The US’s Sixth-Largest Wine Supplier1 Expands International Portfolio with Addition of Stoneleigh, New Zealand’s Number One Domestic Wine Brand2
NAPA, Calif., Nov. 11, 2020 – Delicato Family Wines, the sixth-largest wine supplier in the United States3, announced today a long-term agreement with Pernod Ricard Winemakers to become the exclusive importer of Stoneleigh in the United States and Caribbean. Based in Marlborough, Stoneleigh is the number one wine brand in New Zealand and sold more than 794,000 9-liter cases globally in 20194.
“Stoneleigh is a global wine brand with a pedigreed history in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and an established track record of strong consumer appeal,” commented Chris Indelicato, CEO of Delicato Family Wines. “The addition of Stoneleigh to our Transcendent Fine Wine portfolio diversifies Delicato’s range of ultra-premium and luxury offerings, and provides Delicato with a powerful entry point into the fast-growing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc category,” he continued.
According to IRI, Sauvignon Blanc is the fastest-growing varietal in the US, up 29 percent in dollar sales over the last 26 weeks5. Ultra-premium New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is outpacing this strong category growth, with retail sales increasing 39 percent in the same period6.
Bryan Fry, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, said: “With rich heritage, excellent craftmanship and growing success internationally, we are excited to partner with Delicato Family Wines to bring this award-winning wine brand to the US market, and capitalize on the growing Sauvignon Blanc category. As Delicato is a family-run business with complementary values, we are confident that Delicato will drive the Stoneleigh brand in the US market.”
Said Chris Indelicato, “Pernod Ricard Winemakers is a global leader in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with an outstanding reputation for quality. They also own substantial assets, such as pedigreed vineyards and top-flight winemaking facilities, that bring the authenticity, heritage and scalability to Stoneleigh that will allow us to grow the brand into a category leader over time.”
Stoneleigh Will Join Delicato’s Transcendent Fine Wine Division
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc comes from estate-owned vineyards that are among the oldest and most historic vines in Marlborough, New Zealand’s premier white wine appellation. The wine expresses the terroir of the prime Marlborough sub-region of Rapaura, in the Wairau Valley, with vineyards located in Rapaura’s prestigious “Golden Mile.” The US bottling was crafted as a collaboration between Stoneleigh winemaker Jamie Marfell and Delicato Family Wines, and incorporates five percent Sauvignon Gris, an exotic, pink-berried variety related to Sauvignon Blanc, whose addition contributes texture, weight and complexity to the wine.
The wine’s luxury packaging, which includes Burgundian glass, a Stelvin® LUX screw cap, and a richly tailored, foil-embossed label, is likewise unique to the US market. Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc will be represented by Delicato’s Transcendent Fine Wine division, complementing the portfolio’s existing luxury offerings, which include Torbreck’s benchmark Barossa Shiraz, world-class New Zealand Pinot Noir from Escarpment, Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Rita, and Rheingau Rieslings from Schloss Vollrads, one of the world’s most historic wineries. The US bottling of Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc will launch at retail in March of 2021 and sell for a suggested shelf price of $19.
“We look forward to building the Stoneleigh brand in the US and fully capitalizing on the growth opportunities this shared endeavor provides to both Delicato and to Pernod Ricard. This move further strengthens our long-term strategy for Delicato Family Wines, which is to be a leading, family-owned winery with a portfolio of powerful brands,” noted Indelicato.
ABOUT DELICATO FAMILY WINES
Delicato Family Wines is a fourth-generation, family-owned company founded in 1924 and has grown to be one of the U.S.’s fastest-growing top-ten wine companies. Delicato’s diversified portfolio of leading brands includes Bota Box, Noble Vines, Gnarly Head, Z. Alexander Brown, Black Stallion, 1924, Three Finger Jack, Mercer Bros., Santa Rita 120 (Chile) and Schmitt Söhne Family Wines (Germany). Transcendent Wines, Delicato’s Fine Wine Sales & Marketing portfolio, includes such luxury brands as Black Stallion Limited Release, Diora, Dobbes Family Estate Wines and Wine by Joe, in addition to luxury estate wines from Schloss Vollrads, Franz Keller, and Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier (Germany), Casa Real and Triple C (Chile), Torbreck Vintners (Australia) and Escarpment (New Zealand). For more information, visit www.delicato.com.
ABOUT PERNOD RICARD WINEMAKERS
Pernod Ricard Winemakers is the world-renowned premium wine division of Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard Winemakers is responsible for creating one of the world’s most diverse portfolios of premium wines, with brands including: Jacob’s Creek and St Hugo from Australia, Brancott Estate, Stoneleigh and Church Road from New Zealand, Campo Viejo and Ysios from Spain and Kenwood Vineyards and Mumm Napa from the US. From award-winning wine quality to sustainable winemaking practices, our team of around 2,000 employees across four countries aim to set the benchmark in winemaking excellence globally. For more information, visit our website: www.pernod-ricard-winemakers.com. Twitter l Instagram l LinkedIn
