![]() ![]() Over Kim’s decade-long relationship with Steele Wines’ owner Jed Steele, sales of the winery’s Pinot Noir at matchbox restaurants were impressive, so Steele didn’t hesitate to comply with Kim’s request to produce a proprietary wine, even sending four bottles to sample. A blend of 10 grapes, including Zinfandel and Syrah, the “matchbox blend” rolled out last summer and sells for $8 a glass or $29 a bottle. “We wanted something that was a good pizza wine, as well,” says Kim. Kim partnered with Steele Wines in Lake County, California, on a wine that can stack up to his spicy, rich tapas and dishes cooked in a wood-burning oven. “To be able to have your own private label is a bucket-list item,” says Andrew Kim, co-founder of matchbox food group, which has eight restaurants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Palm Springs, California-including Ted’s Bulletin, DC-3, and matchbox. “The portfolio has been a popular option for by-the-glass pours for accounts looking for a classic Brut wine style with packaging and positioning that draws on the more traditional Champagne category cues.Nothing trumps a bottle of first-growth Bordeaux on a wine list like a proprietary wine developed in partnership with a winery. “We continue to see growth in sales and distribution, particularly in off-premise national accounts, with the premium release Brut Reserve,” says Norris. In Folio’s domestic sparkling range, Piper Sonoma advanced 2% to just over 50,000 cases in the U.S. “The aging potential of Piper Heidsieck Hors-Serie, Rare Champagne, and Charles Heidsieck’s Blanc des Millénaires creates demand both among collectors and accounts wishing to offer older vintages and exclusive verticals to their customers.” “The outlook for vintage and prestige Champagnes in the Folio portfolio is strong as collectors continue to seek out unique, collectible, and special bottles for both celebrations and as long-term investment,” says Norris. “The biggest challenge is to manage scarcity, ensuring that every bottle is going to its highest and best use.” At the top end, prestige Champagne label Rare is introducing two new vintages this year, Rare 2013 and Rare Rosé 2014. “The brand has already surpassed the long-range plan originally set for 2025,” Norris notes. Folio’s Champagne portfolio also includes Charles Heidsieck, which has been relaunched in recent years. Piper recently released Essentiel Blanc de Noirs, its first Blanc de Noirs entirely made from sustainably grown Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. “Growth is primarily being driven by ongoing expansion in off-premise and national on-premise chain placement, a strong partnership with American Airlines, and new product development through the Piper Essentiel line and Hors-Serie Collection,” Norris continues. “Champagne is no longer a drink reserved for special occasions, and consumers have woven it into their repertoire more than ever before to celebrate the everyday moments in life. ![]() “Overall business is solid, and we expect strong trading through the end of the year,” says Tim Norris, CEO of importer Folio Fine Wine Partners. volume over the past two years, according to Impact Databank. Piper-Heidsieck, part of the Folio Fine Wine Partners portfolio in the U.S., posted some of the most buoyant growth among Champagne’s top players last year, leaping past 60,000 cases on a 38% increase to rank fourth in the category, behind Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, and Nicolas Feuillatte. Piper-Heidsieck Leads A Growing Sparkling Stable At Folio Fine Wine PartnersĮxclusive news and research on the wine, spirits and beer business ![]()
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