Economic spin off from international buyers
9 December 2009
Media release
Economic spin off from international buyers at HB red wine events
Hawke’s Bay’s economy looks set to benefit from the interest being shown in local wines by some of the world’s most influential wine buyers who will be in the region in January for two national red wine events.
The line up of international buyers and commentators booking spaces in the New Zealand Cabernet Merlot Forum on Friday 29 January and the New Zealand Syrah Symposium on Saturday 30 January reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the wine world.
“Not only is there huge benefit to be gained from information being shared by the outstanding calibre of speakers but the potential opportunities for our wines and region to be written about, and for our wines to be purchased by some of the most influential writers and buyers is mind-blowing,” says Rod McDonald, Chair of event host Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc.
Included in the line up of buyers who could open avenues for sales are four men regarded as hugely influential in their respective markets: Steven Campbell of Lifford Wine Agency in Canada, Fernando Beteta of Chicago Hyatt’s NoMI restaurant in America, Jonathan Butt of Butt Naked Wines, UK and American David Duckhorn of Via Pacifica Selections.
Jonathan Butt was head of a UK’s specialist
wine buyer, Threshers Wine Merchants, until mid 2009, but
has since set up Butt Naked Wines, with a focus on bringing
new wines to the UK retail market in partnership with
British wine agent and importer Brand Phoenix. A large part
of Butt’s work centres on the development of new agencies
from New Zealand, Spain and California for Brand
Phoenix.
UK is the largest export market for NZ red wines
followed by Australia and then the USA. NZ Winegrowers
statistics show that in the first quarter of 2009 (up to
September 2009) exports of New Zealand reds to the UK
equalled 30 percent of the full 2008 figure of $38,403,359.
If this trend continues as expected, then red wine exports
will be up on last year but with interest from those
attending in January, results could be even more positive,
organisers suggest.
Lifford Wine Agency is Ontario’s
number one supplier of wine to the hospitality industry and
represents more than sixty meticulously chosen wine
producers from all over the world. Mr Campbell will be
accompanied by three other buyers from the firm.
Canada
is New Zealand’s fourth largest export market for red
wines ($7,614,713 total sales in 2009 / 10), and Hawke’s
Bay’s position as this country’s premium red wine
producer bodes well for local wineries.
Via Pacifica
Selections, based in California, imports and markets
handcrafted premium wine from around the world to the United
States. Five representatives from the firm will be
attending with Mr Duckhorn.
As part of a small, exclusive
niche of up-and-coming, stylish young wine connoisseurs in
Chicago, Fernando Beteta, is a master sommelier of the
award-winning NoMI restaurant and oversees the wine list of
the restaurant’s main dining room, lounge and 10,000
bottle wine cellar.
To date 93 delegates have
registered with the majority from New Zealand but a good
representation from United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and
USA, plus an individual from Germany and Hong Kong.
More details on the national events can be found on the respective event websites www.cabernetmerlotforum.co.nz and www.syrahsymposium.co.nz
ENDS