Wine producers join forces to compete with New Zealand Sauvignon (Nov 10, 2009)

Western Australia’s best known wine producers are leading an advertising campaign to “drink local”, in the hopes of fighting back against New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s domination of the wine market. The campaign was conceived by Jeff Burch, owner of Howard Park in Margaret River, who is keen to point out, however, that “this won’t be a negative campaign, and it won’t mention New Zealand Sauvignon directly.”

This seems to be confirmed by Houghton, who is backing the campaign although owned by Constellation Brands, who also own New Zealand Sauvignon wine producers Nobilo and Kim Crawford in Marlborough. On the other hand, Cape Mentelle, sister company of Cloudy Bay, have not lent their support.

Sales of New Zealand Sauvignon in Australia have tripled over the past three years to 31 million litres, making it Australia’s best-selling white wine. However, the massive production of 2008 and 2009 has taken its toll on prices, which in turn is starting to damage New Zealand’s wine image.

“Reducing the price of New Zealand Sauvignon isn’t sustainable,” said George Fistonich of Villa Maria. “Growers have seen the wine price drop and the damage it’s doing, and now they’ve started focusing on quality and concentration to preserve the price points we already had.”

Australian wine producers have found it impossible to compete with these prices. “Most of these wines are selling at AUS$10. We’re trying to sell at AUS$20,” explained Michael Hill Smith MW of Shaw + Smith in Adelaide Hills.

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices.  Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world.  As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years.  Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

For more information, email Wine@Yats-International.com or visit http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila

Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple:  after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave.  From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City.  From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.