Leading wine producers launch Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance

Five of the world’s leading wine producers are joining forces in the newly created Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance, set to launch at next month’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.

Respected as some of the best winemakers within their respective countries and key players in travel retail, the wineries include Albert Bichot (France), Cono Sur (Chile), González Byass (Spain), Masi Agricola (Italy) and Symington Family Estates (Portugal). Their mission through the new alliance is to promote fine wine in the travel retail channel.

“Consumers can be intimidated in front of a wine shelf. This is the reason why they are looking for strong brands that are renown and respected for their history and the nature of their wines.”

According to the Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance members, the group has been created as the industry recovers from a deeply challenging period.

“We believe that together we will be able to give a stronger message to travel retailer,” the Alliance said. They noted that wine is a “complex, intriguing and sometimes difficult world”.

“Consumers can be intimidated in front of a wine shelf. This is the reason why they are looking for strong brands that are renown and respected for their history and the nature of their wines. They search for authenticity, uniqueness and quality at the right price.

“This is what we share together and what we would like to communicate to our partners”.

The Alliance members have decided to exhibit close to each other in the Blue Village while still maintaining their own stands and identities. They pointed out that this innovative joint effort means that buyers and travel retail wine aficionados will be able to visit and enjoy the wines of the five companies in a relatively small amount of time.

The five companies will host a Fine Wines aperitif and tasting on Tuesday 4 October at La Mandala from 5.30 to 7.30pm. Each winery will select two of its most prestigious wines – all available in travel retail – and pair them with food matches to highlight the “stunning potential of fine wine sales in premium travel retail”.

Company Profiles

Albert Bichot (Blue Village F8)

Based in Beaune since 1831, Albert Bichot is a sixth generation, family-owned and independent winery. The House owns six estates in the most prestigious appellations of Burgundy.

Over the past decade, Albert Bichot has reached a crucial stage in its development by becoming the leading organic winery in Burgundy. In addition to expertise through its own vineyards, Albert Bichot is also a ‘négociant-winemaker-breeder’, selecting and buying grapes and musts to ensure the best quality of all its wines.

Albert Bichot wines are featured in travel retail and on selected international airlines, in First and Business classes.

Travel Retail Manager Philippe De Marcilly can be contacted on philippe.demarcilly@albert-bichot.com.

Cono Sur (Blue Village F12)

Cono Sur is adamant that high-quality wine production can work hand-in-hand with eco-friendly practices.

Through the years, the winery has incorporated natural vineyard management, organic production, ISO certifications and CO2 emissions balance through carbon neutral delivery. It was one of the first wineries in Chile to be organically certified and recently joined the B-Corp community, meeting the highest standards in terms of social performance, environmental care, transparency and corporate responsibility.

Cono Sur describes its wines as “expressive, innovative and conveying the spirit of the New World”.

Travel Retail Manager Geraldine Gouet-Thureau can be contacted at geraldine.gouet@conosurwinery.cl.

González Byass (Blue Village F3)

González Byass is a family-owned collection of wineries founded in 1835 and spanning Spain’s most important wine-producing regions. Its portfolio includes well-known brands Tío Pepe Fino Sherry and Lepanto Brandy de Jerez.

Today’s fifth generation leads a family of wineries which includes Bodegas Beronia (Rioja and Rueda); Cavas Vilarnau (Barcelona); Finca Constancia (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla); Finca Moncloa (Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz); Viñas del Vero (Somontano); Pazo de Lusco (Rías Baixas) and Dominio Fournier (Ribera del Duero).

In 2016 the company expanded its reach outside the Iberian Peninsula to include Vinas Veramonte and Neyen in Casablanca and Apalta Valleys in Chile. This was followed by the acquisition of Pedro Domecq in Mexico. In each of these regions the family strives to make the best possible quality wines respecting the local terroir and the environment.

Travel Retail Manager Violaine Creuzé can be contacted at vcreuze@gonzalezbyass.es.

Masi Agricola (Blue Village F4)

Masi Agricola is one of the leading Italian wine houses. Its history began at the end of the 18th century, when the Boscaini family carried out their first harvest in the prestigious vineyards of Vajo dei Masi.

Its President Sandro Boscaini represents the sixth generation of the family that has made Amarone one of the prestige names of Italy. Masi produces five different Amarone expressions along with a range of wines from the Venetian region.

As reported, Masi is marking a significant anniversary this year, the 250th harvest at the Boscaini family vineyards and the 250th anniversary of the company

Masi spearheads an ambitious project to promote historic wine estates, which includes collaborations with Count Serego Alighieri, a descendant of the poet Dante Alighieri and owner of an estate in Valpolicella known for its long history and tradition. Other partners include Count Bossi Fedrigotti, a prestigious winery from Trentino with vineyards in Rovereto, and Canevel, producers of fine sparkling wines in Valdobbiadene.

Masi underlines strong sustainability credentials and social, ethical and environmental values. Its MasiGreen philosophy runs across the entire supply chain at each of the Group’s production sites. One of Italy’s biggest companies in terms of turnover, international presence and brand recognition, Masi is the first quality wine brand to be listed on the Italian Stock Exchange.

Travel Retail Manager Pier Giuseppe Torresani can be contacted on piergiuseppe.torresani@masi.it.

Symington Family Estates (Blue Village F6)

The Symingtons are of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent and have been Port producers in northern Portugal since 1882.

Over five generations they have combined their passion for producing fine wines and Ports with a deep commitment to the region’s land and people. Today, ten Symington family members work across four Port houses – Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s – as well as their Douro wine brands: Quinta do Vesuvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano and Prats & Symington (of Chryseia fame).

In 2017 they launched a new venture, Quinta da Fonte Souto, in the Portalegre sub-region of the Alto Alentejo.

Symington Family Estates is regarded as the world’s leading premium Port producer and the predominant owner of prime vineyards in the Douro valley. The family business is a founding member of Primum Familiae Vini, an association of 12 European wine families.

All Symington vineyards are sustainably managed under a minimum intervention certification. The family boasts the largest area of organic vineyards in northern Portugal and is committed to a sustainability plan, with a series of public goals under a Mission 2025 programme.

In 2019 the company became a certified B Corporation – the first wine company in Portugal to take this step – joining a global community of businesses audited for the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Symington was named Ethical Company of the Year in The Drinks Business 2019 Green Awards.

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