Wellington Wines are delighted to announce the official opening
of their European Sales and Marketing office in the UK. Christian Gilbert, of Export
consutancy firm ‘Rushmore Ltd’, has been appointed to manage all European operations.
“After a series of domestic acquisitions that have seen our supply
capacity increase dramatically and at a time where demand for quality wines
shipped in bulk is so strong, we are delighted to be getting closer to our customers.
With an experienced Sales and Marketing professional in the market we can
provide improved service levels and customer reassurance which has already been
reflected in an uplift in sales contracts, particularly in the UK” said Johan
Truter, CEO of Wellington Wines.
Based in Wellington in the Western Cape of South Africa,
Wellington Wines has a vision to be one of the key suppliers of quality wine
for retailer brands. The company has 3 production facilities and produces some
26million litres of wine annually. They are BRC, WIETA, IPW and Fairtrade
accredited and have some of the most advanced cellar technology available
today.
In addition to the global favourites of Cabernet, Shiraz
& Chardonnay, Wellington Wines are experts at South Africa’s ‘own’ varieties
of Pinotage and Chenin and because of the exceptional and diverse soil types
and microclimates in the region, they also produce ‘exciting’ cultivars such as
Grenache Blanc, Rousanne, Old Vine Cinsaut, Carignan, Barbera and are specialists
in lower alcohol wines.
Wellington is known as the ‘cradle’ of the South African
wine industry because some 80% of all vines planted in the industry are grown
and nurtured in Wellington soils. Hence the statement “Wellington Wines - where
wines are born”.
Christian Gilbert says: “The term ‘UK bottled’ rarely gets the
heart racing or has critics gazing dreamily into their wine glasses but there
are still some superb value UK bottled wines on the shelves at the moment. Sales
data proves that the consumer likes them - and is loyal - and some of the retailers
have done a great job to ensure the presentation backs up the quality of the
wine. With such a mature, demanding consumer in the UK this has become an increasingly
important part of our industry and I am excited to be driving the Wellington
Wines investment in the UK and helping to boost the image of UK bottled wines
overall”.
Wellington Wines invite customers and journalists to visit
them at Prowein. They will be exhibiting in the WOSA area in Hall 1, B18 #17.
Contact: Christian Gilbert. T: +44 (0) 7829 990 008 E: christian@wellingtonwines.com