Tuscan producer Piccini - the company that created the original Italian bag-in-tube format with the Piccanti - has scored another premier with what they believe to be the first 100% Sangiovese Rosé IGT wine to be produced in Italy.
Piccini will launch the new 'Selezione Rosa', Rosato Toscano IGT 2007 at this year's LIWF.
Targeted at the Off-Trade with an RRP of £6.99, the wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes harvested from Piccini's family-owned vineyards close to the town of Castellina in Chianti - the very same vineyards that Head Winemaker Antonella Conti uses for her premium Chianti Riserva 'Selezione Oro' DOCG.
The launch of the Rosato Toscana comes hot on the heels of news that Piccini has leapt to the position of number one Chianti brand, and sixth best distributed Italian brand in the UK Off-Trade, with a volume growth of 213% (and 225% in value) over the last year.
New listings, including Sainsbury's for the recently released Chianti Superiore DOCG and flagship Piccini 'Orange Label' Chianti, mean UK agents PLB are forecasting sales to hit the 200,000 case mark in 2008.
“The Rosato Toscano is a perfect example of why Piccini's commercial understanding makes them such a great proposition for the UK market,” comments Brand Manager Paul Shelton.
“They are constantly looking at market trends and working to deliver innovative products which add value to a category. As another instance, they were also first to market with the brand new Chianti Superiore classification.”
Family-owned and run, Piccini has been making classic Chianti wines in the heart of the Tuscan countryside for over 120 years and today is responsible for up to 12% of the entire region's production.
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