UK News Still Good For Marlborough Wine Producers

30 June 2011

Media Release

UK News Still Good For Marlborough Wine Producers

Marcus Pickens, the first recipient of the NZ-UK Link Foundation’s Wine Marlborough – John Avery Scholarship, has returned to New Zealand excited by the continued strong reputation that the country’s most important wine region has among leading UK retailers.

In his time in the UK he had extensive meetings not only with the buyers at Avery’s Wine Merchants, one of the UK’s best known wine retailers, but also with a wide range of other companies and distributors.

He commented, “The UK is Marlborough’s Number One Export market and our wines sell for the highest average price per litre in that market. Such is the reputation we have established, UK retailers want to sell our wine not just because its quality commands a premium price but because they have a very positive view of the country.

Our wine, led of course by sauvignon blanc, is widely regarded as highly distinctive and a ‘hot’ category. Interestingly, we are also regarded as producing high quality across the board when most other competitors are viewed as more variable. But there was also such a favourable view of New Zealand in a general sense. Sometimes we think “clean and green” is a self-regarding cliché – but I found it resonates in Britain.

So the quality of our wine and the regard for the country are mutually reinforcing. It means a strong position for us away from commodity producers. And there is increasing interest in other Marlborough aromatic white varietals and our especially our Pinot Noir wines too. I think we can see more growth here in years to come as retailers back our efforts.

It was summed up for me when the buyer for The Wine Society, Pierre Mansour said to me, ‘Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a huge category and could be as globally successful as super famous regions such as Champagne in France or Rioja in Spain’.

I have learned a great deal that I know will help my career and, I hope will benefit the Marlborough wine industry to sell overseas.”

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