For Immediate Release
24 June 2008
Trophies Mean Big Business for Central Otago Winery
Winning five major international trophies in four weeks was a welcome surprise for Central Otago’s Wild Earth Wines. The
immediate rush of orders totalling over $1.5 million (retail value) from around the world was even better news.
In June, Wild Earth won Best International Pinot Noir in addition to three other trophies at the International Wine
Challenge in London, for its 2006 vintage. Less than a month before, the same wine had been awarded Top New Zealand
Pinot Noir at the Decanter Awards. In the wine game, international awards success means big business – fast.
Orders from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Canada and New Zealand have poured in. Offers of
representation from importers in Sweden, Hong Kong, Dubai, Germany, Japan and Singapore soon followed. Within a week,
the entire remaining stock of the 2006 vintage pinot noir – several thousand cases - was sold.
Dave Nicholas, General Manager for Wild Earth Wines, comments: “Top level success at the world’s leading wine shows is
limited to a few winemakers and a run of major trophies by one wine is very unusual. Consumers and trade buyers take
notice of these results and as supply of any given vintage is limited, they try to secure the wine very quickly.”
“Winning major awards puts wine brands on a pedestal; stellar reputations can be created literally overnight. The
profile of the brand in wine markets globally is hugely enhanced by such accolades. That can lead to long term
commercial success for the winery.”
Since its launch in 2005 Wild Earth Wines has grown its sales from 350 to over 11,000 cases. It has ambitions of growing
four-fold within the next five years. All of a sudden that goal appears very achievable.
Wild Earth Wines is a family owned winemaker, located at the very end of Felton Road in Bannockburn, Central Otago. It
has produced wines under the Wild Earth brand since 2004. Its wines are entirely estate grown, available throughout New
Zealand and exported to international markets including the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, China, and
Canada.
ENDS
www.wildearthwines.co.nz