Inspired by a product seen abroad, the eagerly anticipated Pierre Jourdan Wine Popsicles, or ‘PJ Pops’ as they are referred to, are the brainchild of Natasha Alomia and Jon-Marc De Carvalho, founders and directors of JML Consulting (Pty) Ltd, a company that specialises in the launch of new health, wellness and lifestyle brands.
Alcohol-based popsicles have already proven a runaway success in major overseas markets, and the launch of the PJ Pops marks the first time a home-grown, wine-based popsicle product has landed on local shelves. The PJ Pops will launch 1 September 2016, with two deliciously eye-catching offerings made from the Pierre Jourdan Brut, a Cap Classique, and Pierre Jourdan Tranquille, a still wine made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Both wines are from acclaimed Franschhoek cellar Haute Cabrière.
With her global background in strategic marketing, Alomia’s sharp eye for branding and business is matched by the entrepreneurial savvy of De Carvalho.
Haute Cabrière was the first South African wine farm to exclusively produce Cap Classique from the noble cultivars of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so it is certainly fitting that the wines of their Pierre Jourdan range were selected by Alomia and De Carvalho to launch South Africa’s first Wine Popsicles.
With Pierre Jourdan Brut and Pierre Jourdan Tranquille celebrating their 30th and 15th anniversaries, respectively, this year, Alomia and De Carvalho have worked closely with cellar master Takuan von Arnim to ensure the Popsicles remain true to the spirit of these much-loved wines. In producing the Popsicles, the wines are slightly sweetened with natural fructose to ensure a more decadent dessert experience, yet all the acidity and complexity of the elegant Brut, and the gentle blush and beguiling bouquet of the Pinot Noir-driven Tranquille, remain.
Key to the appeal of the PJ Pops is the stylish packaging mirroring the elegance of the wines: dark-green for the Brut, a rosy blush for the Tranquille, all presented in a sophisticated, fully-recyclable popsicle tube with a 100% aluminium foil top-seal that allows for fuss-free enjoyment anywhere, anytime.
Despite the distinctly upmarket appeal of the PJ Pops, they are competitively priced to be both aspirational and accessible.
From a retail perspective, the PJ Pops will launch exclusively in select Pick n Pay Liquor and Grocery outlets across Gauteng and the Western Cape from 1 September. Recommended Retail Price is R25.00 (inclusive of VAT) per PJ Pop.
For more information and a complete list of PJ Pops’ stockists (restaurants, bars, hotels and Pick n Pay stores) visit www.cabrière.co.za or www.jmlconsulting.co.za on 1 September 2016.
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