Hattingley Valley secures US and OZ export deals
English sparkling wine producer Hattingley Valley has added Australia and the US to its exports portfolio.
US importer Valkyrie Selections, which covers the whole of the US, has signed a deal as the exclusive distributor for the Hampshire-based producer's wines across the pond, making it the first English sparkling wine to join its menu. In Australia, CellarHand has taken on distribution of the English fizz.
The new distribution deals grow Hattingley Valley's export markets to 14 countries, placing it at the forefront of the English sparkling wine scene overseas, said the wine maker, adding the international export market was a core component of its strategic distribution model with "strong ties" being build around the world.
Having recently made headlines in the US trade press, there was a "real interest" in the English wine category, said Valkyrie's chief strategy officer, Emily Peterson.
Right now, the category was "a novelty and an attractive scoop" for journalists, while providing "a discovery" for sommeliers, she added.
"English wines offer great quality that stand up to benchmark sparkling wines from other regions, invariably offering relative good value and we are excited o be at the ground level of introducing it to a broader, receptive audience," she said.
Melbourne-based fine wine importer CellarHand said Hattingley Valley fitted perfectly with the company's ethos and "slotted neatly" into its portfolio.
"English wines are something of a rarity in Australia, but there is a growing recognition of the quality coming from top estates like Hattingley Valley," said director Patrick Walsh.
Earlier this month, Hattingley Valley revealed it was moving into spirits with a new sub-brand - HV Spirits. The first drink under this brand name is Aqua Vitae, which is made from distilled Chardonnay.
The 40% abv drink will be launched this Spring, priced at £45 a bottle, with a brandy poised to be released later this year.
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