe cherries and blackberries provide for a long, structured and delicious finish.

Varietals available in Ireland: Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

 

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet

Wolf Blass

Wolf Blass is one of Australia’s greatest success stories. From a humble tin shed in the legendary Barossa Valley in 1966, Wolf Blass has grown to become one of Australia’s most successful and awarded winemakers. Wolf Blass has received over 4,000 awards and accolades including the only four-time winner of the prestigious ‘Jimmy Watson’ trophy. Today Wolf Blass wines are exported to more than 50 countries and they’re recognised internationally as an icon of modern winemaking.

 

 

 

 

 

Penfoldslow

 

 

 

Penfolds

Without the influence of Penfolds the modern Australian wine industry would look very different indeed. Sitting comfortably outside of fad and fashion, Penfolds has taken Australian wine to the world on a grand stage and forged a reputation for quality that’s without peer.

To label Penfolds as simply an established and conventional winemaker would be to confuse tradition with consideration and to overlook the innovative spirit that’s driven Penfolds since its foundation and continues to find expression in modern times.

If there’s anything traditional about Penfolds, it’s the practice of constantly reviewing the wines it already does well and continuously evolving and refining styles as vineyards mature and access to ever-older and more varied vineyard sites improves.

 

 

 

Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

 

 

Katnook

Katnook Estate has a unique heritage with history engrained in the development of Coonawarra as a region. In 1861 Scottish immigrant John Riddoch arrived at Penola in South Australia and was impressed with the remarkable rate of growth of fruit trees and vines in an area having soil with a distinctive red colour. He began buying land at ‘Katnook’, a nearby property to his own, named after the Aboriginal word for ‘fat land’ denoting the rich fertile character of the country.

Katnook was the site of John Riddoch’s second vintage, produced in the woolshed of experienced winemaker William Salter in 1896. In 1980 the second chapter of Katnook Estate began when wines were again produced from the property by Senior Winemaker Wayne Stehbens who still makes Katnook Estate wines to this day.

 


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