Woodbridge Launches Lightly Oaked Chardonnay
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi has expanded its wine portfolio to include new Lightly Oaked Chardonnay in answer to “consumer demand for an alternative to the traditional style of this varietal,” said the company.
“When it comes to Chardonnay, consumers fall into two distinct camps,” explains Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi winemaker Todd Ziemann. “Those who prefer a more traditional style of wine with classic oak overtones and those who prefer a Chardonnay that’s a touch more floral, full of lush fruit sweetness. This wine will appeal to people who favor the latter style. It’s all about the Chardonnay fruit.”
Chardonnay accounts for 24% of total table wine sales in the U.S., with Woodbridge as the top selling premium priced Chardonnay. However, consumer trends for alternative white wines are growing, said the company.
“The time is right. There is solid consumer interest in a ‘lightly oaked’ Chardonnay. And, we discovered that consumers overwhelmingly preferred the term ‘lightly oaked’ to ‘unoaked’ which they felt indicated that a critical winemaking step was left out,” said Nick Withers, marketing director.
The front label clearly states “Lightly Oaked,” the neck band has a bright silver color scheme and the wine is bottled in a claret bottle. Woodbridge Lightly Oaked Chardonnay will be available in 750 ml ($7.99) and 1.5L bottles.
Unoaked Chardonnay has already proved popular for Australia, so could this be a new trend among domestic winemakers? Let us know your thoughts at megan@beernet.com
DROUGHT AND STRONG AUSSIE DOLLAR HURT EXPORTS
Australian exports continue to suffer as a result of the record drought, strong Australian dollar and weak U.S. economy. For the first time in 13 years, the value of Australia’s annual wine exports fell -11% to $2.66 billion (which includes key UK and US markets), according to the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation's export report for 2007-08. Wine export volume declined -12% to 702 million liters.
The good news for producers, though, is that price increased 1% to $3.78 a liter, the first rise in 7 years as bulk wine shipments continue to shrink. AWBC says the elimination of bulk wine has contributed to the decline in value and volume, and expects 70 million liters of unprofitable bulk wine to drop out this year.
Bottled wine shipments were hurt in the second half by a rising Australian dollar against the US dollar and British pound. Overall, bottled wine exports fell by -3% to 540 million liters and declined 10% to $2.5 billion.
"We do expect exchange rates to remain high going forward, so the quality story for Australian wine is much more important," said AWBC information and analysis manager Lawrie Stanford.
The value of exports to the U.S. was down -23% to $741 million. Interestingly, Australians bought more imported wine, particularly from New Zealand, than domestic wine last year.
AUSTRALIAN IMPORTER ADDS BROKENWOOD AND KILIKANOON WINES
Napa-based importer Old Bridge Cellars has announced its distribution agreement with Hunter Valley wine producer, Brokenwood, effective July 1. The Australian winery was founded in 1970 by Sydney trio Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic, James Halliday. The Estate is headed by managing director, chief winemaker and part owner, Iain Riggs.
The Brokenwood offering ranges in price from the Graveyard Shiraz ($125), ILR
Reserve Semillon ($45) and the Cricket Pitch line, blends of sauvignon blanc/semillon and cabernet/shiraz/merlot, retailing at around $20 per bottle.
Old Bridge Cellars also struck a distribution agreement with Clare Valley wine producer
Kilikanoon, which took effect July 1. Founded in 1997 by Kevin Mitchell, Kilikanoon is a boutique winery that takes its name from a mansion in Cornwall, England. The portfolio ranges from the Killerman’s Run Shiraz and Cabernet ($20 a bottle), to the Mort’s Block Reserve Riesling ($35) and the Attunga 1865 Shiraz, crafted from some of Australia’s oldest living vines planted in the early 1860’s ($240).
Addressing the current state of the Australian wine business in the US, Rob Buono, president, Old Bridge Cellars said: “We believe that this is the best time for such an expansion, based on the momentum already underway on this brand [Kilikanoon] in the US, and the strength of the over $10 category, reflected in both imported and domestic wine sales. The current softness of the Australian category is primarily in the under $7 category, and has had a minimal impact on the upper price tiers.”
SPAIN TOP WINE PRODUCER BY 2015
A French study says France will lose its top spot as the world’s number one wine producer to Spain by 2015, according to Credoc researchers. The drop is attributed to falling domestic consumption, particularly for red wine, linked to French health concerns and changing drinking habits by the younger generation (no more wine with lunch). Domestic consumption has fallen 2.6% per year in the past eight years and will continue to fall by 1.1% annually until 2015.
French wine is expected to continue losing market share to New World wines in Western Europe, America, China and Japan. As a result, many French vintners will cutback production.
WSD BRIEFS:
THE CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HAS FILED A LAWSUIT in federal court that attempts to block San Francisco from requiring certain chains to post nutrition information starting in September. Adopted unanimously in March, the ordinance will apply to chains with at least 20 units statewide, requiring them to display the calorie, fat, carbohydrate and sodium content of standard menu items on menus, menu boards or posters, reports NRN.
AMERICAN WINESECRETS OF NAPA acquired the reverse osmosis-based technologies and alcohol-adjustment services of Sonoma-based Vinovation Inc, reports Wines & Vines. The transition began this week. Some of Vinovation's employees will join Winesecrets, which will acquire the assets and assume and expand operations at the Sonoma facility and throughout California and most of North America.
MAX & ERMA’S RESTAURANTS GO PRIVATE. Max & Erma’s shareholders have approved a $10.2 million takeover by G&R Acquitions, which will buy all of Max & Erma’s 2.6 million outstanding shares at $4 a share. The deal will allow the casual dining chain to complete its remodeling program and resume expansion primarily through franchising. Corporate headquarters will remain in Columbus and executives will remain after the transaction closes.
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER HAS DECLARED SEPT. CALIFORNIA WINE MONTH for the fourth consecutive year.
Until tomorrow, Megan
“He may be mad, but there's method in his madness. There nearly always is method in madness. It's what drives men mad, being methodical.”
G. K. Chesterton
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today’s Sell Day: 7
Sell days this month: 23
Sell days this month last year: 22
This month ends on a: Thur
This month last year ended on a: Tues.
YTD sell days Over/Under: +0
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: megan@winespiritsdaily.com
© 2008 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
“When it comes to Chardonnay, consumers fall into two distinct camps,” explains Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi winemaker Todd Ziemann. “Those who prefer a more traditional style of wine with classic oak overtones and those who prefer a Chardonnay that’s a touch more floral, full of lush fruit sweetness. This wine will appeal to people who favor the latter style. It’s all about the Chardonnay fruit.”
Chardonnay accounts for 24% of total table wine sales in the U.S., with Woodbridge as the top selling premium priced Chardonnay. However, consumer trends for alternative white wines are growing, said the company.
“The time is right. There is solid consumer interest in a ‘lightly oaked’ Chardonnay. And, we discovered that consumers overwhelmingly preferred the term ‘lightly oaked’ to ‘unoaked’ which they felt indicated that a critical winemaking step was left out,” said Nick Withers, marketing director.
The front label clearly states “Lightly Oaked,” the neck band has a bright silver color scheme and the wine is bottled in a claret bottle. Woodbridge Lightly Oaked Chardonnay will be available in 750 ml ($7.99) and 1.5L bottles.
Unoaked Chardonnay has already proved popular for Australia, so could this be a new trend among domestic winemakers? Let us know your thoughts at megan@beernet.com
DROUGHT AND STRONG AUSSIE DOLLAR HURT EXPORTS
Australian exports continue to suffer as a result of the record drought, strong Australian dollar and weak U.S. economy. For the first time in 13 years, the value of Australia’s annual wine exports fell -11% to $2.66 billion (which includes key UK and US markets), according to the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation's export report for 2007-08. Wine export volume declined -12% to 702 million liters.
The good news for producers, though, is that price increased 1% to $3.78 a liter, the first rise in 7 years as bulk wine shipments continue to shrink. AWBC says the elimination of bulk wine has contributed to the decline in value and volume, and expects 70 million liters of unprofitable bulk wine to drop out this year.
Bottled wine shipments were hurt in the second half by a rising Australian dollar against the US dollar and British pound. Overall, bottled wine exports fell by -3% to 540 million liters and declined 10% to $2.5 billion.
"We do expect exchange rates to remain high going forward, so the quality story for Australian wine is much more important," said AWBC information and analysis manager Lawrie Stanford.
The value of exports to the U.S. was down -23% to $741 million. Interestingly, Australians bought more imported wine, particularly from New Zealand, than domestic wine last year.
AUSTRALIAN IMPORTER ADDS BROKENWOOD AND KILIKANOON WINES
Napa-based importer Old Bridge Cellars has announced its distribution agreement with Hunter Valley wine producer, Brokenwood, effective July 1. The Australian winery was founded in 1970 by Sydney trio Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic, James Halliday. The Estate is headed by managing director, chief winemaker and part owner, Iain Riggs.
The Brokenwood offering ranges in price from the Graveyard Shiraz ($125), ILR
Reserve Semillon ($45) and the Cricket Pitch line, blends of sauvignon blanc/semillon and cabernet/shiraz/merlot, retailing at around $20 per bottle.
Old Bridge Cellars also struck a distribution agreement with Clare Valley wine producer
Kilikanoon, which took effect July 1. Founded in 1997 by Kevin Mitchell, Kilikanoon is a boutique winery that takes its name from a mansion in Cornwall, England. The portfolio ranges from the Killerman’s Run Shiraz and Cabernet ($20 a bottle), to the Mort’s Block Reserve Riesling ($35) and the Attunga 1865 Shiraz, crafted from some of Australia’s oldest living vines planted in the early 1860’s ($240).
Addressing the current state of the Australian wine business in the US, Rob Buono, president, Old Bridge Cellars said: “We believe that this is the best time for such an expansion, based on the momentum already underway on this brand [Kilikanoon] in the US, and the strength of the over $10 category, reflected in both imported and domestic wine sales. The current softness of the Australian category is primarily in the under $7 category, and has had a minimal impact on the upper price tiers.”
SPAIN TOP WINE PRODUCER BY 2015
A French study says France will lose its top spot as the world’s number one wine producer to Spain by 2015, according to Credoc researchers. The drop is attributed to falling domestic consumption, particularly for red wine, linked to French health concerns and changing drinking habits by the younger generation (no more wine with lunch). Domestic consumption has fallen 2.6% per year in the past eight years and will continue to fall by 1.1% annually until 2015.
French wine is expected to continue losing market share to New World wines in Western Europe, America, China and Japan. As a result, many French vintners will cutback production.
WSD BRIEFS:
THE CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HAS FILED A LAWSUIT in federal court that attempts to block San Francisco from requiring certain chains to post nutrition information starting in September. Adopted unanimously in March, the ordinance will apply to chains with at least 20 units statewide, requiring them to display the calorie, fat, carbohydrate and sodium content of standard menu items on menus, menu boards or posters, reports NRN.
AMERICAN WINESECRETS OF NAPA acquired the reverse osmosis-based technologies and alcohol-adjustment services of Sonoma-based Vinovation Inc, reports Wines & Vines. The transition began this week. Some of Vinovation's employees will join Winesecrets, which will acquire the assets and assume and expand operations at the Sonoma facility and throughout California and most of North America.
MAX & ERMA’S RESTAURANTS GO PRIVATE. Max & Erma’s shareholders have approved a $10.2 million takeover by G&R Acquitions, which will buy all of Max & Erma’s 2.6 million outstanding shares at $4 a share. The deal will allow the casual dining chain to complete its remodeling program and resume expansion primarily through franchising. Corporate headquarters will remain in Columbus and executives will remain after the transaction closes.
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER HAS DECLARED SEPT. CALIFORNIA WINE MONTH for the fourth consecutive year.
Until tomorrow, Megan
“He may be mad, but there's method in his madness. There nearly always is method in madness. It's what drives men mad, being methodical.”
G. K. Chesterton
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today’s Sell Day: 7
Sell days this month: 23
Sell days this month last year: 22
This month ends on a: Thur
This month last year ended on a: Tues.
YTD sell days Over/Under: +0
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: megan@winespiritsdaily.com
© 2008 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
posted at 12:25 PM
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