Central Otago Winery's Trophies Mean Big Business

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

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